tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post7584580241867714249..comments2023-09-29T06:09:21.089-04:00Comments on Ask a Manager: recent grad frustrated by job searchAsk a Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05281942480230532899noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-32909109385825436962008-11-14T14:33:00.001-05:002008-11-14T14:33:00.001-05:00Hi, I completely understand your frustration. I am...Hi, I completely understand your frustration. I am a new graduate with a sociology degree as well. Throughout my undergraduate years I consistenly held a part-time job at a financial instution, major coffee chain, major furniture department store as well as at my very own University. I also volunteered as much as I could with various local and international agencies. You would think that would be enough to secure a job around $40, 000/year -- think again! I am back into looking for a job again. Lucky for me I just got an opportunity to work with immigrant youth who are learning to speak English, but its only 8 hours/week, so in the meantime I am looking for a retail job to fill the gap of hours. If things don't pan out quickly, I am taking off to teach English Abroad and/or work in Australia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-52891618546794823542008-11-14T14:33:00.000-05:002008-11-14T14:33:00.000-05:00Hi, I completely understand your frustration. I am...Hi, I completely understand your frustration. I am a new graduate with a sociology degree as well. Throughout my undergraduate years I consistenly held a part-time job at a financial instution, major coffee chain, major furniture department store as well as at my very own University. I also volunteered as much as I could with various local and international agencies. You would think that would be enough to secure a job around $40, 000/year -- think again! I am back into looking for a job again. Lucky for me I just got an opportunity to work with immigrant youth who are learning to speak English, but its only 8 hours/week, so in the meantime I am looking for a retail job to fill the gap of hours. If things don't pan out quickly, I am taking off to teach English Abroad and/or work in Australia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-87648626683924528932008-07-30T16:16:00.000-04:002008-07-30T16:16:00.000-04:00Poster, glad you got a job -- the job hunt was ugl...Poster, glad you got a job -- the job hunt was ugly when I graduated a few years ago (from a prestigious university), it's gotta be downright terrifying now. I must reiterate AAM's advice to make your school's career center work for you. Even during my most recent job hunt (a year ago), it was the most useful thing.Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718112236359369771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-38125577348721204172008-07-29T21:08:00.000-04:002008-07-29T21:08:00.000-04:00Sandy, I do think it's different in I.T., where it...Sandy, I do think it's different in I.T., where it's crucial to state what programming languages you have expertise in. Different for liberal arts students though.<BR/><BR/>For volunteer work, definitely include it on your resume! Just because it's not paid doesn't mean you're not acquiring skills, having meaningful accomplishments, etc. Just note it as "volunteer."Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06169577208218002098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-84086886290107060362008-07-29T17:01:00.000-04:002008-07-29T17:01:00.000-04:00I read the cover letter post article linked above....I read the cover letter post article linked above. Volunteer work may be more a touch for the cover letter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-21520441397107382872008-07-29T16:55:00.000-04:002008-07-29T16:55:00.000-04:00..Am just curious. In technology-related resumes,.....Am just curious. In technology-related resumes, we've been instructed to include coursework as Visual Basic, Java, XML and other programming languages are the same no matter where you work. <BR/><BR/>Would it be better to know if an I.T. department person will see the resume first versus an H.R. person (and then tailor the resume accordingly to emphasize or not the relevant coursework)? <BR/><BR/>I'm also doing volunteer work related to my field to help with the lack of valid I.T. work experience. Hopefully, that would fill in the gaps, but what is your take on it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-89879703640696662742008-07-29T11:50:00.000-04:002008-07-29T11:50:00.000-04:00Letter Writer,I'm glad your story had a happy endi...Letter Writer,<BR/><BR/>I'm glad your story had a happy ending and good luck on your new job.<BR/><BR/>But what I don't understand about recent grads is why they wait until they have their diploma in their hand to start their job search. <BR/><BR/>I started applying for jobs six weeks <I>before</I> graduation, while still typing up my senior thesis. I started my full-time job in early July with only a short gap of unemployment.<BR/><BR/>In contrast, I had a friend who graduated at the same time (also a Sociology major) who waited until the day after graduation to even start looking for work. He was unemployed for 3 months before he ran out of money and had to take any job he could get, which ended up being a customer service rep in a call center--not a fun job. <BR/><BR/>Most college graduates are recruited while still in school so they start working in late May/early June. If you're only starting to look in mid- to late-June you're probably behind the curve in terms of job hunting. <BR/><BR/>The same is true for internships as well. If you haven't applied by early March, then it's probably too late to land a decent internship with a good company. <BR/><BR/>It's all about thinking ahead and being proactive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-62230406599337694882008-07-29T09:25:00.000-04:002008-07-29T09:25:00.000-04:00Glad to hear it worked out for you! In the future,...Glad to hear it worked out for you! In the future, I recommend taking the SAT score off. It's really only relevant for your first job, if at all. Also, as a hiring manager, if I saw someone list a perfect 1600 on their SAT, I'd say "yeah, right". I'm not calling you a liar, but most people aren't going to believe it, or if they do, they're going to think that you are so smart, you're going to be really bored with whatever menial entry-level work they have for you. Just my two cents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-50005125023249461192008-07-29T03:06:00.000-04:002008-07-29T03:06:00.000-04:00Hi,Sender here, thanks for this. I actually -just...Hi,<BR/><BR/>Sender here, thanks for this. I actually -just- now got an offer in nonprofit advocacy in Boston, but I hope this helps other job market first-timers.<BR/><BR/>Several of your recommendations actually turned out critical in securing this offer. First, there was the cover letter (I stumbled upon your post during my archive trawl.) Second, there was interview feedback; I requested it from everyone who turned me down, and while most didn't respond, I did get some information that helped me interview better. And the offer I have now I actually owe to the endorsement of someone with whom I had a particularly good interview (touching on the networking tip.)<BR/><BR/>Thanks again, and I'll be sure to keep reading.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com