The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one.
- Oscar Wilde
Monthly Archives: May 2009
How to Avoid Abusing Your Contacts
I hate asking people for things. It doesn’t matter if it’s someone at work, a member of my family, my wife, or a total stranger. If I have the option, I would rather tackle just about any issue on my own first.
However, after battling to land my first “real” job after school (about 5 years ago), I realized that the best way to find a job is to start, grow, and use your network. However, at some point, this involves asking those people in your network for anything from information to a job.
While I know that I need to use my network when looking for work, but I’m always worried about having those in my network feel used. This is why when I read 5 Networking Tips So Your Contacts Won’t Feel Used by Alexandra Levit, I knew I needed to share it.
To make her point, she has a blunt “letter” written from the perspective of a “user” (taken from a blog on Fortune):
Hey, Person I Need! Long time no talk! How are you?! Sorry I haven’t written you in 17 years — boy have I been busy — but here’s some contrived anecdote to show I’ve been thinking about you. Thought you’d like to hear these few random things that are going on with me, too. Oh, by the way, I was thinking you could hire me/refer me/help me in some other way I’ve been generous enough to dream up for you. And since I’m sure you’re dying to read my resume, it’s attached. Totally can’t wait to catch up!
Sincerely,
Most Transparent Jobseeker Ever
The entire article has some excellent advice, but there are two main points that you MUST take into consideration:
Facebook doesn’t change anything. In our age of social networking, it can be tempting to use the relaxed attitude of tools like Facebook to take the work out of networking. Even on the Web, people know when they’re being used, and they don’t like it. So apply the same amount of courtesy and concern there as you would everywhere else.
and:
Show a little gratitude. Remember that everyone, from the C-suite all the way down, is under pressure right now. So thank them for their time, and if they make an effort to respond, even if they don’t say much, realize it means something — and say so.
So I need you to do two things.
First, take this advice to heart. It is key to the long-term health of your network.
Second, read the rest of Alexandra’s advice. It might make the difference between a strong network and one that is completely useless.
The Keys To Finding An Entry Level Job
These days it’s hard to find a job of any kind, let alone an Entry Level Job. It can be grueling work, but it’s not impossible. There are a number of great resources and articles available online that can help you get a leg up on the competition.
One such article was posted on USNews a little while ago. 7 Keys to Snagging a Job as a College Grad provides several concise tips on how to find your first real job after college.
Among the advice:
Be flexible on location. You might need to work for a few years in a city that wouldn’t normally be your first choice. Remember, it’s just a stepping-stone.
This is actually something that I did. Before I even started looking for work, I never dreamed that I would leave my hometown. However, I ended up moving twice within the first six months after graduation in order to find work.
Also,
Find a mentor. Former teachers, relatives, neighbors, friends of your parents can be a source of advice and job leads, and can serve as a sounding board.
I have been lucky enough to have a number of different mentors who have helped to shape and guide my career. They have been invaluable resources as I have moved through my post-school life.
This is a great article for anyone looking for an Entry Level Job.
Getting Hired Without Practical Experience
One of the biggest challenges that you need to overcome in your search for an Entry Level Job is that of experience. As a New Grad, you won’t have any “real” experience in the eyes of an employer. Sure, you may have a summer job or part-time job which you can draw from, but it serves more as a testament to your character than it does for actual valued experience.
The Career Doctor recently answered a reader question which he dubbed The Experience Conundrum. The reader is a graduate of a graphic design school who is having trouble finding a job without actual experience.
While the Career Doctor has some excellent advice, what really stands out in this case is his recommendation for finding internship and freelance opportunities.
This is excellent advice for any New Grad who is looking for an Entry Level Job. Because the matter of experience is a bit of a “Chicken or Egg” problem, it’s important to build a portfolio of experience that you can use to help you land a job. This portfolio can be the physical kind (like those you would see for a graphic designer or artist), or a collection of experiences which will have exposed you to the types of skills that employers are looking for. This collection of examples is key to selling your abilities to a potential employer as you are leaving school.
