Peter Vogt, MonsterTrak's Career Coach, answers questions about searching for jobs,
networking, career fairs, and more.
College is rapidly drawing to a close, and all the online job searches I've done haven't
gone so well. I'm getting my degree in English, but I want to write. Unfortunately, the
only real jobs I've had have been in office administration, and I'm tired of applying for
clerical positions. I'd like to land a job with a publishing company, but nobody wants to
hire unless you've had more experience. How do I get my foot in the door?
Answer:
It's great that you're using the Internet in your job search. But don't make the mistake of
making the Internet your entire job search. Many jobs are never advertised, but are
publicized and even filled through word of mouth.
Do whatever you can to start talking to people in your field and getting to know them.
Think about joining a professional organization and attending its regular meetings. You'll
be able to network with people who work in publishing, and you're more likely to be on
their lists when internship and job opportunities come along.
I'm currently a college senior studying computer science and looking for a job.
How should I start my job search? I've done a search on Monster and submitted many
resumes, but have had no responses for an interview. Any help would be
appreciated.
Answer:
First, be sure to use MonsterTRAK, in addition to Monster. MonsterTRAK
(http://www.monstertrak.com) is a part of Monster that features job and internship
listings specifically for college students and recent college graduates. (For you to access
MonsterTRAK, your college must be a member. Find out at
http://www2.monstertrak.com/trak2000/schools/index.html.)
Also, work with a career counselor at your school, and ask him/her to teach you the
job search basics.
You can also talk to your computer science professors and ask them where other
students -- current and previous -- have landed jobs with their CS degrees. Consider
approach ing these same companies, as well as talking to the CS grads they hired in order
to get their advice and suggestions.
I'm having a really difficult time with my job search. I'm graduating from college in two
months and have no prospects. Every available job requires some type of experience
which I don't have (formally at least). How am I supposed to get experience when
nobody will hire me without it? (Internships aren't an option either because I need to earn
a salary.)
Answer:
One thing I want to caution you against is ruling out internships completely. Why?
Because some of them DO pay; not all internships require you to work for nothing.
Also, you say you don't have "formal" experience; that implies that you've gained
experience "informally." If so, how DID you get that experience? If it's related to the job
you're applying for, it doesn't matter if it was "informal" or "formal," or even paid or
unpaid.
One solution would be to get some sort of pay-the-bills job to earn money to pay your
bills, and then do an unpaid internship to gain experience in your chosen field. This
proposition probably isn't your first choice, but with the current job market, it may be an
option worth considering.
I'm finishing up my undergraduate degree and have extensive work experience through
my internships. As an entry-level job applicant, do I have any leverage to negotiate when
I get an offer?
Answer:
You DO have a say as an entry-level applicant, and you SHOULD try to negotiate a
better deal for yourself. The fact that you have extensive experience puts you in a
reasonably good negotiating position.
In order to negotiate, you will need salary information and a low-key, matter-of-fact
attitude (versus arrogance). You need to show the recruiter that you are aware of the
salaries and benefits that similar companies offer people with comparable experience.
Then simply ask your company if it can match those offers.
DON'T put it in terms of a demand. Instead make it a simple question. For example:
"I've been researching the salaries and benefits being offered to people with my education
and experience at companies similar to yours. I've found that, on average, starting salaries
are [$$] and benefits packages include [XX]. Will you be matching those figures with
your offer?"
Often, the simple fact that you've done some homework will be impressive to the
employer, and he/she might bump up the offer a bit. Also, most employers will expect
you to negotiate - they won't be taken aback or offended.
I just graduated with a sociology degree. I don't feel I should be making $8/hour
in a temp job, but my parents are nagging me to get one. What should I do?
Answer:
You don't say whether you gained any experience in your field while you were in school
(through an internship or co-op), but if you didn't, you might want to take a temp job for
a while.
Having real world work experience is key to employers. From an employer's perspective,
you're owed nothing for earning your bachelor's degree. An employer is instead going to
look at you and say, "Prove yourself by showing me some experience in the field."
So think carefully about doing some temp work. You'll make some money, get your
parents off your back, and start accumulating professional experience and skills.
Meanwhile, you can leave yourself enough time during the week to look for the job you
really want. Also, temping can be an opportunity to make valuable professional contacts
who can help you find a full-time job.
I recently graduated college and am ready to apply the skills and expertise I've gained in
graphic design. I've posted my resume, made phone calls, and even had interviews, but
have had no luck getting a job.
Everyone says it is all about "who you know" and not "what you know" that will get you
an opportunity. As a college graduate, how do you make these connections?
Answer:
It can be hard to make "connections" when you're just out of school and you feel like you
don't really know anyone.
Probably the best thing you could do is join a local chapter of a professional organization
and start attending the meetings regularly. Why? Because you'll get to know people in the
field that way, and they'll get to know you too. They'll also remember you, because
VERY few college students and recent grads join professional organizations -- and so
you automatically stand out just by showing up.
Another effective way to make is to talk (in person or via phone or email) to alumni of
your own program from your own school. You can track these people down in several
ways:
1) Ask your fellow grads and students about recent graduates of your program.
2) Ask your professors/instructors to help you identify and contact previous grads of the
program.
3) Ask a career counselor at your school if the career center has an "alumni database" that
offers contact information of alums who have volunteered to talk to students and new
grads about their jobs.
DON'T blatantly hit them up for a job (which puts them on the spot); instead, just ask if
they'd be willing to give you some job-related advice. They'll probably be able to figure
out that you're looking for a job, without you beating them over the head with it.
I just started my first real job two weeks ago. I was unemployed and temping for months
and settled for this boring administrative job. Yesterday, someone called from a company
who I'd sent my resume to a month ago regarding my dream job, and they want to set up
an interview. Now I can't decide whether I should take a chance and interview for it,
given the fact that I just started a new job. Am I obligated to not interview for other jobs?
