Instructor Blog #2: Getting a Job
Submitted by tghering on Sun, 06/08/2008 - 10:28.
in
Getting a job can be one of the most frustrating and time consuming endeavors you ever undertake. Many people say that getting a job is as difficult and time consuming as having a job. I wish great job searches on all of you throughout your lives (as you'll probably have to undertake many, according to labor statistics), but if you have a rough job search experience, know you're not alone. When you look for a job, you are competing against hundreds, sometimes thousands of other candidates. Some of those candidates are more experienced, more qualified, better workers, better people, and more deserving of the job than you are. You are almost guaranteed to be competing with people better than you are in every imaginable way.
Furthermore, job searches are often unfair. A recent little anecdote in the Reader's Digest All In a Day's Work section recounted how a boss, in a rush to hire someone, ordered his secretary to throw away 200 of 250 resumes sight unseen. When the secretary protested, the boss said "Well, I don't want to hire anybody who's that unlucky." Even if you get a fair shake, your resume will only get about 10-30 seconds of review, and if you can't generate interest in that time, you're gone. Sometimes companies make very arbitrary decisions about who they hire.
There is a new idea emerging in the 21st century of the "quarter life crisis" - the depression recent college grads feel when hitting the work world. Their jobs aren't what they'd hoped, life is hard, they don't have much money, all their friends are gone, they get depressed. If this happens to you, you're not alone. But just because job searching is hard doesn't mean that you can't do well, and this next unit is designed to prepare you to secure a great job someday. I'll cover resumes, cover letters, and interviews in forthcoming blogs. Today, I'd like to give you some general thoughts about the job hunt as you start finding your positions for Friday.
First off, be thorough but strategic. You can't expect to get a job if you apply to two or three. But you also aren't very well served by just popping generic resumes and letters into envelopes and sending them to everyone in the phone book. You are better off sending 50 focused, catered, specific letters to companies with positions well suited to you than sending 200 resumes out at random. So as you are searching for a job, don't go too narrow and don't go too broad. Be strategic, and cater your employment packages to a specific company by including references to job ad keywords and company information. So pay attention to keywords in job ads. Do some research on the company before you send your materials out.
As you are conducting this thorough but strategic search, think about all the resources available to you. There are several different methods for finding out about jobs. One is to use generic job search engines, such as monster, career builder or the newspaper want ads, that give job listings throughout an area, field, or both. Another is to use industry specific job search engines that post jobs only in your relevant field. A third is to search the employment section on websites of companies that peak your interest. A fourth is to ask people you know in relevant fields if they know of any job openings (though this can be annoying to people, it is often the best way to get a job, so if you have connections, use them. Everybody else is). A good job search will combine all four of these approaches to find as many jobs as possible. Cast a wide net in the beginning, and then narrow down from there. The more places you look, the more jobs you'll find.
As you are searching, be realistic. Everyone wants that power job, but getting that power job often entails taking some entry-level jobs until you can work your way up. If a job ad says "10 years experience" and you don't have any, you are almost certainly not going to get it. Someone with 10 years experience will. In your real job search, you are welcome to apply to jobs beyond your experience, even if you are better off targeting ones in your range. For the employment project, however, I insist that you apply for something within your reach. If you are not close to graduation, you can choose a summer internship for the project.
Lastly, as you are looking, be persistent. It takes a long time to find a job. Don't just send out 10 resumes and then sit and wait. Keep at it until you get calls for interviews. It is often a good idea to politely follow up on application materials, when possible, especially when you have a name or contact to speak with. No one is going to come knocking down your door to give you a job. You have to knock on theirs.
Good luck in all your job searches. I hope the next few weeks help prepare you for the future.
- tghering's blog
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Response to Blog #2
I thoroughly agree that in the future you will apply for jobs that there are more experienced, better educated, and probably a better overall candidates for the position than you are, at least on paper or on a resume. I believe life is not always fair and many times you will just be picked, or not picked, based on the luck of the draw. I also think that, like with almost everything, that the more resumes and attempts you make, the better the chance you will have of actually being chosen. But I believe that all the resumes and cover letters achieve is getting you that initial interview. After this, as long as you are at least qualified for the position and you are not reaching for the stars, it is up to you and how you perform in the interview. My current supervisor made me realize this theory when I walked into the interview, she looked at my resume for less than a minute, turned it over, and then said, “Let’s just talk. What that says has no importance from this point on.” So I now believe that the best way to get a job is to have a good resume, give yourself multiple opportunities, and be just straight lucky.