The Career Doctor does doll out some excellent advice. I’d urge all Entry Level Job seekers to check out The Experience Conundrum.
Gradversity On Vacation!
After three of months of nearly non-stop travel for work, I am taking a bit of a vacation. For the next 10 days, I’m going to be away from Gradversity while I re-charge. It’s tough to be away from the site, but I’m sure I will get over the withdrawal symptoms soon.
But don’t worry, even though I’m on vacation, the posts will continue! I’ve been writing extra articles over the past few months and 10 of them will debut while I’m away (one per day)! So even though I’m taking a short break, you will still be able to rely on Gradversity for daily job-search advice. I have also set up my Twitter account to publish regular Tweets from the archives.
One quick note: Even though the posts and Tweets will continue, I won’t have access to email or phone while I’m away. So if you are trying to get in touch with me, be patient. I will get back to everyone when I return.
Thanks for reading Gradversity! Be back soon!
New Grads Struggle To Find Health Insurance
As if New Grads don’t have enough to worry about. CNN.com has an article up called What’s A Recent College Graduate To Do About Health Insurance? which outlines some of the challenges that you may face outside of your job search.
It’s extremely frustrating to me that someone may have to turn down an offer due to the lack of benefits. But that’s exactly what happened to Lindsay Straub. She was about to accept a job offer when her Mom called…
She told Straub that come fall, she’ll get kicked off the insurance she currently has as a dependent through her mother’s employer. This new job doesn’t offer insurance, so Straub had to turn down the job.
This is such a tragedy. Especially when you consider the numbers quoted in the article:
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, nearly 80 percent of recent college graduates who are looking for jobs haven’t found one.
So many New Grads, so few jobs. Such a sad situation.
The article goes on to list some suggestions about how to handle a lack of insurance. I would council any Entry Level Job seeker to take a look at this article and get a head start on protecting themselves.
Have you had insurance issues? Leave us a comment!
Networking Success Stories
As a career coach and recruiter, I have followed many careers. I have also seen many examples of networking success:
- A PhD in molecular biology makes key venture capital contacts (and eventually lands a VC job) after tracking down a fellow PhD in molecular biology who is now a senior banker;
- An art assistant lands an art director position at a national magazine, after regular contact with her former boss (now editor of this magazine) puts her in the right place at the right time;
- A management consultant transitions into recruiting after a former colleague hires her into her search firm;
- A little league basketball coach gets a job interview at one of his dream firms because it turns out he is coaching the son of a top executive there.
Many people make introductions, get promoted, or jumpstart career transitions because of networking – having the courage to meet new people and having the discipline to maintain familiar contacts. In most examples, however, the payoff is in the future. You can’t expect your first phone call to lead to a job. Often, networking leads to more and more networking, which eventually yields a success story. It takes persistence, commitment, and an upbeat attitude.
But it does work. So, keep in mind, wherever you are, you are surrounded by a potential network. Your classmates, your colleagues, your friends’ friends at that party could be your next employer, funder, client, mentor, or best friend. Keep yourself open to the possibilities of networking success.
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.
Barney Stinson’s Video Resume (How I Met Your Mother)
While I’ve never watched a full episode of How I Met Your Mother, I was a big Doogie Howser fan as a kid.
So when I stumbled across Barney Stinson’s Video Resume, I couldn’t help but laugh.
There’s even a (tongue-in-cheek) website. Check it out at http://barneysvideoresume.com.
Funny stuff!
Creating a Twitter Resume
Free Money Finance, a great blog about personal finances, recently asked its readers to create a Twitter Resume for all to see. The result was Resumes in 140 Characters or Less, a collection of 140 character resumes. After reading the results, I was impressed with what was created.
A couple of examples:
@jasonrfisher: Young, driven, innovative, technical Renaissance man helping people and business improve quality.