Is it unethical? I would feel bad for my current company if I got the job and accepted it,
but I don't want to turn down this exciting opportunity.
Answer:
Go and interview for the job, especially if it's one you feel so passionate about and that
would be a better fit for you.
Obviously your current employer would be disappointed to know that you went on an
interview for another job, and he/she would likely be even more disappointed if you were
offered the other job and you took it. But disappointing someone isn't really the same as
doing something unethical.
However, be sure to minimize the amount of time you'll miss from your current job -- and
don't use ANY work time or equipment (e.g., the company Internet connection) to
prepare for your interview at the other company.
Also, tread carefully at the interview if you're asked about what you're doing now. If the
interviewer at the new company finds out you've only been working at your current
company for a few weeks, how can he/she be sure you'll stay with their company for the
long haul?
I'm interested in working in sales, and one of my friends said I need to start networking.
How do I network when I don't have a single connection?
Answer:
Your friend who suggested you start networking is right. However, don't make
networking into a bigger, more mysterious thing than it really is. Networking is just
talking to people, starting with the people you already know well and going from
there.
While you may believe you "do not have a single connection," you actually do. Your
friends are networking connections. Do any of them know people who work in sales? If
so, ask these friends to refer you to those people -- and then try to set up informational
interviews with them to get their advice on breaking into the field.
Your family members, old professors and acquaintances can be good networking contacts
too. Also, a career counselor at your old school might be able to connect you with alumni
who work in your field. Additionally, you might want to join a local professional
organization to meet industry professionals who could have job leads.
After six months temping and looking for a permanent job, I recently accepted a position.
The only problem is that the salary is way below what I was hoping to earn. However,
they pointed out the potential for raises and advancement, and they seemed to genuinely
want me, not anyone else in the position. So I'm taking this job but still plan to look
elsewhere and interview if needed. Is this ethical? Should I not take the job if I cannot
make a firm commitment for a long time, or do I have the right to keep looking?
Answer:
I don't know that you're compromising your ethics by taking this job, especially since you
already had a discussion about your salary concerns with your supervisor.
You MAY be taking a risk, though, if you continue interviewing for other jobs and your
boss or colleagues find out about it and don't like it.
You need to be a little careful in this particular situation. For example, if you use your
new company's resources to look for another job, well, then you are starting to go down
unethical road -- and, perhaps worse, you're setting yourself up to get fired if someone
catches you and doesn't like what he/she sees.
So look for a new job if you must, but be smart and look for it after hours and on
weekends -- i.e., on your own time and using your own resources, not your company's.
A career expo is coming soon to my university. How do I start a conversation with
company reps? What should be the content of my talks with him/her? What are some
strategies to not get nervous, and most of all, not to SHOW that nervousness? Please give
me an overview of what to do at these events and how to properly present myself.
Answer:
First, meet with a career counselor at your school's career center. He/she can tell you
which companies/organizations will be attending the fair so you can start researching
them in advance.
A career counselor can also help you practice things like greeting the employer, making
conversation with the employer, etc. -- your basic "interpersonal skills." In addition,
he/she can probably tell you about some of the specific company representatives who will
be in attendance.
One other piece of advice: Once you're at the fair, talk first to companies/organizations
you probably DON'T think you want to intern/work for. This will allow you to get used
to that type of interaction - meeting, greeting, chatting - but with people from companies
that aren't your top choices.
A job fair is coming up on next Tuesday. I know I should follow up by sending thank-you
notes, but what else should be contained in those thank you notes? Should they be sent by
snail mail or is email okay? Should I call the company rep on the phone after the job fair
and speak with them about the position?
Answer:
Most employers seem to have no preference for how you send thank-you notes, so email
or snail mail is probably okay. You can handwrite your thank-you note if you'd like (most
employers don't care), as long as your handwriting is legible and neat. If it's not, you're
better off using the computer to write your note.
If you're willing to call reps after the fair to talk about job possibilities, by all means do
so! It will show that you're truly interested in working for the company.
In terms of the content of your thank-you notes, definitely open with something about "it
was a pleasure meeting you..." Then, it's good to bring up one specific point you talked
about with that person (so he/she will remember who you are, since he/she probably
talked to dozens or hundreds of students on the day of the fair).
Finally, you should include a sentence or two that "sells" you a bit. Mention a key skill or
two, a key experience or two ... in short, anything that will reiterate what you have to
offer the company.
I just accepted a job position and training starts immediately. However, I suddenly got a
final round interview for a better job that pays more and will put me in a management
position. The interview can't happen for a couple of months. What should I do? Should I
tell the second company that I recently accepted a position, but I still want to interview
with them? And what do I tell my new employer?
Answer:
There is no good way to handle your situation. You don't want to make the people at
Company Y mad at you for seeming like you want to back out of your offer acceptance.
Meanwhile, you also don't want the people at Company Z to think that you're bailing on
Company Y. After all, the Company Z people might conclude, if you so easily ditched
Company Y, what's to stop you from doing the same thing to them?
So, if you decide to go for the job you really want with Company Z, you can either:
A) Keep your mouth shut about it where Company Y is concerned (which may be
difficult and a bit unethical), or
B) Turn down the job you've already accepted with Company Y (and tell the truth about
the reason why) -- then go for the job you really want with Company Z.
C) Stick with the job at Company Y and respectfully decline the interview with Company
Z. Tell Company Z exactly why you're declining -- because you've already accepted a job
and you want to honor that commitment -- and then keep the door open by asking
Company Z people to keep you in mind for future position openings.
These questions were compiled from message boards at MonsterTrak.com
(http://www.monstertrak.com). Check out MonsterTrak for additional tips and job
listings.
Add to:
