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THINKING ABOUT YOUR CAREER
Getting the job that's right for you takes more than sending out a few letters and
signing up with the college placement office. Planning and research are important if you
want to find a company that suits you. Before you limit your job search to a particular
industry or functional specialty, analyze what you have to offer and what you hope to get
from your work.
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Analyze What You Have to Offer
First, examine your marketable skills. One way is to jot down 10 achievements you're
proud of, whether they include learning to ski, taking a prize-winning photo, tutoring a
child, or editing the school paper. Look carefully at each of those achievements. What
specific skills did they demand? For example, leadership, speaking ability, and artistic
talent may have been the skills that helped you coordinate a winning presentation to the
college administration. As you analyze your achievements, you'll begin to recognize a
pattern of skills. Which of them might be valuable to potential employers?
Second, examine your educational preparation, work experience, and extracurricular
activities. What kinds of jobs are you qualified to do on the basis of your knowledge and
experience? What have you learned from participating in volunteer work or class projects
that could benefit you on the job? Have you held any offices, won any awards or
scholarships, mastered a second language?
Third, take stock of your personal characteristics so that you can determine the type
of job you'll do best. Are you aggressive, a born leader, or would you rather follow? Are
you outgoing, articulate, great with people, or do you prefer working alone? Make a list
of what you believe are your four or five most important qualities. Ask a relative or
friend to rate your traits as well.
If you're having trouble figuring out your interests and capabilities, consult your
college placement office or career guidance center. Many campuses administer a variety of
tests designed to help you identify your interests, aptitudes, and personality traits.
Although these tests won't reveal the "perfect" job for you, they'll help you
focus on the types of work that best suit your personality.
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Determine What You Want
Knowing what you can do is one thing. Knowing what you want to do is another. Many
students are so accustomed to doing what parents, peers, and instructors expect that
they've lost sight of their own values. Choosing a career is a decision you need to make
on your own. Get advice and information from everyone you know (family, friends, teachers,
professional acquaintances), but remember that you are the only one who can decide which
career is best for you. Begin by finding out just what it is you want: the tasks you
enjoy, the compensation you expect, and the work environment you prefer.
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What Tasks Do You Enjoy?
Basically, you need to decide what you'd like to do every day If you have a limited
range of experience, take part-time jobs, participate in work/study programs, serve as an
intern in your particular field, participate in study-abroad programs, do anything you can
think of to broaden your career horizons. You can also talk to people in various
occupations. When Nathan James was a sophomore in college, he thought he might enjoy a
career in sales, marketing research, or advertising, but he didn't know enough about the
working lives of people in those fields to make an intelligent choice. So he went to his
school's alumni relations office and made a list of former graduates working in the three
professions. After making a few phone calls, he knew a lot more. In fact, one
alumnus—an account executive with an advertising agency—invited James to spend
spring break shadowing him. That experience persuaded James to focus his courses on
advertising. He's now interning with a prominent advertising agency in Philadelphia.
Another way to learn about various occupations is to read about them. Your college
library or placement office might be a good place to start. One of the liveliest books
aimed at college students is Lisa Birnbach's Going to Work. Among other things, Birnbach
describes test-driving cars for Ford and selling cosmetics at Bloomingdale's. Another
useful source is the 13-volume Career Information Center encyclopedia of jobs and careers,
which is arranged by industry. For each job title, there's a description of the nature of
the work, entry requirements, application procedures, advancement possibilities, working
conditions, earnings, and benefits.
Apart from looking at specific occupations, also con-sider general factors, such as how
much independence you want on the job, how much variety you like, and whether you prefer
to work with products, machines, people, ideas, figures, or some combination. Do you like
physical work, mental work, or a mix? Do you prefer constant change or a predictable role?
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What Compensation Do You Expect?
Money and opportunities for advancement are also something to think about. Establish
some specific compensation targets. What do you hope to earn in your first year on the
job? What kind of pay increase do you expect each year? What’s your ultimate earnings
goal? Would you be comfortable with a job that pays on commission, or would you prefer a
steady paycheck? What occupations offer the kind of money you’re looking for? Are
these occupations realistic for someone with your qualifications? Are you willing to
settle for less money in order to do something you really love?