@The_Weakonomist: BS Finance, Financial services, investment analysis client/vendor support, data management, Access, SQL, Excel, Linux/Unix, Oracle
What I like most about this is that if you write (and Tweet) your Twitter resume on a regular basis, the power of your network may propel it directly to a recruiter! Even better, if an employer uses Twitter search to look for people with certain tangible characteristics/skills (Linux/Unix being a good example), you may just pop up.
While it will likely never replace the full resume, it’s a great addition to any New Grad‘s arsenal.
Do you have a Twitter Resume? Put @gradversity in the tweet and send it my way! I may just post it on the site.
Now Hiring – Company Career Sites
Research is the name of the game, as well as getting there quick. You can be sure that if you’ve found a job lead, so have others, so you need to prioritize and leverage your leads. Today’s post will focus on companies (and others) that are hiring.
- Perfumania, Inc. – Perfumania appears to leverage HotJobs.com for it’s online job search. Clicking the link will take you to all Perfumania jobs listed on HotJobs. Clicking on any job will link to a job description and the ability to apply via HotJobs or sending your resume via email to Perumania.
- U.S. Department of State – Yes, the U.S Government is hiring! The State Department’s career site has a number of opportunities for Foreign Service as well as Student opportunities. Tabs at the top provide general information, Career Options, Students, Career Resources, Events and more. The events tab provides a search function to find out where you can meet with Members of the U.S. Department of State Human Resources Management Team. Click the links to find out more about the Foreign Service Specialist opportunities or Foreign Service Officer opportunities.
- Who’s hiring? Growth industries in the past year – This article (rather than a link to a career site) is provided by the Seattle Times, lists six areas that hired the most jobs last year. Health Care was the clear winner with twice as many jobs added as the next industry. For those in College still considering a major or those looking to switch careers, this is a great place to start.
- Ace Hardware – “The helpful place”, Ace’s career site provides a company overview, business opportunities (owning an Ace store), College Relations and career opportunities. You can submit a resume or look at all of the open positions, sorted by Department, Region/Area or Position. Clicking on any one job links to a descriptive job description and a link for submitting / applying for the opportunity.
Good luck in your search.
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.
Name Discrimination In Interview Selection
We have made great progress in North America over the last several years to battle discrimination of all types. However, a recent study in British Columbia showed that name discrimination is alive and well when it comes to interview selection.
I find this extremely sad.
The UBC study came to the following conclusions:
The study found Canadians and landed immigrants with names such as “Jill Wilson” or “John Martin” are 40 per cent more likely to be offered an interview than someone with a name like “Sana Khan” or “Lei Li,” given an identical resume.
Applicants with mixed names like “Vivian Zhang” had a 20 per cent better chance to land an interview than job-seekers with non-English names, but still less than the English-only names.
The results are extremely clear. If you have an “English Sounding” name, you have an undeserved advantage someone with identical qualifications and a “Foreign Sounding” name. And 40% is no small advantage. It would not be hard to extrapolate and assume the same advantage for wages and benefits as well.
So what’s the solution? I wish I knew. This type of discrimination isn’t something that can be solved over night. I can only hope that we can work towards breaking down these barriers and strive for a more equal opportunity process.
Finding Entry Level Jobs On Wall Street
I love a good underdog story. I’m a sucker for a tale about someone who overcomes the odds to achieve what others thought impossible.
So when I read Against Odds, Some Grads Find Wall Street Jobs, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only is it great to see that there are still New Grads who are able to find Entry Level Jobs, but the fact that they have been able to find jobs in one of the most troubled sectors of the economy is amazing.
What makes this article particularly appealing to me are the statistics (or “odds”) that are touted in the article itself:
Between February 11 and March 11 of this year, half of all masters of business administration graduates had received at least one job offer. That’s down from 62 percent during the same period in 2008, according to a survey of 5,214 students by the Graduate Management Admission Council, which administers the entrance exam for MBA programs.
Now granted, this is looking at people who are graduating from MBA schools, but I believe that this is an excellent litmus test for the rest of the economy. If the most battered sectors can begin hiring again, can the rest of the country be that far behind?
