Tips for the Entry-level Job Candidate

Job hunting got you down? Are you new to the job search or just not sure how to go about it? Maybe some of the things I’ve learned on my pre-employment journey can assist you.
My name is Nancy, and I’m a non-traditional (adult) college student who’s re-entering the workforce after a long absence. Last fall, my household income was abruptly cut in half. So it was off to the salt-mines, as I pounded the pavement and my computer keys in search of a good job. Fifteen to twenty years ago, the job search was fairly simple: you filled out a paper application or mailed a resume, and you were either called for an interview or not. That is no longer the case in today’s technology-based/security paranoid society. When my younger self sought out employment, it usually only took a matter of weeks. So far, I’ve been at bat for over two months, and am having a hard time keeping the roof over my head. But it hasn’t been all bad, I’ve learned a lot of things about the job search in my bid to re-enter the market.
Are you looking to enter or re-enter the job market? You’ve been diligently attending college, but you have no recent work experience. Is this a problem? The answer is yes, that it most certainly can be. Unfortunately, many of today’s employers won’t even glance at the resume of someone without a recent work history–regardless of the reason(s). How can a prospective employee cope with a situation like this one?
The very first thing you should do is to get someone to help you with your resume and a cover letter. Most colleges have career centers for the use of students and alumni. Just because you’ve graduated, doesn’t’ mean the college’s doors are closed to you. A big selling point for most colleges is where their students wind up after graduation. Most colleges like to take credit for your success–use that! Do not settle on just one resume, either. The longer you are out there in the job market, the more often you should be tweaking your resume.
So you have a good resume/cover letter, what do you do with them? Again, your first stop should be to your college’s career center. Next, visit your local state department of labor employment office and/or go online. But don’t stop there. Save those cover letters and resumes on your computer. There are literally dozens of online job/career sites, like this one, out there. Many will automatically forward your cover letter/resume directly to the prospective employer. Use them all. Next, decide what kind of business you’d like to work for, and Google them. Many of today’s big employers have career/internship sites right on their corporate webpage. In many cases, you can not only submit a resume and/or application online, but also take pre-employment surveys. The nice thing about computer applications is that you can sit in your underwear, drinking beer and three a.m., and fill them out the same as if you dressed in your best outfit and went as a walk–in, just be sure your web cam is turned off!

What else can you do to make employers stop and go, “hmmm…”? Well, lots of things, actually. One of the things I did was to find a site that gave out free partial career assessment and/or career personality tests. You can pay for the whole test, but I opted to edit, then cut and paste my partial results onto MS Word to store in my files. Then, at the bottom of my resume, I offered to let prospective employers see the results of these tests, upon request. I’ve only had one request so far, but that has resulted in an interview. These are not the only free tests available online.
There are other tests that apply directly to certain careers, such as a medical billing test and computer technology tests. These employment tests are available through select websites. Many are free, others you have to pay for, but if you feel that you could benefit by additional certification, it’s worth it. Showing prospective employers the results of these tests lets the hiring manager(s) see that you are sincerely interested in the job.
But wait, that’s not all! There are also free online business courses. I’m presently taking a course in customer service, and later plan on continuing with Excel. A thorough internet search of free online courses will bring up a plethora of free stuff: from foreign languages to computer basics. I’ve revamped my resume to show participation in these courses, and one site will allow me to print out a certificate of completion, as well as a transcript, which I can show to an employer.
Not to overwhelm you, but if none of these options appeal to you, there are other things you can do to spice up that resume. For starters, seek out volunteer work. It is especially good if you can find something related to your prospective field. For instance, I want to be a customer service representative, so I am considering volunteering as a telephone operator at a local fund drive. If you want to be a receptionist or office assistant, try volunteering at your local hospital. Want to work in an animal-related field? Try an animal shelter. If you are business or technology oriented, try a non-profit group, public school or library. Many metropolitan areas have volunteer networks to match volunteers’ interests with needy charities. A friend of mine is a physical education major, and volunteers his time with the local search and rescue group. Volunteering is a win-win situation: it’s good for your career, good for the charity and it’s good for you.
Finally, if all else fails, go back to the drawing board. Seek out a job coach/counselor. These people usually work free of charge, and can be found at: college career offices, state labor/employment offices and other government agencies, such as the state office for people with disabilities and youth centers.