| So, you have finished your degree and have applied for four different jobs, and none of them hired you.?What?s wrong with those people??Do they have something against you??Are they prejudiced??Are they blind???Probably none of these.We?have all heard, and maybe vocalized, some of these reactions to being turned down for a job.??As someone?who?often sits on the other side of the?table, allow me to begin a dialogue here, not as an expert on the subject, but as one offering my own experiences to help make yours better.First,?let me share my?hypothetical perspective, once I have received your application.?I have never met you.?All I know of you is?the?form in my hands.?Likewise, there are 25?others on my desk, all desiring the one position?for which you have applied.?I have one position and 26 applicants.?That means, regardless of how good or how bad the applicants may be, one person will get the job, and 25 will not.?The?decision is not "Do I hire you, or?am I biased against you?"?The?decision is "Which one of all these?applicants will best meet the needs of this postion?"???I am not interested?in what gender or race you are, how old you are, or how much you need this job.?I am interested in finding the best?match for the position I am filling.?That?s all.?Now how can I do that, since I don?t know any of the 26 applicants?I carefully examine the?applications and resumes.?I plan?interview questions that will help me find the person I need.?I talk with people who do know you, especially those?for whom you?have worked.?Why??They can tell me what kind of worker you are.??Are you often absent??Always on time???Do you get along well with others??Do you make wise?choices???Do you interact professionally with everyone???Are you willing to continue studying and learning??Do you care about the company??Do you demonstrate?the talents?needed for this position??Do you demonstrate an appropriate level of maturity??Are?you lazy??Are you self-centered???Are you able?to?see your?own strengths and weaknesses objectively???Are you a hard worker??Now, what this means is that much of your preparation is done before you ever apply.?Everything you?have done to this point counts as preparation.?Your educational record.?Your previous job experience, no matter what it was.?Your relationships with past supervisors and co-workers.?Your ability to read for comprehension, and to write.?And everything you are doing right this second is preparation for the next job application.??Life is now.?There is no dress rehearsal.?Everything you?are doing with your life counts.??Now, here are some practical suggestions to help your chances:The PaperworkPrint your application legibly and neatly.?Do not leave any part of the application?blank.??Have someone professional?to?proofread it for spelling and grammatical errors to be sure it is perfect.?Don?t settle for less.?(Don?t trust spellcheck.?It doesn?t know the?difference between there and their?or be and by . . .)? |
| It doesn?t know the?difference between there and their?or be and by . . .)?Remember this is the reader?s first look at you, and you want to make a good first impression.?If your?spelling and grammar are not perfect, some of the other applications will be.?Include a resume?if appropriate, and be sure?it has no spelling or grammatical errors.?Likewise with the?cover letter and any other?paperwork.If your application includes a page of written expression, perhaps your philosophy or why you desire this position, take this writing seriously, and again, have someone to look over it and give you pointers before you mail it.?The objective is not to see?if you can count words.?This is your opportunity to brag about your credentials.??Don?t?write about how much this job could help you.?Write about?what you have to give to the job.?Why are you the best candidate??What do you bring to it that the others may not have??Again,?do not write in cursive, but print clearly and legibly.??No one will?toil over?reading what you have written.?There will be other clearer applications.The InterviewDress professionally and conservatively.??No wrinkled clothing.?No bright colors.?No plunging necklines or short skirts.?No jeans or sneakers.?A matching pant/blazer in a solid dark color is?usually a safe choice.?If?you don?t have any proper attire, go to?a local thrift store and find one appropriate outfit that you can wear to all you interviews.?It will be a good investment.??Arrive on time.?If you?arrive late for your interview, chances?are you will?arrive late for work.?Leave early to account for any traffic emergencies and to allow for time to find the?right building and the right room.??Anticipate the questions ahead of time,?and practice your answers.?Remember the interviewer just wants to get to know you, and he/she has carefully chosen the questions that matter?for this position.?Your answers are?extremely important.?Again, you might want to ask someone to listen to you as you practice, and to make suggestions.??Here are a few questions?to?expect:?What do you have to offer to this position??(Why should we hire you?)What are your strengths and weaknesses for this position?Where do you hope to be?five years from now?Be positive, poised,?and confident.?If there are obvious areas in which you are deficient, admit to those, and capitalize on your strengths.???Finally, what if?you still don?t get the job??Accept it with disappointment and grace.??It doesn?t mean anything except that?one of those 26 applicants was a?better fit for this particular position than you were.??Continue your search.?Watch the newspapers.??Check on-line sites.??And?examine how you can present yourself better.??Are you applying for the right kind of job??Do you need more education??Does?this type of position?match your talents and experience?People love to joke about?this one.?"How can I get experience if you won?t give me a?job?"?There really are ways.?Sometimes you?may need to?work part-time to get experience in the field, before you will be taken seriously as a full-time contender.?This could include an internship offered by your degree program, or it might mean keeping the full-time postion you have now?and working weekends or a couple of nights a week at a different job in the field you are seeking.?Do a good job there, and that will give you the experience your resume is lacking.Don?t give up, and don?t get discouraged.?Your time will come.?All of us will likely find ourselves jobless at some time in our lives.?Seek?to make yourself more marketable, accept a temporary job to pay your bills, and keep filling out those applications! |
| Seek?to make yourself more marketable, accept a temporary job to pay your bills, and keep filling out those applications! |
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