But don’t be fooled. Not all aspects of this story paint a rosy picture. Mohamed Desoky, the focus of the article, had to push hard just to get a foot in the door:
He got the offer at RBC after completing a summer internship. To get that internship, he had to go through 48 interviews with many banks…
Ultimately, it’s difficult for any New Grad to find an Entry Level Job. But with enough hard work and perseverance, it’s definitely possible.
Do you have a success story you would like to share? Drop us a line!
How To Avoid Job Scams
Yikes!
When I was looking for my first job after graduation, I don’t remember having to worry about this type of thing.
I was scanning my feed reader today when I saw an article called Don’t Let ID Thieves Hijack Your Job Hunt. It goes over the steps you need to take in order to keep your identity from being stolen as you search for a job.
What’s amazing to me is just how easy it is for an identity thief to prey on your situation and scam you out of important information. Here’s the example that was cited in the article:
Let’s say you’ve been job hunting for months now, and applied to so many employers you’re starting to lose track of them all. One day you get a call from someone in HR at a well-known company. He found your resume on an online job board, thinks it’s very impressive, and is looking forward to meeting you, he says. To set up the interview, he asks for your home address, date of birth and Social Security number.
Odds are, you give him the information, even if it seems a bit strange. After all, this person could end up offering you a job, and you don’t want to seem difficult to work with. And odds are, you’ll never hear from him again, or the company he claimed to represent — but, within a day or two, he’ll have opened half a dozen credit cards in your name, maxed them out, and created an enormous mess it could take you years to straighten out.
Scary, scary stuff. If you are looking for a job, I would encourage you to take a look at Don’t Let ID Thieves Hijack Your Job Hunt and do what you can to protect yourself.
What Won’t Get You The Job (Smashing My Windshield)
Normally, I’m a pretty mellow guy and I don’t let my emotions get out of control. However, when I got in my car this morning, I found that someone had smashed my windshield with a blunt object.
Unfortunately, I lost it.
Now that a few hours have passed and I’ve had a chance to cool down, I started thinking about the ramifications of my broken glass on this hooligan’s job search.
Now, I’m making a number of assumptions here for the benefit of this post:
- He/She will eventually want a job
- He/She is going to get caught
The biggest problem I see is that with a conviction of any kind on your record, you will have a difficult passing any type of background check. This means that no matter what skills you have, you are going to have one big red “X” on your scorecard before an employer even thinks of offering you a job.
There is also the little issue of references. I can only guess that the type of person who would do this would have poor references to begin with. However, if they keep committing random acts of vandalism, their references are sure to dry up. No positive references often means no job.
Ultimately, I think this person has made a huge mistake (or most likely another huge mistake). While I don’t want to dwell on the negatives, I hope that they can overcome whatever childish impulses caused this particular act and (hopefully) look forward to a long career as Mike Tyson’s sparring partner.
There, I feel much better.
PS. On the off chance that the neanderthal who did this to my car happens to be reading post, I would invite you to click here.
A Twitter Job Search Success Story
There’s a fantastic article up on CNN Money about using social networking to find work. I Found My Job On Twitter shares the stories of a few people who have had success in job hunting on Twitter and other sites.
While the article doesn’t offer much practical advice about how to go about finding a job through social networking sites, it does show that it’s possible. And in such a tough economy, staying positive makes a real difference.
Here’s a snippet:
If it weren’t for Jen Harris’ followers on Twitter, she would not have been notified of another job opportunity, only moments after getting laid off from Idaho-based MPC computers in October.
As Harris packed up her desk she sent out a tweet that read: “just been laid off from MPC.”
“By the time I left the parking lot, I had a job offer from a friend that had a Web development company in town,” she said.
While it isn’t yet the norm to find your next job via Twitter, this only goes to show that you that jobs are out there to be found if you look in the right places.
Site Review: TweetMyJobs
A few weeks ago I received a note from someone named Gary asking if I would be interested in reviewing a site called TweetMyJobs. I was quite busy at the time and didn’t have much of a chance to look at it. Now that I’ve had a chance to check it out, I have many good things to say.
What is TweetMyJobs?