Blog #2 Response
I think this is some of the most straight forward and honest advice I have gotten during my time at Purdue about job searching! I feel that a “quarter life crisis” is a very logical thing, especially after moving to New Zealand this semester. Leaving behind the familiarity of Purdue, my friends, and my family was incredibly hard and I got to come to a beautiful country with the knowledge that I will be going back. I can’t imagine leaving everything behind for an o.k. job, so it is very encouraging to know that I won’t be alone when I have to do it in a year. I also appreciate learning about the best strategy for job hunting, such as “…sending 50 focused, catered, specific letters…” It’s good to know that that quality is better than quantity while sending out resumes.
Focused, catered and
Focused, catered and specific are also the key terms to look at here. If you send out 50 application packets, no two should be the same. Your resume and your cover letter both need to be tailored to that one, specific employer. Now you see how this is a job all unto itself. It's also why I have you complete the job analysis (hint, hint). Your grade will be, in large part, determined by how well you apply for that one specific position with that one unique company.
Response to Blog 2
"...you are competing against hundreds, sometimes thousands of other candidates. Some of those candidates are more experienced, more qualified, better workers, better people, and more deserving of the job than you are. You are almost guaranteed to be competing with people better than you are in every imaginable way."
That is so true and scary to think about. One might wonder how they will ever get ahead if there is always someone better. I think that's what this class is going to be about and I'm starting to see this as a really good opportunity. Selling ourselves and making our applications stand out is what is important in a job hunt. I have been through many and I know for a fact I have gotten jobs that others deserved much more than me. My first job was working as a computer technician and I had hardly any experience with computers with the time. I was 16 and I beat out people twice my age with much more experience because I sold myself really well to the hiring manager that day. Someone might be a harder worker than you, but if they can't demonstrate that through words in a resume they will never get anywhere.
"...politely follow up on application materials, when possible, especially when you have a name or contact to speak with."
This rings true with me as well. I am confident that the only reason why I was able to get a summer job at a place that does not normally hire temporary employees was because shortly after applying, I walked up to the managers and introduced myself to let them know that I was truly interested. I got a call back within 3 days and was working there a week later. They even hired me back this summer. This advice is so true.
Another thing to think about
Another thing to think about is how technology has made the world flat (read Thomas Friedman on this one). In the past, you might have only been competing against people in your immediate geographic area (or the one in which you were applying), but now, literally, the world is your competition.
response
Ashley M. Rooney
In my own experience I have found job search engines such as careerbuilder and monster.com to be a big waste of time. I have spent countless hours on those sites and have found many appealing jobs, but the competition is intense. I'm fairly certain none of my resumes or coving inter letters have ever gotten a good look. I have found much better luck simply going directly to the source of employment utilizing company website or waltzing into the HR department. The most difficult to find are temporary/summer jobs. This summer I ended up using a temporary placement agency and have found work I love! Since I'm doing online classes and studying for the lsat I don't have time to do even a part-time job so I get random 2 day assignments and make some extra spending money. I'm not sure how I can write down these experiences on a resume though.
Blog #2
This reading has opened my eyes to what finding and having a job is really like. Commercials for job search websites make it seem so easy to find that job that you want but that is not the case. Job searching can be very time consuming and a lot of time has to been spent if you want to be happy. I also never realized how hard it can be having that first job. You are in a new place with no one you know and there is no summer vacation, it can be scary and you have to be prepared and make that most of it.
Jake Henderson
Response to blog #2
I appreciate that this excerpt was so straight forward. It’s true, job searching can be one of the most frustrating and time consuming ventures a person will ever go through. I mildly experienced this while searching for an internship last semester. Every single person I graduated with in May (approximately 2000 students), were required to get an internship their last semester at F.I.T. My college has an established program with while they place students with some of the most recognizable names in the fashion industry. This process is extremely similar to a real job search. The student sends out cover letters and resumes to all of their top choices to intern with, and then waits to hear back. The downfall: all 2000 students are applying to the exact same internships. Can I say stressful?