Next, consider your place within the company or profession. Where would you like to
start? Where do you want to go from there? What’s the ultimate position you would
like to attain? How soon after joining the company would you like to receive your first
promotion? Your next one? Once you have established these goals, ask yourself what you
have additional training or preparation you’ll need to achieve them.
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What Work Environment Do You Prefer?
Another factor to consider is the environment you want to work in. Start by thinking in
broad terms about the size and type of operation that appeals to you. Do you like the idea
of working for a small, entrepreneurial operation, or would you prefer to be part of a
large company? How do you feel about profit-making versus non-profit organizations? Are
you attracted to service businesses or manufacturing operations? What types of products
appeal to you? Do you want regular, predictable hours, or do you thrive on flexible,
varied hours? Do you prefer to work from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., or are you willing to
work evenings and weekends, as in the entertainment and hospitality industries? Would you
enjoy a seasonally varied job like education (which may give you summers off) or retailing
(with its selling cycles)?
Location can also be important. Would you like to work in a city, a suburb, or a small
town? In an industrial area or an uptown setting? Do you favor a particular part of the
country? Does working in another country appeal to you? Do you like working indoors or
outdoors?
What about facilities? Is it important to you to work in an attractive place, or will
simple, functional quarters suffice? Do you need a quiet office to work effectively, or
can you concentrate in a noisy, open setting? Would you prefer to work at the
company’s headquarters or in a small field office? Do such amenities as an in-house
gym or handball court matter to you? Is access to public transportation or freeways
important? Perhaps the most important environmental factor is the corporate culture. Would
you be happy in a well-defined hierarchy, where roles and reporting relationships are
clear, or would you prefer a less structured situation? What qualities do you want in a
boss? Are you looking for a paternalistic organization or one that fosters individualism?
Do you like a competitive environment or one that rewards teamwork?
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SEEKING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Once you know what you have to offer and what you want, you can start finding an
employer to match. If you haven’t already committed yourself to any particular career
field, first find out where the job opportunities are. Which industries are strong? Which
parts of the country are booming, and which specific job categories offer the best
prospects for the future? Consult sources in several areas:
Business and financial news. Subscribe to a major newspaper and scan the business pages
every day. Watch some of the TV programs that focus on business, such as "Wall Street
Week," and read the business articles in popular magazines such as Time and Newsweek.
You might even want to subscribe to a business magazine such as Fortune, Business Week, or
Forbes.
Library references. For information about the future for specific jobs, see The
Dictionary of Occupational Titles (U.S. Employment Service), Occupational Outlook Handbook
(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), and the employment publications of Science Research
Associates. For an analysis of major industries, see the annual Market Data and Directory
issue of Industrial Marketing, and look through Standard & Poor’s industry
surveys.
Journals, people, and associations. Study professional and trade journals in the career
field that interest you. Also, talk to people in these fields; for names of the most
prominent, consult Standard & Poor’s Register of Corporations, Directors and
Executives. Find recent books about the fields you’re considering by checking Books
in Print. You may be able to network with executives in your field by joining or
participating in student business organizations, especially those with ties to real-world
organizations such as the American Marketing Association or the American Management
Association.
Once you’ve identified a promising industry and a career field, compile a list of
specific organizations that appeal to you. You can put together a reasonable list by
consulting several sources:
Directories of employers. Directories such as The College Placement Annual and Career:
The Annual Guide to Business Opportunities may be helpful. Write to the organizations on
your list and ask for an annual report and any descriptive brochures or newsletters
they’ve published. If possible, visit some of the organizations on your list, contact
their personnel departments, or talk with key employees.
Local and major newspapers. Businesses often advertise their products as well as their
job openings in newspapers.
Trade and professional journals. For information on jour-nals in career fields that
interest you, see Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory.
Agencies and offices. Job listings can also be obtained from your college placement
office, state employment bureaus, and private employment agencies.
Electronic services. A personal computer and modem can expand your job search
opportunities. Online services such as America Online, Prodigy, and CompuServe all offer
help-wanted listings, forums for discussing career issues, and networking groups.
Job-seekers' ads can be placed with Dow Jones News Retrieval or Kinexus. The New York
Times Company offers an interactive System for employers to advertise jobs and for
prospective employees to send resumes.'