According to the site:
It’s a new service that brings recruiters, hiring managers and job seekers together on Twitter. We’ve set up Twitter Channels for major cities and job types, and an easy-to-use interface to subscribe to those channels. You will get instant notification of any new jobs as a text message on your cell phone.
Sounds simple enough. Let’s take a closer look.
The Good:
- The signup process was extremely simple and the site provided an easy dashboard which outlines all the features and why you should use them.
- Of all of the site’s functionality, my favorite is the Job Channels. These are broadcast accounts that send out Tweets by region and industry. This allows you to keep an eye on the jobs that are available from both perspectives. I can see myself using this when it comes time to find my next job.
- Also, the ability to create and Tweet your profile is a great feature for the job seeker. You can include information such as contact details, social networking links, salary expectations, your plain text resume and much more. I see this as being an excellent compliment to a LinkedIn profile as it will help to increase your online visibility.
- Finally, if you are an employer posting a job, it’s dirt cheap in comparison to the major job boards. A definite plus.
The Bad:
There was only one thing I didn’t like:
- You don’t actually need to sign up for the service to follow each job channel as each has its own separate Twitter account. For instance, Business/Management Jobs in Toronto can be followed by anyone, assuming you know the account name. I hope that this doesn’t cause the site to bleed users.
The Ugly:
- The Why Choose TweetMyJobs page. C’mon guys, the rest of your site looks great. Clean up this page.
The Result:
- A really great tool both for job seekers and employers. While it took some time to get used to, I can see how this would become a key element in the job search for any New Grad.
JibJab’s Lost Public Service Announcement for Graduates
Getting Noticed on Large Job Boards
When I was looking for my first job, I relied very heavily on the big job boards (Monster, HotJobs, Workopolis, etc.). At the time, I wasn’t exactly “up” on the best ways to find a rewarding career.
But just because the big job boards are no longer my chosen method for job hunting doesn’t mean that there aren’t great jobs to be found on them. In fact, I found my current job though HotJobs many years ago.
However, if you do use the big job boards, you are likely to face the challenge of having very little control over your application. This leaves almost no room for “Standing Out” in relation to the other applicants. This is especially important when:
At the Internet job board Jobfox.com, recruiters are getting between 300 and 500 applications on average for each position they advertise. That’s up five times in the last six months. It’s a similar scene at TheLadders.com, where the recruiters say they now receive twice as many applications for each open position as this time last year.
So when I read Beat The Crowd At The Overcrowded Job Web Sites on Forbes.com, I thought it was worth sharing. This article is full of great advice and tips on how you can better separate yourself from other job-seekers who are flooding to openings on job boards. For example:
Don’t hit send and assume you’re done. The real work begins once your resume reaches the recruiter’s inbox. Use your network–the Web site LinkedIn is useful for this–to find out who you know at the company. Your goal is to learn who the hiring manager is (it’s a different person from the recruiter, usually the person you’d be working under if you get the job) and get a personal introduction.
This is excellent advice. Not only does it lead you to the open positions, but it relies on the current necessity for networking in addition to your application. If you can gather contacts from social networks or other sources, it can only help your job hunt.
If you are predisposed to job hunting on large job boards, I’d take a hard look at this article for advice on landing the job you really want.
Best Cities For New Grads
CNN has an article up today that lists the Top 10 Cities For New Grads (in the US according to Apartments.com and CBcampus.com). As I read this article, I can’t help but be surprised about the contents of the list. Cities that I wouldn’t have suspected (including Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Cleveland) made the grade.
According to the report:
The list is based on the ranking of the top U.S. cities with the highest concentration of young adults (age 20 — 24) from the U.S. Census Bureau (2006), inventory of jobs requiring less than one year of experience from CBcampus.com (2009) and the average cost of rent for a one bedroom apartment from Apartments.com (2009).
I find this very interesting. As I don’t live in any of the listed cities, does anyone else have an opinion to share? If so, I would like to hear from you.
Agree with the list? Disagree with the list? Leave us a comment below!