Some graduates tend to rely on the university with which he or she graduated to stand out against all of the other candidates. This is very difficult when every single applicant is coming from the same school and has taken the same courses. In my case the statement, “Some of those candidates are more experienced, more qualified, better workers, better people, and more deserving of the job than you are,” didn’t quite play into effect. For this reason, I did everything I could to make my resume stand out against my competitors. Luckily, I landed an amazing internship and had a great experience.
If I thought this search was stressful, I can’t imagine what it will be like when I am competing against candidates who simply are better qualified than me. I’m hopeful that this course will help me to possess the skills needed to be that applicant whose resume and cover letter are impressive enough to be able to land an interview in order to sell myself in person.
Add in the fact that you
Add in the fact that you have to find a job to . . . eat, for example. Yes, stress is ever-present in job searches.
Jon Markee's response to Instructor Blog #2
Wow, thank you for such great job-seeking advice. I definitely agree with Elizabeth Day that this is probably the most straightforward advice I have received at Purdue. I really felt the great amount of frustration from job searching at the beginning of this summer. I thought I had all my criteria for a summer job picked out, but then I completely changed my preferences after one interview. I can testify first-handedly how job searches are unfair after watching managers of my previous jobs throw out applications just because someone didn't look good enough for them. Even as I looked for a summer job this summer, there were some companies that I thought I should have heard back from after I followed up.
I really appreciate being guided on how to send out resumes. My neighbor and I were just talking yesterday about how we wish there was a common app for jobs just like there is for colleges. Now I realize that this would defeat the whole purpose of making yourself stand out. I also appreciated being guided on how many resumes to send out. I knew I would want to apply at a lot of companies, but I never even considered applying to 50! I guess I would not be one of those people who sent out applications to 200 companies. I was only aiming for 10, but now that I think 50 sounds much better, especially in our shrinking job market. I can already tell that the next few weeks are going to change my job searching for the better!
Elizabeth Bruinsma's Response to Instructor Blog #2
This is very valuable advice for anyone. As I am currently in the process of trying to find an internship for the fall, I have noticed how disappointing this search can be. Recently, I had submitted a resume to an energy company for a position as a Human Resource Intern. I felt confident that all of my skills matched the qualifications on the ad, and I was eager to await the response. Less than thirty minutes passed, and I had already received a response. Being optimistic, I opened the email only to find that I had not been selected for the internship. From this experience, I can clearly see that employers do not always spend much time on reviewing resumes. In this blog post, it is mentioned that if you are even given a fair chance, your resume is viewed for 10-30 seconds and best and needs to capture the employers attention in that short amount of time.
I understand that there is a lot of competition in the job market right now. I even understand that there are those who are more qualified, more experienced, etc… However, sometimes I find that there are hard-working people out there that simply aren’t given a chance. Two years ago, a friend of mine who was a top business student at her school was looking for a very general administration position. She even knew of someone at her church that was willing to give her an interview. When she got to the interview, the first question he asked was, “What experience have you had in administration?” She had mentioned her grades and her course of study, but that she had no previous internships. A few days later she had learned she did not receive the job, because she had no experience. Finally, this past spring she got a position she really enjoys that fully utilizes her skills.
Like my friend, I am sure there are a lot of others who have experienced this. However, I believe that this course will help to aid students who are preparing to step out into the workforce. I agree with key concepts presented like “quality over quantity”, and adapting your resume to suit the position being applied for. I think with these in mind any student will see better results.
Also keep in mind that the
Also keep in mind that the 10-30 second time frame is ideal; if you have one single mistake on the resume (a misspelling, a lack of parallelism in your structure, etc), you are round-filed (resume thrown in the trash) immediately.
Trust me on this one. I've seen it done, and I have done it myself.
Reference the Career Journal article from next week, also. As someone who has hired hundreds and hundreds of people, this is the most honest piece I've read about what it is like for those on the other end of your resume.
