The Interview

Once again Judi Perkins offers advice that is aimed at job seekers but also pertains to students looking for quality internships. Her advice is simple, really. Learn as much as you can about the company where you want to intern, and be prepared to answer questions like “Why do you want to work for this company?” Perkins advises against giving a me-focused response that explains what the company can do for you and how it can help you advance your career. Instead she says that you should tell the interviewer what you can do for the company.
She recommends telling the interviewer what you have learned about the company and why it seems like a good fit for you. She also says that getting specific helps, too. Choose experiences of your own that relate to the company and the position you’re seeking. Add your own personal motivations and interests and any other information you may have acquired from your recruiter, friends, former interns or the ad the company posted.
Know who you are and what you want, Perkins says. This is especially important for college students looking for internships. When you choose the companies where you want to intern, think of it as a potential place of employment. Also think about what you can offer the company, and don’t be afraid to tell the interviewer in a positive, confident manner. An internship, after all, is really a temp assignment with the potential to become temp-to-hire.
In essence, when you start submitting resumes for internships, be like the Boy Scouts of America: “Be prepared.”

Don’t Go There: Taboo Topics in Job Interviews

When interviewing for a new job, it is important that you walk the walk (look professional) but also that you talk the talk (ask the right questions and give the right answers). In order to do the latter, avoid topics such as sex, politics, and religion unless they are directly relevant to the position (they almost never are) as well as the following:

Continue Reading

Noncompetes

I was just looking at The Professional Post and scanned the article on noncompetes. This is an interesting subject. While this piece of paper may secure you a job, it sounds like risky business to me. After all, I believe most people want to have the opportunity to advance in their career, not be held back. And suppose the job becomes to stressful, or you have issues with the personnel; you are bound to the company. Any employee should have the right to take a look at other jobs, which allow him or her to move up the ladder of success. When you work hard, that effort should put you in the best position to succeed, right? It’s simple; competition is a part of our world and makes it exciting. If a company wants you to sign a restrictive covenant that doesn’t give you the chance to make a move ahead when the time is right, it may cost you in the long run. Companies want to protect their inside information, but I guess we have to ask ourselves what is best for us. I don’t think a noncompete is for me, but who knows what the future holds.
I would love to hear your comments on noncompetes!

Why IT Recruiting as a profession?

Sometimes people in our industry can get a bad repetition or make someone mad. But, is that because what the industry is or what they did?

Continue Reading

Your Daily Commute Means More Than You Think

“Location, location, location,” is not only a relevant phrase when shopping for a prime piece of real estate but it is also a key determinant when conducting a job search.

Continue Reading

3 Job Search Problems Solved

Last week I surveyed 159 job seekers by email and asked them this question:
“What one thing could I do to make your job search easier?”
The responses were intriguing and I will share with you my answers to the most relevant ones in this and future columns.

Continue Reading

Temping

Last week I went in for an interview with a temp agency. I went through a friend of the family, but treated my meeting like a real interview. It turned out that the interview was not really a strict one. I think I learned more about the woman interviewing me than she learned about me. It was a very laid back interview that I had no reason to be nervous for. Though I’m sure looking and acting professional was the best thing to do, I do not think that for this particular circumstance it was necessary.
Right now my Creative Memories business is finally picking up. Most of my business is through my family, but now that I’m back at home I can tap in on my connections here. Since I will not be staying here for a long period of time, I’m a little sad that I know that I can build a successful business here and not in NY. Once I get back to the empire state I will have my car so that it will be easier to get my business started along with getting a job. I have been doing quite a bit of volunteer work, which will help me in the long run.
At the local YMCA I’ve volunteered to start a newsletter for the Black and Latino club to promote their club and help them with their writing. I am considered their editor, which will help immensly with getting experience with publishing. I’ve recently come across a publishing summer program at the University of Denver that I think that I will try to apply for. My hopes of becoming an editor are still floating next to my new business.
Right now I can positively say that I’m living day to day business wise. Because of all my moving, it is hard to get a permanent job. Personally, I’d rather go back to school and get my masters, but that’s a whole other story.