Alison Doyle’s Writing the Right Resume
Writing Great Thank You Notes
If you have ever wondered how to write a great thank you note, you need to check out the following post over at Brand-Yourself. How To Write a Good Thank You Note outlines each the five major elements that you need to know in order to be successful.
I don’t want to re-hash all of the major points because they deserve to be read at the source and I almost launched into my “why thank you notes are important” speech, but RJ really hit the nail on the head at the end of the piece:
A good thank you note will set you apart from the crowd
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
A Base to Build Your Dreams On
The following is a guest post from Peter Weddle courtesy of Recruiting Blogswap.
President Obama recently gave a speech in which he recounted the parable at the end of the Sermon on the Mount. He used the tale to describe how the nation must prepare itself to recover from this Great Recession. I think it’s equally as appropriate a plan for how each and all of us must ready our careers for the new world of work the recovery will bring.
The parable goes something like this: two men were given the freedom to build new homes. One built his on a foundation of sand; the other erected his on a foundation of stone. Both houses looked identical; each seemed as beautiful and sturdy as the other. Until the rains came. As the storm pelted the houses, the difference in their inner strength was revealed. The house on a foundation of sand was swept away. The house on the foundation of stone endured.
You can expect the same outcome for your career. Regardless of your field of work and irrespective of your years of experience, if you build your career on a foundation of sand, you are putting your future at risk. Conversely, if you lay a foundation of stone for your career—if you set it upon a solid base and then maintain the strength of that base—you will be able to weather whatever economic storms come your way.
So, how do you create a rock solid foundation for your career?
As I explain in my book, Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System, the attributes of a strong career in today’s world of work are very different from those that defined success in the last century. In other words, not only must you create a solid foundation, but that base must be composed of a stone that can withstand the turbulence of a highly competitive, ever-changing global economy.
Just as industrial diamonds are stronger than those that nature makes, the best stone for the foundation of your career is that which you make. It is forged with seven kinds of career strengthening activity. It is a rock-solid base that you create when you consistently:
- Refresh and expand your expertise in your field of work so that you are always able to perform at the state-of-the-art;
- Extend and nurture your network of contacts in your field and industry so you are always top of mind when opportunities come up;
- Add ancillary skills (e.g., a second language, the ability to use a new software program) so that you are able to extend the contribution you make with your primary area of expertise:
- Push out the limits of your comfort zone so you can work in the widest possible range of situations and circumstances;
- Work with those individuals and organizations that will support and advance your career so you are always in an environment where you can succeed;
- Volunteer to work with community, social service or environmental groups so that you apply your talent to the benefit of others as well as yourself;
- Pace yourself with appropriate downtime and vacations so you preserve and reinforce your enthusiasm and commitment to doing your best work on-the-job.
If that seems like a lot of work, it is. A strong foundation doesn’t come easy. But once you’ve created yours, it is a base you can build your dreams on.
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.
Wait, you mean I shouldn’t contact HR?
Yes, you read that right. And, just in case you think I’ve lost my mind, I’ve brought backup.
Laurie Ruettimann (aka Punk Rock HR) has a great video posted on her blog called I Want The Job! When Do I Contact HR? It addresses the question that many job seekers have about the appropriate timing for a job application follow up.
We all know that following up is a vital part of getting the job that you really want. So when should you follow up?
According to Laurie, never.
That’s right. Never.
Now before you start sounding the alarm, it’s important to know that the real message is not that you shouldn’t follow up. It’s just that you shouldn’t follow up with HR. You need to find the hiring manager and follow up with them.
This is brilliant advice. Most new graduates wouldn’t have the experience to know about the inner workings of the hiring process. When I was looking for my first job, I made assumptions about the job search process that made me think that HR played a critical role in selecting individual new hires. In fact, it is the hiring manager who has the final say.
This is a great video and I encourage you to take a look. It also has some excellent advice on why you shouldn’t be a job stalker.
Check out I Want The Job! When Do I Contact HR?
The Career Blog Carnival (Hosted By Jobacle)
Attention Gradversity Readers!