In any job, your ultimate goal is an interview with potential employers. The fastest
way to obtain an interview is to get a referral from someone you know. Some organizations
recruit students for job openings by sending rep-resentatives to college campuses for
interviews (usually coordinated by the campus placement office, which keeps files
containing college records, data sheets, and letters of recommendation for all students
registered for the service). Employers also recruit candidates through campus publications
and the employment bureaus operated by some trade associations. Unsolicited resumes can be
vital for obtaining interviews—just remember that for every 100 letters you send out,
you can expect to get only about six interviews.
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Preparing Your Resume
A resume is a structured, written summary of a person's education, employment
background, and job qualifications. It's a form of advertising, designed to help you get
an interview. Your objective is to call attention to your best features and to downplay
your disadvantages, without distorting or misrepresenting the facts. A good resume conveys
seven specific qualities that employers seek. It shows that a candidate (1) thinks in
terms of results, (2) knows how to get things done, (3) is well-rounded, (4) shows signs
of progress, (5) has personal standards of excellence, (6) is flexible and willing to try
new things, and (7) possesses strong communication skills. As you put your resume
together, think about how the format, style, and content convey these seven qualities.
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Controlling the Format and Style
If your resume doesn't look sharp, chances are nobody will read it carefully enough to
judge your qualifications. So it's important to use a clean typeface on high-grade,
letter-size bond paper (in white or some light earth tone). Make sure that your stationary
and envelope match. Leave ample margins all around, and be certain any corrections are
unnoticeable. Avoid italic typefaces, which can be difficult to read. If you have
reservations about the quality of your typewriter or printer (dot-matrix printing is not
suitable for most resumes), you might want to turn your resume over to a professional
service. To make duplicate copies, use offset printing or photocopying.
Lay out your resume so that the information is easy to grasp. Break up the text by
using headings that call attention to various aspects of your background, such as your
work experience and education. Underline or capitalize key points, or set them off in the
left margin. Use indented lists to itemize your most important qualifications. Leave
plenty of white space, even if doing so forces you to use two pages rather than one.
Pay attention to mechanics. Be sure that your grammar, spelling, and punctuation are
correct. Because your resume has only seconds to make an impression, keep the writing
style simple and direct. Instead of whole sentences, use short, crisp phrases starting
with action verbs. You might say,"Coached a Little League team to the regional
playoffs" or "Managed a fast-food restaurant and four employees."
In general, try to write a one-page resume. If you have a great deal of experience and
are applying for a higher- level position, you may wish to prepare a somewhat longer
resume. The important thing is to give yourself enough space to present a persuasive but
accurate portrait of your skills and accomplishments.
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Tailoring the Contents
Most potential employers expect to see certain items in any resume. The bare essentials
are name and address, academic credentials, and employment history. Otherwise, make sure
your resume emphasizes your strongest, most impressive qualifications. It's up to you to
combine your experiences into a straightforward message that communicates what you can do
for your potential employer. Think in terms of an image or a theme you'd like to project.
Are you academically gifted? Are you a campus leader? A well-rounded person? A creative
genius? A technical wizard? If you know what you have to sell, you can shape the elements
of your resume accordingly. Don't exaggerate, and don't alter the past or claim skills you
don't have, but don't dwell on negatives, either. By focusing on your strengths, you can
convey the desired impression without distorting the facts.
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Choosing the Organizational Plan
Although you may want to include a little information in all categories, emphasize the
information that has a bearing on your career objective and minimize or exclude any that
is irrelevant or counterproductive. You focus attention on your strongest points by
adopting the most appropriate organizational plan—chronological, functional, or
targeted.
Chronological Resumes. The most traditional type of resume is the chronological resume,
in which a person's employment history is listed sequentially in reverse order, starting
with the most recent experience. When you organize your resume chronologically, the
"Work Experience" section dominates the resume and is placed in the most
prominent slot, immediately after the name and address and the objective. Under each
listing, you describe your responsibilities and accomplishments, giving the most space to
the most recent positions. If you're just graduating from college, you can vary the
chronological plan by putting your educational qualifications before your experience,
thereby focusing attention on your academic credentials. The chronological approach is
especially appropriate if you have a strong employment history and are aiming for a job
that builds on your current career path.
Functional Resumes. A functional resume is organized around a list of skills and
accomplishments, identifying employers and academic experience in subordinate sections.
