In a job interview, a recent college graduate was asked what she thought of the opportunity.
Her answer: "It wouldn't be my first choice."
The result: No job offer
Author Barbara Pachter says that many millennials limit their job options by making poor choices in etiquette (http://barbarapachter.blogspot.com/2009/05/mistakes-to-avoid-when-looking-for-work.html)
The graduate above was essentially insulting the interviewer by demeaning the job, in telling the "truth".
It's not necessary to lower your career goals, but it is important to show that you spent your time well right after graduation. You need a job as soon as possible to provide proof of your ambition.
If you're going to accept an interview, make sure that you prepare, demonstrate openness and a positive attitude and followup in a way that keeps everything going in your favor. Don't assume anything about the position you're interviewing for, or the person doing the interview. He or she may even have other "unadvertised" opportunities.
True,
Your first job may not align with your college major.
It may be a hourly rate and not a salary.
It may be part-time.
It may not pay what you think you're worth.
But, in today's job market, you're competing with experienced professionals. They know something that you don't know.
1. Any seemingly great job offer can turn out to be disappointing, once you get there. And..
2. A position that seems inadequate at first can produce unforeseen opportunities, once you get there.
When your expectations about your first job are too lofty, you won't take interviews seriously, you won't get a job offer, and -- worst of all -- you will undermine your own confidence. Handle the interview well, and you're sure to get a boost in your self-image.
In an interview, it's best to focus on evaluating the job positively, thinking of ways it can help you, instead of assuming that it's not what you're looking for. Keep your options open. You don't have to make a decision until you get an offer!
Once you get a job, learn as much as you can while there, build professional friendships that will help you build your future; and create a reputation for reliability and expertise. You'll soon be in a position to control your own destiny.
My mission is to empower youth with: - The knowledge about career possibilities, and the education and training needed to attain them - The creative-thinking and emotional skills that make for good career decisions and which employers prefer; - And the resilience needed to flourish in life.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
A College Major is not a Career Choice! Get Out from Behind Yourself and Talk to People
In today's economy, many professional jobs do not require a four-year degree, and there is an oversupply of college graduates. This changes the equation for what the payback of a college education really is, and, the kind of investment you need to make to get the best results.
Many students, and certainly, their parents, say that they choose a major with the expectation of a particular job. The folly of this is that, too often, they act on incomplete information: what someone told them. They omit the critical step of finding out for themselves.
First, most professional jobs accept a variety of training options. College may not even be required.
And, if you are a college graduate, a variety of majors will be viewed by employers as applicable to your job of choice. You might be competing with more applicants that you planned on.
The only way to prove out your expectations for work after college is to use the principles of job shadowing that you learned about in high school: Talk to people!
Seek out people who are employed in the profession. How did they get there? What specific types of education, on-site training and networking would they recommend to you? If you don't know anyone employed in the field, go to the library or search online and find the professional trade association. Locate someone in your area and email them or ask for an in-person coffee meeting (your treat, of course).
College students, remember: You're the "customer" of your college. Use the faculty as a career resource. You're entitled to free access to them. Your instructors know the emerging trends in the profession and, best of all, they are connected. They know people who make the hiring decisions. They can assist you with your search for an internship, which is the best way to try on a job, before continuing to pursue it.
College is not just a monetary investment. It also occupies critical years of your life. Don't let that time produce lost opportunities.
Many students, and certainly, their parents, say that they choose a major with the expectation of a particular job. The folly of this is that, too often, they act on incomplete information: what someone told them. They omit the critical step of finding out for themselves.
First, most professional jobs accept a variety of training options. College may not even be required.
And, if you are a college graduate, a variety of majors will be viewed by employers as applicable to your job of choice. You might be competing with more applicants that you planned on.
The only way to prove out your expectations for work after college is to use the principles of job shadowing that you learned about in high school: Talk to people!
Seek out people who are employed in the profession. How did they get there? What specific types of education, on-site training and networking would they recommend to you? If you don't know anyone employed in the field, go to the library or search online and find the professional trade association. Locate someone in your area and email them or ask for an in-person coffee meeting (your treat, of course).
College students, remember: You're the "customer" of your college. Use the faculty as a career resource. You're entitled to free access to them. Your instructors know the emerging trends in the profession and, best of all, they are connected. They know people who make the hiring decisions. They can assist you with your search for an internship, which is the best way to try on a job, before continuing to pursue it.
College is not just a monetary investment. It also occupies critical years of your life. Don't let that time produce lost opportunities.
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