Jobacle is currently hosting the Career Blog Carnival. There are some links to great articles for both job seekers and those who may be looking for work in the future. They have also been kind enough to include a Gradversity article as part of the Carnival!
I highly recommend checking it out. It’s an invaluable collection of information from some of the best online sources.
You can find it here.
Interview Preparation Tips (From Business Week)
It seems that every site I read has advice on job hunting and today’s advice comes from Business Week. In a column called How Do I Prepare for a Job Interview?, Liz Ryan answers a reader’s question about the best way to prep for an interview.
There is some good stuff here. I could spend some time dissecting the advice and offering a critique, but in reality, there is no perfect way to prepare for an interview. What is most important is that you do prepare. From my perspective, it’s best that you get tips from a number of different sources to get a well balanced sense of what you should do.
So check out How Do I Prepare for a Job Interview? to get started on your interview preparation research.
Enjoy!
The “Best Job Ever” Hiring Update
Back in January I wrote about a tourism contest for The Islands of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia. The lucky winner would become “The Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef” (actual job title). Job responsibilities would include blogging about your experiences as you take in all that this beautiful island has to offer. And you’d get paid $100,000 for six months work ($150,000 AUD). Pretty sweet if you ask me.
Well after a long selection process (and competition) they have finally selected a winner.
Ben Southall of Britain now gets to spend six months (starting July 1st) in paradise. Lucky guy.
If I had only applied…
25 Companies Hiring New Grads in 2009
There’s a great article posted on MSN Careers called 25 Employers Hiring the Class of 2009. As the title suggests, it’s a list of employers who will be hiring New Grads for Entry Level Jobs. Not only does it list the companies, it also lists the approximate number of new hires each company will make, the areas for which they are hiring, and the industry they are in.
So Why Does This Matter?
We are in the middle of an economic downturn. Nearly every job-related site has a post or article up regarding how difficult it can be to find a job in a recession. However, even in bad times, companies still need staff. Business must go on. An article like this serves as a launch pad for your job search. Even if you have no previous experience looking for work, a listing like this provides great information to get you started.
How Can I Use This Information?
I would start by looking at which companies are hiring and see if any of their respective industries match your skills and education. If so, some secondary research is in order to find out more about what they do.
Next, I would look at each company’s corporate website. It they are on a list like this (effectively stating that they will be hiring for Entry Level Jobs) then it is safe to say that they will likely be posting these jobs. This is both good and bad. On the up side, it means that here is less ‘digging’ you will have to do to get your foot in the door. The bad news is that there will be increased competition for each job.
After you have found a posted job that you are interested in, apply. Nothing special here. Take some time to create a stellar, targeted application package (resume and cover letter) and pass it along.
Finally, and most importantly, you need to follow up. These are all major companies, so contact information should be available, even if it’s an 800 number. If you don’t have a contact, try calling the main line directly. If that fails, try looking at social networking sites for inside contacts. Do whatever you can to find the person who has the hiring decision. This is the person you need to talk to and the one who will be able to grant you an interview.
Of course, this makes everything sound so easy. It’s not, but a general framework may at least get you started.
What’s Your Take On The List?
I think that this is a seriously helpful tool for a New Grad to have. I don’t remember seeing a list like this when I was graduating.
When I read about the companies on this list, I wonder just how many will still be hiring in the numbers that they state? I’m curious if some of these companies have padded their numbers so that they appear more stable or viable from the outside. You never know in today’s economy. Plans can change quickly.
Take a company like Sun Microsystems for example. They have been all over the media recently with takeover offers from both IBM and Oracle. Does the impending acquisition mean that these new positions are in jeopardy? Only time will tell.
Conclusion
A great list and an excellent starting point for any New Grad looking for an Entry Level Job. Keep in mind that just because they are hiring, it doesn’t mean they will hire ‘you’ specifically. You have to work on your application, prove your value, and stand out from the crowd. Only then will you land your rewarding career.
