My Campus Chronicles
Our college blog dedicated to helping students prepare for life outside of college.
April 2009 archive
"At an interview, you want to stand out for the right reasons. To do so, you'll need to leave your baggage and anxiety at the door." That's a quote from one article I recently read about how candidates should interview for a job.
Recently, The Big Time posted an entry about how important it is for candidates to go into an interview as a confident future employee, instead of a victim of economic circumstances.
Remember to stick to highlighting the positives of your experience and skills, and try to remain upbeat from start to finish. Hiring managers are well aware of the tough job market and companies downsizing, so there is no need to go into detail about how you lost your job to the economic downturn.
If you have had several interviews and still have not found a job, be sure that you are applying for the right jobs. Being turned down multiple times for jobs can be a blow to your confidence, but make sure that you are applying for the right positions to start with.
The job market may not seem to be getting any easier, but government reports show that people are in fact getting jobs. So stay confident, do your research and score that new job!
Q: Dear Seymour, I don't have a college degree. Are there any jobs out there in today's economy that don't require a college degree?
- Submitted by Bill Sedine, Covington, Georgia
A: Dear Bill,
You're not alone, and many would say that you're even in great company. Some of today's top professionals didn't get their college degrees, including Bill Gates and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. You don't have to have a college education (and a burden of student loans) to be successful and have a rewarding career. Vocational training or an associate's degree may be needed, and all jobs will require on-the-job training, but many of today's fastest growing and recession-resistant careers don't require a four-year degree.
In fact, out of the top 15 fastest growing jobs for 2006-1026, ten do not require a college degree according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So, check out the tips below to make the most of your career, degree or not.
Do a self-assessment.
Before you launch a new career, do a little research about different career options and also about yourself. Many of today's hottest non-degree positions include sales, education, law enforcement, construction, administration, transportation, and management. Think about who you are and what you like to do in your free time. Do you like to interact with people, or are you more technical? Are you great at organizing, or do you love working with your hands? Knowing your goals and being passionate about what you want will help you to land that first position in a new career.
Once you have a goal in mind, research the position and the industry.
When you have an idea of what you want to do and why, do a little more digging and find out what you would need to do to land a job in that field. What certificates, seminars, workshops, training, or even volunteer activities would boost your attractiveness as an applicant? Find out ways to start getting experience and knowledge that will help you get the job you want. Recent experience will be a great leg up as you start to apply.
Remember that personal qualities count.
Attitude is everything, and if you're great to work with and are clearly happy with what you're doing, people will want to hire you. Think about it--would you rather work with someone who dislikes their job, or with someone who is happy to be at work? Be dependable, positive and honest and you'll be the kind of person that anyone would want to hire.
If you know what you want, have goals, and are willing to do what it takes to land your dream job, you can find a job where you will be happy and successful--with our without a degree.
Seymour
Some job seekers are starting to feel like Father Time is creeping in on their search. Three, six, nine months? A year? Some workers have been searching for jobs for what seems like an eternity.
It's times like these when job hunters begin to wonder if they need to change their resume, take a job they really don't want or just take the time to stop and smell the roses.
The latter may be easier said than done when you are trying to pay the bills, but according to one column, it might be the key to nailing your interview, especially for more mature workers.
When the job search becomes tedious and stressful, it might be time to decompress and find a distraction. Whether that's a hobby or taking a foreign language class, it might be something that can help you not only keep your composure, but help boost your confidence as well.
Take this new found confidence into the interview room. Not only will you come off as someone who has made lemonade out of lemons, but you will not come off as a "victim" of the economic circumstances that have affected so many.
Keep in mind that the market is also showing some signs of a turnaround, so your hunt may soon be coming to an end. Stay motivated and keep your chin up. Your confidence will shine through.
For all of those seeking a new job, it is important to make sure you have reliable references who can provide accurate information about your workplace performance.
Contacting references is generally one of the last steps before extending an offer to a prospective employee. So what happens if you have reached the point of having your references contacted, but never receive an offer?