Working at Freelancing

I am currently working on achieving my Master’s degree in Magazine Publishing in order to become a successful editor at a consumer publication. My main motivation for pursuing this degree was the genuine enjoyment I experience when composing an article with the intent of publication. It never really occurred to me with any intensity that what I should really be trying to make a go at is a career in freelance writing.
Freelancing can be quite a scary profession to undertake. Not only are you basically your own boss and therefore responsible for making sure you meet all deadlines and get the work done, but you are in complete control of your income. After my time being jobless and not knowing how I was going to come up with money for the rent, the idea of not having a steady income is a bit intimidating. It also concerns me that because I would not be directly attached to any particular magazine or publishing house that I would have to pay out of pocket for medical insurance. All of these concerns seemed to override my desire to write.
Of course, becoming a freelancer is also an extremely time consuming endeavor. It’s like a never ending job hunt because you consistently have to “apply” for new jobs at various publications. You, in essence, have to continually sell and promote yourself. I actually do work on occasion as a paid freelance writer, mostly for NV (New Visions in Business) Magazine. In fact, I just finished a feature length article for the publication regarding three entrepreneurs who somehow find the time to give back to the community. I was even commissioned to execute the interview for the cover story. Here’s the thing, though. NV always assigns me article topics: I never have to pitch a story idea. On the positive side, NV keeps coming back to me because they know I’m reliable and can write pretty well. That is the hope of every freelancer; to find a publication that keeps coming back to you for work because they like your style.
Recently, in my Magazine Publishing class, a professional writer came in to speak to the class regarding how to make a living at freelancing. He’s written several successful books and countless magazine articles. I actually learned a lot from listening to him break down the process of freelancing. It was like suddenly coming across a thorough job description for a position you were initially clueless regarding the credentials. Now, with my newfound illuminated gaze upon the world of freelancing, I feel much more confident about pitching a story idea to a publication. I now even have a better idea of what stories might fit different magazines. Our guest speaker was also kind enough to e-mail me some sample query letters (letters sent to a magazine or literary agent trying to pitch a story idea). With these samples in hand, I will have a variable blueprint for success as a freelance writer.
My dream is still unwavering and I feel confident that I will someday become an Editor in Chief of a consumer publication. I now have renewed confidence regarding my ability to procure a living by writing articles for publication. I know I’ll deal with a lot of rejection; such is the way of life in the world of publishing. The more I try however, the more likely I will meet with success by steadily submitting query letters. It’s all about building up your writing portfolio and your freelancing reputation.

Nothing in General

Shifting gears right now. I decided to try and go for another bachelor degree. Columbia College Chicago and Emerson College have publishing degrees, so I’m trying those two. I don’t know where my life is going right now. The job with the United States Postal Service ends Dec. 1 which doesn’t make sense since we’re Christmas casuals and they’re letting us go before Christmas. If I don’t get into any of those schools, all I’ll have left is my other job (which doesn’t pay much like USPS) and then I’ll feel like I’m stuck. It seems as though my future depends on if I get into one of those schools. This isn’t what I expected for myself when I was in college. I thought I would have my dream job by now and living happily, but now, I don’t see it. They’re calling my generation the “Boomerang Generation” because as soon as we graduate from college, we head right back home. I think it’s because we can’t find any employment in the field of our choice and staying at home with the parents insure security until they get tired of having the kids back home.
I feel lost and I have no sense of direction as to what to do now.

Over Qualified!?

Once again new to the job-searching lifestyle I have been running into an issue which I had never thought about- being “over qualified”.
In my 25 year life I have been fortunate enough to experience many things, international travel, post-secondary education, and employment, volunteer, internship and paid. However, I did not think for a moment that any of these experiences would deem me over qualified for anything.
I am beginning to wonder whether this is just the new term employers use for candidates that they do not feel are right for a position. If this is the case, employers I would much rather know the real reasons why you did not choose me for a position. I would like to know how I can improve my resume, my interview skills and how I could become the kind of candidate you are looking for in an employee.
On the other hand, if I am truly “over qualified” why wouldn’t an employer hire me. Is ther any problem in hiring someone like this, who may be able to help your company more than you could imagine. I could potentially be your best employee, coming up with new methods to make things more effective and therefore more productive.
In all honesty, perhaps employers are doing me a favour and realizing, for me, that I would not be satisfied in the position that they have to offer. But, I think that’s a decision that I should be able to make for myself, if i’m so “over qualified”.