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| I Finished School - Now Where's My Job? |
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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 position?" 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 Paperwork
Print 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 . . .) 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 Interview
Dress 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. Be yourself (your best self), and answer honestly. Merely reciting what you think the interviewer wants to hear, or speaking words that mean nothing to you, will come across as emptiness. 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!
1:11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, |
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Jerry |
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April 07, 2008 at 3:22pm |
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Kathy,
What a wonderful God we serve. Two things. First, you were on my mind today and I wondered how you were. Second, I was with some of the girls from church today, talking about careers. This information is so practical. Thanks for sharing it. The dress part is so critical and it is awfully hard to get some of the young to see that. |
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Great advice Kathy !
I was the person hiring service techs at my former job. In larger companies there are some interesting constraints, giving the applicant an advantage, but you can tell a lot from their resume to offset the problem. We cannot ask many of the questions you were talking about. All a former employer can legally tell me is if they worked for them, and would they re-hire the person. However, here's where the resume, and job history becomes important. We scan the job history very close, and then have them vetted by Pinkerton's. If there are holes in their history we ask them very pointed questions. While many jobs over a short time are an issue, I would try to ask why. People who were willing to work at McDonald's to feed their family, while in between better jobs, actually went up in my estimation. 6 months of no job, and no reason for a job, always raised a red flag! If you're responsible you can always find something, even if it's flipping burgers or WalMart !
Again, great post ! |
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Cheryl |
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April 07, 2008 at 4:02pm |
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Kathy, can I have a job?
Love ya lady!
As always, excellent post! |
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Tina |
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April 07, 2008 at 7:15pm |
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Another great way to earn experience is through volunteer work. Always dilegently keep records and dates of all voluneer work the same as you would keep track of your past history of employment. It also shows a characteristic of dedication to an employer who most likely knows nothing about you otherwise.
Great post Kathy. We usually hold a resume workshop in the fall and spring semesters in one of the clubs that I am in at school. Another one we do is a professional attire workshop. Very helpful information for anyone seeking employment. |
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| Kathy, what a unique and practical post!! If I come across someone searching for a job who could use some tips on job searching, I'll point em to your post! |
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Glenn |
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April 08, 2008 at 7:22am |
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Hey Kathy, well written and very practical advise. I think I will print it and save it for my boys. I have one in his second year of college and he will be banging on some doors soon enough. Thanks for posting this.
peace |
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Very good advice. Also, there are various forms of resumès, so looking at a book that has such examples would be good to. The choice of which form could be determined by what kind of job one is applying for. I will be doing more intercessory praying that there will be increasing of job opportunities. |
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Great Blog -
I am giving this to my neice and nephew who are pursuing careers in nursing and dentistry. Awesome advice..
Love ya |
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Steve |
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April 08, 2008 at 3:33pm |
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| The really hard interview (or not) is the one we prepare for our entire lives. Those same principles apply to how we might get a "job" serving God. We should (1) "know" our employer but studying what He has published - the Bible (2) be on time for worship and Bible study (3) gird (dress) ourselves with appropriate clothing - salvation, faith, the word (3) find something to do (anticipate a need) and do it. You get the idea. Some really grea advice here Kathy for everyone - great job! |
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Tina |
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April 09, 2008 at 10:03am |
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| As well as your analogy Steve. AMEN! |
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Kathy |
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April 09, 2008 at 5:12pm |
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Jerry you are so kind! I have been peeking in here occasionally, but work is taking all my days and nights this month. Can you guess from my blog what I'm doing? :) I'm glad the blog was timely for you! You are right about the clothing. Many of the younger set don't understand how comservative could possibly be attractive and fashionable, but it definitely can!
Dennis, thanks for adding your experience! I can relate to a lot of it!
Cheryl, full-time jobs are few and far between, but if you have a Masters in Spanish, I will hire you part-time immediately! :)
Tina, volunteer work is a great idea, especially if it is field related. And probably all schools offer free workshops on resume writing, interview preparation, and job skills analysis. Thanks for adding such great tips!
Thanks, Mike! |
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Kathy |
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April 09, 2008 at 5:16pm |
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Glenn and mstovall, thanks! A prayer for your boys and your niece and nephew!
Thanks, Bible_lover! You are right about the resumes, that different types are appropriate for different jobs. Thanks for adding that tip!