First of all, a quick tip list of references dos and don'ts.
- Always ask if you may use someone as a reference, especially managers and former colleagues.
- Make sure you let your references know ahead of time that they will be contacted by your prospective employer.
- Be sure that your list of references includes a mixture of peers and managers. Ideally, include someone who worked for you, someone you worked with directly, and a manager.
- Stay in contact with anyone who may be a "go to" reference. It's difficult to include someone as a reference who you have not spoken to in several years.
Now that the formalities of references have been covered, let's get down to how references could be a road block to a new job.
One careers advice column mentions that some references may be out of pocket too often to be reliable. So try to avoid using those who travel frequently, or are usually involved with in person meetings.
If you find that you are getting to the reference stage, but not receiving an offer too many times, you may need to re-evaluate who your references are. Take an honest assessment of your relationship with your references, and make sure that you follow the etiquette list above.
Once you have assessed who your references are, and whether or not they are appropriate for the responsibility, but are still having problems with getting an offer, keep in mind that the job market is still on shaky ground. Some companies may think they are in a position to hire, but realize they have to wait.
Just stay patient and motivated. Good luck!
"Just hearing the word "merger" can strike fear in the minds of many workers. While changes that come with the merging of two companies can seem daunting and scary, workers who approach the event with an optimistic attitude, willingness to learn new things, and build new professional relationships will stand out as star performers."
Q: Dear Seymour, My company is about to go through a merger and my coworkers and I are fearful of this change. Any advice on how to best cope?
- Submitted by Tom Blaine, Lexington, Kentucky
A: Dear Tom,
Mergers seem to be on the rise, and many people are experiencing those same feelings. Fear is a natural initial reaction to merger news. However, there are some ways you can ease your angst by better preparing yourself for whatever the future brings.
Research as much as possible.
Many times, the sole source of fear is a lack of understanding, and a lack of understanding stems from a lack of information. Take some time to research the company you will merge with. What does it do? How does that compare with what your company does? Learn about the markets each is involved in, and stay sharp on related business news. This could help you understand what is really going on in your business and help you see what lies ahead.
Do a self evaluation.
Think long and hard about your current role in your company. What is it that you really do? Make a list of these things and why they are important. While you may not encounter a direct evaluation from someone in your company or in the merger company, these evaluations will happen eventually and it will be better if you are prepared with solid answers and a substantial, relevant task list. Think about what you offer that no one else does, and make a list of accomplishments so you can easily answer to how you contribute to the team.
Make some new friends.
One difficult aspect of mergers is the influx of new people. They might not understand "how things are done" at your business, and you might not understand how things are done in theirs. In some ways, this feels just like being a new kid at a new school and there might be a lot to learn. When training sessions for new systems are offered, go in with a good attitude and be engaged. Not everyone will be able to approach change this way, and it will set you apart as a great worker.
Above all, stay calm! Don't let fear get the best of you. Educate yourself and maintain a good attitude, and everything will turn out fine.
Seymour
I recently read an article about candidates who have interviewed for jobs, but never heard back from the interviewer or never received feedback for why they didn't get the job. It's a good article and even includes input from Spherion's very own Rebecca Callahan, senior vice president of Recruitment Process Outsourcing.
Unfortunately, the interview and rejection process has become very impersonal, leaving candidates to wonder whether or not they were/are qualified for the job. This can be frustrating and leave candidates with a feeling of discouragement.
As the article points out, some candidates have gone on multiple interviews and still have not had any success getting hired. And even if you can ask for feedback, many interviews will not be honest with you.
So what can you do? First of all, carefully examine the opportunity and be honest with yourself about whether or not you have the qualifications and experience to apply for the job. You should re-evaluate your expectations in regards to salary and benefits. You may be scaring away potential employers with your demands.
If all else fails you still can't seem to get your foot in the door, consider meeting with a careers coach or counselor who may be able to provide you with an objective opinion about what may be going on. They can evaluate your resume, interview skills and experience to make sure that you are pursuing the right jobs.