Response
After reading this post I must admit I feel somewhat intimidated. Having another five years of school ahead of me, the thought of applying for a job seems so distant. Then I think about how fast the past few years have gone and realize applying for a job is not that far off. Now is the time to build my resume with work experience, scholarships, and other activities. In order to get the job I want, I will have to make my resume stand out. And although most of us do not want to admit it, you are right when you say we are competing with people more qualified for the job. Which really makes me wonder what each company is looking for during the ten to thirteen seconds they are looking at my resume.
Response to Blog #2
I guess honesty is the best policy in this case. Reading this entry not only caught me off guard but also humbled me. No matter how good your GPA is or how many activities or clubs someone participates in getting a job boils down to people skills. Yes it's nice to have all these wonderful and qualifying things about you, because let's face it, that is what gets you in the door! But then what happens once you're in? If you are a very impersonal, distant person I don't see why any employer would hire you. You have to be able to sell yourself on paper as well as in person. First impressions are still high determinants of a person's success. You not only have to have the skills on paper, you must have them in person and in attitude. Life skills are just as important as a class you take or a club membership when it comes to landing a job.
I have never used search engines, newspapers, or much of anything to job search. The job fair is the only tool I've ever used to locate a job. I haven't heard the best things about job searches either. I'm sure everyone's experience with them is different so I guess I'll give it a try!
Response to Instructor Blog #2
As I am approaching graduation I can definitely see the reality in the post you made. Job searching is a very challenging and frustrating to say the least. It seems like everyone wants the job you want, and somehow they are better than you. I was a little shocked by the anecdote where the boss wanted the majority of the applications thrown away, but I don’t think that is too far from the truth. Now maybe they won’t just throw away your resume, but if they only look at it for ten seconds then they might as well have because they will never get to know if you are a good candidate after ten seconds. I don’t really like monster or career builder that much, but I do believe in the power of personal connections. I think knowing someone higher up in the company you want to work for is one of the better ways to get the job. I have a friend that wanted to work for a power company and while his Godmother (who by the way is a VP) couldn’t hire him directly, she personally dropped off his resume to the human resources department and what a surprise he got the job.
Response to WebBlog #2
I very well know how hard it can be to look for a full time job. It is very time consuming, strenuous, and it takes a lot out of you!
“people say that getting a job is as difficult and time consuming as having a job.” I believe this to be very true. This past year, I attended both the fall and spring krannert career fairs, and preparing just for those was very difficult on top of having 17 credit hours. I felt as if I did not have any time to do my school work or let alone sleep. Most companies have their applications online and even those may take an hour to fill out with not only your qualifications and educational background, but the questionnaires that follow.
Though I feel this is a necessary task for both you and the company to feel one another out to see if it is a right fit. I talk to some of my friends who are working full-time and they do not seem too happy with their job situation. I believe we must thoroughly search out many different companies in which our niches will be fully exposed, and hopefully make a right decision. That way, we will fully understand what is expected of us, and what we expect out of the company, to be truly satisfied with the job we have chosen.
I cannot explain how excited I am to finish up my senior year and start earning some money and live on my own without any sort of aid for my parents. It will be an exciting time, and I just cannot wait!
Response to Blog #2
I could not agree more with the comment "getting a job can be one of the most frustrating and time consuming endeavors you ever undertake." I have spent countless hours searching for summer internships. I have been very lucky with my experience as many times I have to turn down an offer because I was offered another one more appealing. In my opinion, having all the paperwork needed to apply for a job, such as resumes and cover letters, are only part of the process. Those get you the interview, but getting the job is all about how you present yourself. I know for a fact that many times there were people more qualified on paper than me, but I received the position because of my abilities to communicate. Through my time thus far searching for jobs, I have used all four methods of searching. I agree that using your connections is always the most successful. When utilizing those connections, the individual will usually put a good word in for you, and in my opinion, nothing helps more than having those appraisals in place for you.