Steve, great spiritual analogy! Thanks! |
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Hi Kathy - great post. I especially liked your opening paragraph ... took me right back to when I was just out of school and looking for my first job. How mysterious and uncertain the process can seem. It is important to keep an attitude of hope and remember the things that are certain (i.e. God loves you and he won't forget you or your needs!) Good luck to all the job seekers this spring, and also to those doing the hiring. Peace |
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Kathy |
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April 15, 2008 at 8:26pm |
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| Thanks, June! Life is a lot easier looking back on the uncertain times rather than forward, isn't it! Amen to the good wishes for all those who are seeking jobs! |
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Blessings, we are soooo blessed and YES God is so good. :-)
GOD has a job for everyone, HE needs WORKERS right now and HIS
wanted list is sooooooooo long. If you can not get a JOB in the world then
come work for HEAVEN.
Pray to the Lord of the Harvest to SEND Workers because they are sooo few!!
Be blessed, join the WAR and join the Worship ARMY- amen. :-)
Love in His PASSION, Doc. :-)
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Kathy |
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April 16, 2008 at 6:48pm |
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| So true, Doc! In God's job market, the harvest is ready, and every worker is needed! Welcome to MyChurch! |
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Kathy, may I add a couple of notes (sorry for the delay...some how I missed this post)?
When you go for the interview, do everything that Kathy mentions above. Let me add a couple of things I look for:
1. Show up early. Go to the restroom and talk to yourself in the mirror. Say your name over and over. Make sure everything is in place - clothes, hair, etc. You only have one chance at the first impression.
2. Stand up when I walk in the room to meet you. Reach out to shake my hand before I reach for yours. I will give you the change. I want to see how much initiative you will take.
3. Discuss your passion and how it fits in the job we are discussing. There are a lot of people looking for jobs. I will take a person with passion over one that isn't any day.
4. Show me that you are adjustable. Can you take criticism, adjust, and move forward? Most jobs get boring at times. Do you know how to find ways to do things better? If others offer methods can you adjust to allow for their creativity?
5. Always, always, always, send a thank you note. Even if you don't want the job, do it.
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Kathy |
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April 19, 2008 at 1:26pm |
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| Great advice, Voice! Thanks!! (I'm not sure about talking to myself in the mirror though. What if my interviewer is one of the stalls hearing me! Should I look under the stalls for feet?) :) |
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| Very funny...it helps bleed off nervousness...;^) |
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Becky |
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May 01, 2008 at 7:20pm |
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Hey Kathy,
This is a great blog. Even though I read this earlier, I am sorry that I did not comment on it earlier. As someone who has had many, many interviews pre-first career, and post graduation moving up the corporate chain. I have had many things that have and have not worked for me.
As many have said on here Prepare, Prepare, Prepare.
1) You can never prepare for that job that you really want enough. There are so many websites that help you prepare for the interview with many interview questions samples. One that I recently learned was when an interview when an interviewer asks you "what do you see yourself doing in 2 to 5 years from now?". I was honest and said that "I desired to move to a position that prepared business cases for making management and strategic decisions". Another candidate said, "I see myself in this position, this is exactly what I wanted to do after my entry level position at this company" I had 2 years of auditing experience and eight years of successful corporate experience, she was an entry level accountant with the ink on her degree still drying. Who do you think got the job? She did.
2) When interviewing for a corporation that is publically traded, research that company as well as the industry. Ask the interviewer intelligent questions about their company. Interviewers always ask you at the end if you have any questions for them. Most of the time you don't have to ask questions about benefits or other things of this manner because it will be provided in the interview. Instead, ask questions that question the interviewer about their own knowledge of the company where they are employed. For instance. Don't ask them the obvious, "So I saw your stock went up $5 per share this year, why is that?". Any Joe on the street can ask a question so open ended that it shows that you are not interested in the company and desire to work for them enough that you didn't research them enough to know about their company.
Instead ask them, "I see the industry is starting to diminish because people no longer use LAN lines for a phone service because they are using cell phones as their primary lines. Is this part of the reason for the decrease in your stock price? And if so, what is this company doing to hedge against a declining industry? Is this company planning new and exciting research and development to compensate? Or do you see a potential partnering, buyout or hostile take over with another competitor?" See the second question makes the interviewer think and have to dig deep on his own knowledge of the question. Either he will be impressed and know the information you are questioning, ask if he can email you the answers to the questions or feed you a line of bull to get out of the question. That way you show that you have initiative and intelligence for the interview.
3) Be yourself in the interview. Not only do you need to know yourself as Kathy stated above, but you need to show all of you to sell all of you. For instance if you have humor, show it. Once I told an interviewer that I was an old farm girl from a dirt farm out around Dodge City Kansas and I know what true hard work is all about. I was a non traditional student 31 years old applying for an entry level position. Little did I know the interviewer was the director of 140 people and He looked me and said, "Becky, we definately have a position for you here."
4) I have also learned that when they ask you your weaknesses that sometimes it is ok to say real weaknesses that some people would say is taboo to say in an interview. For instance, I have told people that I sometimes have a hard time with prioritization. This is because I am usually multi-tasking so many projects or researching on a better way to save a project money that I need direction of what needs to be accomplished first.