Unique Career: Stuntperson
When it comes to my day-to-day life, I consider myself a risk-taker. I take calculated risks quite frequently and in most situations things work out for the better. However, when it comes to my physical safety, I’m extremely risk averse.
This is why I could never be a Stuntperson.
When I think of Stuntpeople, I automatically think of falling. Falling off buildings, falling down stairs, or driving a car off a cliff.
You see, I’m afraid of heights. Not just a little afraid, but very afraid. I hate ladders, ferris wheels (which Mrs. Gradversity can attest to), planes, and anything else that involves my body being any distance from the ground.
But for a certain group of talented individuals, stunt work is an incredibly exciting career.
So what does it take to be a stuntperson? Incredible physical fitness and years of training. Here’s an excerpt from TV Guide’s interview with Mark Munoz, a professional stuntman:
I was a wrestler in high school, and I used to kick everybody’s butt no matter how big they were, and then I became a jockey by accident and realized it was my calling. I jockey, but I’m also a certified ski instructor. I have a home in the mountains, so I do a lot of mountain biking and extreme sports.
So where do you start if you are interested in stunt work? Check out the Stunt Training Center (there’s one in Southern California and one in Vancouver, Canada). This will get you started on a career that will see you plummet off large buildings and be set on fire in a “controlled manner”. Sounds like fun to me!
And remember, if you become famous and we can watch you on television base-jumping off the Hoover Dam, be sure to let us know!
The Career Doctor’s Resume Advice For New Grads
The Career Doctor, who occasionally posts a Q&A column over at Quint Careers, has a new question up about resume advice for New Grads. He is asked:
I am wondering what are your three best pieces of advice for someone fresh out of college starting a resume?
While it’s difficult to boil down all of the things you need to do as a New Grad to land an Entry Level Job, the good doctor does have some simple but effective advice. He provides a great outline of the first steps to take as you begin your job hunt.
It’s a short piece, but worth a look. Check it out here.
The Most Successful Ways To Look For A Job
Companies are always hiring, even during a recession. However, there will be fewer jobs during a bear market and the competition for these positions will be more intense. In such a scenario, it is only sensible to use job search tactics which provide the maximum success rate. Especially if you have limited resources at your disposal.
So what are the most effective ways for conducting a job search? They are mentioned below. These percentages refer to the number of people out of every 100, who find a job using only that method.
- Job leads from friends, colleagues and other contacts: 33%
- Directly approaching an employer (hiring manager) that interests you in-person or over the phone: 47-60%
The real benefit comes from using an integrated approach, which is by far the most effective way to look for a job. The success rate improves dramatically to ~85% by using this approach:
Step 1: Career discovery
- Preparing a comprehensive profile: Of your personality, interests, values, beliefs, skills, past experience and goals/constraints. Basically, a detailed representation of ‘who you are’
- Identifying ideal career/job possibilities: This involves matching ‘who you are’ with ‘what you do’. At the end of the exercise you should have a list of actual jobs and companies where you would be an ideal fit
Step 2: Prepare a personal marketing plan
- Customized plan to market yourself to your ideal ‘customer’ i.e. potential employers
- This is based on the work done in step 1
- It enables you to effectively showcase and convince employers why you are right for the job
Step 3: Use proactive job search tactics, personal contacts and networking to reach people who have the power to hire you
- Target both the published and unpublished job markets
- Effectively reach the people who can hire you for positions you are considering
- Supplement with a few other methods such as head-hunters, job boards and so on. However, do not spend too much time on these.
The reasons why this approach is so successful is simple. One of the big challenges hiring managers constantly face, is to recruit the right person for the job and to ensure that they retain this person. By targeting jobs/companies for which you are the right fit, you make the hiring manager’s job much easier. In your resume, interviews and other communication, using inputs from your personal marketing plan ensures that you can effectively show why you are the best person for the job. And finally, by using contacts/networking you access the unpublished job market (in addition to the traditional job market) which broadens the number of good jobs you can target.
As with all good things in life, this approach requires a bit of effort, which is systematic and organized.
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.