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If You Know Somebody…
April 15, 2006 by brandolyn lMost people I know that got a job after college are doing one of three things: working for their parents, working for their parents’ best friend, or working at the dead end jobs that they held throughout college just to pay the bills. This is not to say that many people don’t deserve their jobs, but it sadly has come to seem that often it really is who you know and not what you know. I have always been a little independent and have strived to make it on my own, but since I am in the latter category of my own list, I decided that I would start keeping my eyes and ears open for something that may selfishly help me. So, when my best friend’s mother sent me a quick email letting me know that a girl that we know from our hometown neighborhood lives in Chicago and works for a major magazine. She thought that since I was moving there, it would be a great resource for me. Besides, even if a career doesn’t magically develop, it would be nice to know one more person there. The other day, I somewhat reluctantly joined “the people in coffee shops with laptops” group. While I waited for my car to be inspected (I swear), I checked my emails, caught up with friends, and stewed over whether or not I should email this woman. Would it be inappropriate? I haven’t seen her since her high school graduation party, however many years ago. Does she even know who I am? Finally, I decided to just drop a quick and upbeat email. I just said hello, mentioned that I was moving to the city in May, and asked if she knew of anything that might be opening up at the magazine. After I wrote just a bit of chit chat so that the email didn’t seem too calculated, I began to proofread this email as though it were my thesis. I finally hit send, and began my every day process of looking for a career online. Within the hour, I had received an email back from her. Her email was very encouraging. She asked me to email her my resume and promised that she would pass it on to her boss. She also gave me her personal email and phone number if I ever had questions about the Windy City, and wished me luck on my move. I sent her my cover letter and resume, and she wrote back to assure me she had received it. While this may not work out to be anything much, I definitely think that one should grab at strings if they are there.
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Internships AFTER College
April 12, 2006 by brandolyn lWhile in college, I had one internship during my senior year. This internship was done mostly via telecommuting, as I had saved some courses necessary to complete my double major and minor until my last semester, and therefore did not have the time to take an internship for credit. This internship, although slightly unorganized, taught me some major lessons as far as researching on the Internet, interpersonal skills, and working independently, often without a lot of guidelines. However, I knew that I needed more practice. Since I already knew that I was planning to move within a six month period after graduation, and I was working almost every night of the week, I thought that the best thing to do during the fall after my graduation was get another internship. During this time, I worked full-time days at a small event planning agency while continuing to work some nights and weekends at my serving job. To me, this was one of the best decisions I could make. My second internship taught me MANY skills that I would not have acquired otherwise; I learned to tackle a brand new database system, deal with pleased customers as well as irate customers, and because the agency was small, the personal atmosphere allowed me to see a lot of the “inner workings” of the industry. I never felt like “just an intern.” Instead, I felt that I contributed greatly to the company, and these skills will not be forgotten. While this was a great experience for me and fit my then-current situation perfectly, I thought that afterwards, I would be done with internships. However, I have realized that many of the great companies in the public relations industry that I am aspiring to work for actually have internships, and these internships require a Bachelor’s degree. So what I have learned from all of this is that it really is never too late to be “just an intern.” Sometimes it really can be the best way to actively learn about an industry before being thrown into it blindly.
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Gap Year
April 11, 2006 by brandolyn lDuring the past year, I have realized just what a depressed city I live in. By depressed, I mean that there are very few jobs for those with liberal arts backgrounds, despite the fact that my city is home to more than six major colleges, all with strong liberal arts programs. So what does one do? My answer is RELOCATE. Within a month, I will be moving to a major city with a fast growing job market and opportunity at every step (so I have been told). I am not worried about some things, like getting homesick or not making friends, things that people have to think about at any age. I am not even that worried about finding job opportunities. However, I am terrified that my resume will never be good enough, that my experience is not relevant, that my computer skills are lacking. I am not bi-lingual. But mostly, I worry that this “gap year” will really hurt me. With my college degree in hand, I have been waiting tables for the past year, saving money for this move and trying to support my present living situation in the process. Does this make me look lazy as far as job searching goes? Is it unacceptable that I didn’t try that hard because I had no intentions of staying here for long?
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Warning
March 30, 2006 by brandolyn lSo, it has been nearly a year since I received my undergraduate degree that I worked so hard for. Yet, I do not have a job that utilizes my hard earned skills and abilities. I have always liked to think that I have not led a sheltered life, that I understand that people are dishonest and often cruel. However, I committed a huge mistake. As my college career was winding down, I really put a lot of effort into my job search. Unfortunately, like so many of my peers, I rely on the internet for many of my daily activities and concerns. I pay my bills, do my banking, keep in touch with friends, so why not use this tool in my job search? The number one reason: it is full of scams. So many of the jobs listed for “recent grads” and “entry level” positions are truly scam artists trying to make a quick buck via a pyramid scheme using unsuspecting and eager graduates. This is not to say that all internet job searches are a bad idea. Just please use caution when exploring and narrowing down options. Fortunately for me, I have a wonderful career center at my alma mater that helped me research the companies that I had interviews with beforehand, and I found out just what I would be signing up for. I quickly cancelled my appointments, and hope that this advice will keep some graduates from making a big, money-draining, and time-consuming mistake.
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Considering Grad School
February 01, 2006 by brandolyn lSome students that are going to graduate school after college, have been planning and preparing for it since their freshman year of undergraduate school. However, there is that other percentage of us that have made last minute decisions to attend. What makes the difference and the deciding factor for most recent college graduates? With a major in mass communications and a field that is so highly competitive, I have decided that perhaps I need a back up plan. For others it may be that they are just not ready for the real world yet, and have realized that to truly advance quicker within their field, a graduate degree is almost a neccesity. Of course, there are alternative options that allow students to earn a Master’s degree without having to actually be in a classroom. One of these options is online learning. But exactly how respected is an online degree. Well, I have done some research and it seems that according to where you enroll, an online master’s holds just as much merit as one earned on the campus. Although, there are some scams that have been reported on. Some tips if considering on-line programs are to make sure the program is accredited and also make sure that you are not being pressured into enrolling. There are some programs that actually prey on lower income students. I will not disclose any names but be mindful of programs with over the phone interviews and 2.0 gpa requirements. I would reccomend a distance learning program that also has the option of being on a campus.
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The Life of a Recent College Grad
January 15, 2006 by brandolyn lLife after graduation can be an emotional rollacoaster for an aspiring careerist. The joy of getting the interview and the agony of receiving a rejection letter shortly after. One company in particular preys on college graduates. However, with out customer service experience the chances of getting hired are slim to none. The interviewing process for this cellular phone service provder is tidious to say the least. The method used is refered to as the STAR Method which stand for Situation, Task, Action, Result. This is basically a bunch of questions asking the interviewee to “name a time when you had to” or ”give me an example of a time”..etc. The first interview consist of a pre-screening phone interview that last about five minutes. If a candidate successfully completes the phone screening interview, it will be followed up with a second phone interview. The next step to getting hired is getting an appointment to take a computerized test. The results of the test are revealed before leaving the site. If it has been passed successfully, a human resources represenative will schedule an actual interview. This fourth interview basically consist of a supervisor reading a 8 or 9 page list of STAR Method questions that are unbelievably repetitive. Suprisingly this is not the final interview. There is a final phone interview where a HR person asks you the same exact questions. Many have made it to this fifth interview only to find out that they did not have enough customer service experience for the postion. This is what Recent graduates go through on an ordinary basis until they find that one employer that is willing to give a person with enough perserverence to make it through college, an opportunity to gain experience and prove themselves professionally. After all that is the whole purpose of a degree.