If in a group interview, do not act haughty towards other applicants. This is perceived as not being a very good team player. I noticed in my group interview for breakfast and lunch that none of the other applicants for the positions we were applying for started around or when I started my entry level position. Some of the other applicants were snotty towards me when I was friendly, or they hogged the conversation, or they tried to make my questions seem stupid. I know it sounds petty but it happens.
If interviewed by many interviewers of the company, ask each one different questions. Challenging questions. I have been interviewed 7 times for one position, and found out later that they picked me because I did not ask them the same questions seven times. Interviewers always compare notes they take at the interview.
Also, be real. I have learned that in the bible belt of the south in NC I can even talk about my beliefs. When an interviewer asked me how I was planning on handling a 90 minute commute one way to the job? I told them, well I just bought the bible on cd and I am planning on enjoying my commute to the fullest. They smiled and said, I would too. So I was peddling not only myself but the Lord too. HA! I also told that to a few recruiters and they told me that they were going to try their hardest to find me a job. So sometimes what is not always the textbook answers and sometimes considered taboo in an interview can work to your advantage.
Finally, Pray without ceasing about an interview. You need to have a good fit between you and the employer. You do not want to force a position that might not be in God's will. We all know all to well what happens when we don't follow and try to force his will for us, it can be pretty painful. He will show and provide the best job for you.
Thanks for this blog Kathy. I will have to come back myself as the job hunt for me is still not producing the fruits I think it should after four months of being laid off from my prior position. But maybe that isn't in God's will for me right now, or at least that is what I keep telling myself instead of a hurting economy or that I am not good enough to be employed right now. |
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Becky |
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May 01, 2008 at 7:24pm |
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| Sorry to write so much on your blog. I just couldn't stop typing once I got started. |
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Kathy |
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May 01, 2008 at 8:37pm |
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| Thanks, Becky. All personal experiences and advice are welcome, as we can all learn from each other! |
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| You hit it on the head Kathy. It is all about preparation, preparation, preparation! Give some thought into your job application. Find out what the job entails. Ask good questions to the recruiter, or the manager before you even get started. Find out what they want, why there is a vacancy and determine how you will best fill that need. It is amazing to me that we spend years gettting educated but there are few classes and opportunities for the practical things in life, like how to search for a job, interview, balance a check book, how to establish credit, change the oil in your car, cook for yourself etc.. I always wanted to teach a class called Life 101 and go up to Life 104 teaching practical things like mentioned, how to have a good relationship, how to handle conflict, explaining where to find voter information etc..Any way, this is good stuff. |
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Some challenging and Divine thoughts?? Are we living in a War?? (2 Tim 2:4)Are we living in the Last Days?? (James 5:3)Are we called to reach the Lost?? (Matt 28:19)Are we called to be Sacrifices for the Gospel??(Matthew 16:24-28, Mark 8:34-38, Luke 9:23-27,
Luke 14:25-35, John 12:23-26) Are we in OUR world with Jesus orAre we in HIS world doing what HE wants?? Preparation, Preparation, Preparation for what?? Some challenging and Divine thoughts??
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Kathy |
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May 14, 2008 at 5:48am |
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Amen,Brother Todd! As glad as I am for all the literature and algebra I studied in high school, I wish I had traded one of those classes for one on car maintenance or simple house maintenance! And today's youth definitely need to be taught about the credit world and how to avoid becoming its slave. Life 101 is a great course idea, which probably has been done, but if the one teaching it is not the one with the vision for it, like anythng else, it is just another credit!
Doc, you are so right that our main focus should be on Christ's mission, not on the details of our own lives. There's a song that says "I don't have time to build Your kingdom, because I'm so busy building mine." However, I think God calls most of us to serve Him within our own cultures, and in many cultures, education and jobs are an important part of that structure. Your focus, though, is perfect, and you are right that our US culture is far to focused on "me"!
Thanks for the great comments! |
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| Here's a thought outside the box. Could it be that your vocation is your divine calling? God knows we need Christian Lawyers, Doctors, and Indian Chiefs. Imagine people like Bill Gates, Donald Trump, and Bill O'Reily getting saved and on fire for God. Imagine what impact that could have in our country. |
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Kathy |
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May 16, 2008 at 7:15am |
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| Brother Todd, I agree 100%. I believe God desires that we all salt the worlds in which we live and work. In most cases I don't believe that God has one particular workplace chosen for us, but that wherever we find ourselves, whether specifically orchestrated by Him or not, it is His desire that we are His missionaries in that place. I hear people complain that there are no Christians in their workplace. Yay! What better place for salt and light! |
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