Response to Blog #2
Now that I am approaching my senior year of college, the reality, stress, and fear of finding a real job is starting to set in. The advice given in this blog could not be more straightforward and true, very beneficial to someone in my position, as well as all those who plan to get a job in the future. I recently read in an article in the New York Times that now is the toughest time for college graduates to get jobs in the workforce. The competition in the job market is fierce and that is why I feel honestly evaluating your strengths, your weaknesses, and your skills could not be more beneficial when it comes to preparing for a job. I love the advice about the 50 tailored resumes rather than the 200 random ones. I feel that this course is going to be beneficial in helping me learn how to create a tailored resume that portrays my skills and accomplishments effectively and persuasively to help me in my job search.
Bethony Vernaglia
Blog #2 Response
I completely agree that a job search can be as hard as or harder than the job itself. I know many people that graduated in December of 2007, and they are still looking for a job. One thing that I have noticed about some of these people looking for jobs is that they are being way too picky with the type of job that they want. Due to this they are instantly rejecting thousands of possible jobs, and one of them may be their dream job. I feel that it is extremely important to give you resume to as many people as possible, while keeping it within a reasonable range. I also feel that networking is the best way to get a job. If you already know somebody on the inside of a company they are able to talk you up, and they may be able to get your resume to the right people. I know a few people that were able to get a job because they know the right people.
Response to Blog #2
I would have to say that this is about the most honest and helpful information that I've ever read about job searching. I think everything you said was right on target. It's true you have to realize when you are applying for a job your not the only candidate for the position you have to be able to wow the employer, especially if it's for a bigger corporation they truly only do take about 30 seconds to look over your resume, that's if they even get around to looking at them. I also think another good place to look for job opportunities would be the many job fairs that Purdue has during the year. And until reading this I really never thought about applying to such a large number of companies/positions but that makes since. I always thought when I graduated I would look into about 10 different things if that. But this blog definitely has me looking at job searching in a whole different way, and a way where I definitely need to keep my options open.
Response to Instructor Blog #2
As I read through Instructor Blog #2, Getting a Job, I at first felt like I was being torn down, and then towards the end I felt lifted back up. I understand what job searching and the steps that it takes to get a job, but never have been worried about not being able to find a job. To find the right job is going to take time and effort, but the outcome of that job will be worth it. I haven’t had much job experience, and it makes me extremely nervous being thrown out into the real world after I graduate college. Hopefully, with this class, I will understand myself and important documents that will allow me to find and get that perfect job.
No, no! Not torn down at
No, no! Not torn down at all. Perhaps I didn't make it clear enough, but I'm not suggesting that everyone applying IS better than you, but that you really need to think along those lines. It is far better to have that mindset than to assume you will get the job; it will keep you on your toes and make you bring your A game.
Comment on Instructor Blog #2
In my own experience, I have found that online job search engines are not the most effective ways to find a job. Regardless of all of the wonderful skills, GPAs, personalities that one may possessed, in the end it always comes back to 'it all depends on who you know in the company.' In a way, it does make sense since a company would most likely take the word of recommendation from their own employees rather than from random resumes and cover letters from anonymous people online. I think companies post jobs online as their last resort of finding employees. I think it really helps to know somebody inside the company to make recommendations and open up doors for you. I have previously worked for Disney and I often chatted with the general manager of food and beverage which was my area at the time. She knew that my ultimate goal after I finish college is to work for Disney’s Information Technology. She introduced me to someone who happened to know someone and happened to know my current Information Technology recruiter and that’s how I landed this current internship. That’s why I believe that networking is always an important aspect in both job findings and climbing up the company ladder.
I have been fortunate with finding jobs and internship throughout my career as a college student. But this sentence still scares me whenever I think about it. "...you are competing against hundreds, sometimes thousands of other candidates. Some of those candidates are more experienced, more qualified better workers, better people, and more deserving of the job than you are. You are almost guaranteed to be competing with people better than you are in every imaginable way." I mean, how could you get ahead and get the job if there are always people better than you? Therefore, I think that being a self-renewal is always important as self-renewals are always eager to learn and to improve themselves. Self-branding, communication skills, and assertiveness are also important factors to get that dream job. Someone may be better than you or might be a harder worker than you, but if they can’t demonstrate all that through words, they’re most likely won’t get anywhere.
As technology has significantly improved in the last decades, not only we compete with people from the same geographic area. Often we will find that people from all around the world will apply for the same job. Therefore, I think to be able to speak language other than English is also important in this global era.