This pattern stresses individual areas of competence, and it's useful for people who are
just entering the job market or those who want to redirect their careers or minimize
breaks in employment.
Targeted Resumes. A targeted resume is organized to focus attention on what you can do
for a particular employer in a particular position. Immediately after stating your career
objective, you list any related capabilities. This list is followed by a list of your
achievements, which provide evidence of your capabilities. Employers and schools are
listed in subordinate sections. Targeted resumes are a good choice for people who have a
clear idea of what they want to do and who can demonstrate their ability in the targeted
area.
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Preparing Your Application Letter
If you're like most job seekers, you'll send your resume to as many employers as
possible, because the chances of getting an interview from each inquiry are relatively
slight. To make the process more efficient, use the same resume repeatedly, and tailor
your application for each potential employer by including a cover letter that projects
your theme and tells what you can do for that specific organization. Like your resume,
your application letter is a form of advertising. You stimulate the reader's interest
before showing how you can satisfy the organization's needs.
Let your letter reflect your personal style. Be yourself, but be businesslike too;
avoid sounding cute, using slang, or designing a gimmicky layout. By doing your homework
and showing that you know something about the organization, you'll capture the reader's
attention and convey your desire to join the organization.
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Following Up on Your Application
If your application letter and resume fail to bring a response within a month or so,
follow up with a second letter to keep your file active. This follow-up letter also gives
you a chance to update your original application with any recent job-related information.
Even if you have received a letter acknowledging your application and say-ing that it will
be kept on file, don't hesitate to send a follow-up letter three months later to show that
you are still interested. Sending such letters demonstrates that you are sincerely
interested in working for the organization, that you are persistent in pursuing your
goals, and that you continue upgrading your skills to make yourself a better
employee—and it might just get you an interview.
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Interviewing with Potential Employers
The best way to prepare for a job interview is to think carefully about the job itself.
Approach job interviews with a sound appreciation of their dual purpose: The
organization's main objective is to send the best person available for the job; the
applicant's main objective is to find the job best suited to his or her goals and
capabilities.
Organizations approach the recruiting process in various ways, so adjust your job
search accordingly. In general, the easiest way to connect with a big company is through
your campus placement office; the most efficient way to approach a smaller business is by
contacting the company directly. In either case, once you get your foot in the door, you
move to the next stage and prepare to meet with a recruiter during an employment
interview, a formal meeting during which an employer and an applicant ask questions and
exchange information to see whether the applicant and the organization are a good match.
Most employers conduct two or three interviews before deciding whether to offer a
person a job. The first interview, generally held on campus, is the preliminary screening
interview, which helps employers eliminate unqualified applicants from the hiring process.
Those candidates who best meet the organization's requirements are invited to visit
company offices for further evaluation. Some organizations make a decision at that point,
but many schedule a third interview to complete the evalua-tion process before extending a
job offer.
Because these three steps take time, start seeking interviews well in advance of the
date you want to start work. It takes an average of 10 interviews to get one job offer. If
you hope to have several offers to choose from, you can expect to go through 20 or 30
interviews during your job search. Some students start their job search as early as nine
months before graduation. Early planning is even more crucial during downturns in the
economy because many employers become more selective when times are tough, and many
corporations reduce their campus visits and campus hiring programs, which puts more of the
job-search burden on you.
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What Employers Look For
In general, employers are looking for two things: proof that a candidate can handle a
specific job and evidence that the person will fit in with the organization. Every
interviewer approaches these issues a little differently. Employers are usually most
concerned with the candidate's experience, intelligence, communication skills, enthusiasm,
creativity, and motivation.
Qualifications for the job. When you're invited to inter-view for a position, the
interviewer may already have some idea of whether you have the right qualifications, based
on a review of your resume. During the interview, you'll be asked to describe your
education and previous jobs in more depth so that the interviewer can determine how well
your skills match the requirements. In many cases, the interviewer will be seeking someone
with the flexibility to apply diverse skills in several areas.
Personality traits. A resume can't show whether a person is lively and outgoing,
subdued and low-key, able to take direction, or able to take charge. Each job requires a
different mix of personality traits, so the task of the interviewer is to find out whether
a candidate will be effective in a particular job.
Physical appearance. Clothing and grooming reveal something about a candidate's
personality and professionalism. For example, for an interview with a conservative firm,
it would probably be a big mistake to show up in blue jeans. Even in companies where
interviewers may dress casually, it's important to show good judgment by dressing (and
acting) in a professional manner. Interviewers also consider such physical factors as
posture, eye contact, handshake, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
Age. Job discrimination against middle-aged people is prohibited by law, but if you
feel your youth could count against you, counteract its influence by emphasizing your
experience, dependability, and mature attitudes.
Personal background. You might be asked about your interests, hobbies, awareness of
world events, and so forth. You can expand your potential along these lines by reading
widely, making an effort to meet new people, and participating in discussion groups,
seminars, and workshops.
Attitudes and personal style. Openness, enthusiasm, and interest are likely to impress
an interviewer. So are courtesy, sincerity, willingness to learn, and a positive,
self-confident style—all of which help a new employee adapt to a new workplace and
new responsi-bilities.
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What Applicants Need to Find Out
- What things should you find out about the prospective job and employer? By doing a
little advance research and asking the right questions during the interview, you can
probably find answers to all the following questions and more:
- Are these my kind of people?
- Can I do this work?
- Will I enjoy the work?
- Is this job what I want?
- Does the job pay what I'm worth?
- What sort of future can I look forward to with this organization?
- What kind of person would I be working for?
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How to Prepare for a Job Interview
It's perfectly normal to feel a little anxious before an interview. So much depends on
it, and you don't know quite what to expect. Don't worry too much, however; preparation
will help you perform well:
Do some basic research.
Learning about the organization and the job is important because it enables you to review
your resume from the employer's point of view.
Think ahead about questions.
Most job interviews are essentially question-and-answer sessions: You answer the
interviewer's questions about your background, and you ask questions of your own to
determine whether the job and the organization are right for you. By planning for your
interviews, you can handle these exchanges intelligently. Of course, you don't want to
memorize responses or sound over rehearsed.
Bolster your confidence.
By overcoming your tendencies to feel self-conscious or nervous during an interview, you
can build your confidence and make a better impression. If some aspect of your background
or ap-pearance makes you uneasy, correct it or exercise positive traits to offset it, such
as warmth, wit, intelligence, or charm. Instead of dwelling on your weaknesses, focus on
your strengths so that you can emphasize them to an interviewer.
Polish your interview style.
Confidence helps you walk into an interview, and once there, give the interviewer an
impression of poise, good manners, and good judg-ment. In the United States, you're more
likely to be invited back for a second interview or offered a job if you maintain eye
contact, smile frequency, sit in an attentive position, and use frequent hand gestures.
These nonverbal signals convince the interviewer that you're alert, assertive, dependable,
confident, responsible, and energetic. Work on eliminating speech mannerisms such as
"you know' "like ' and "um:' which might make you sound inarticulate. Speak
in your natural tone, and try to vary the pitch, rate, and volume of your voice to express
enthusiasm and energy.
- Plan to look good.
The best policy is to dress conservatively. Wear the best-quality businesslike clothing
you can, preferably in a dark, solid color. Avoid flamboyant styles, colors, and prints.
Good grooming makes any style of clothing look better. Make sure your clothes are clean
and unwrinkled, your shoes unscuffed and well shined, your hair neetly styled and combed,
your fingernails clean, and your breath fresh. If possible, check your appearance in a
mirror before entering the room for the interview. Don't spoil the effect by smoking
cigarettes before or during the interview. Finally, remember that one of the best ways to
look good is to smile at appropriate moments.
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- Be ready when you arrive.
For the interview, plan to take a small notebook, a pen, a list of the questions you want
to ask, two copies of your resume protected in a folder, an outline of what you have
learned about the organization, and any past correspondence about the position. You may
also want to take a small calendar, a transcript of your college grades, a list of
references, and if appropriate, samples of your work. Be sure you know when and where the
interview will be held. The worst way to start any interview is to be late. Then, once you
arrive, relax. You may have to wait a little while, so bring along something to read or
occupy your time (the less frivolous or controversial, the better).
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Following Up After the Interview
- Touching base with the prospective employer after the interview, either by phone or in
writing, shows that you really want the job and are determined to get it. It also brings
your name to the interviewer's attention once again and reminds him or her that you're
waiting to know the decision.
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- The two most common forms of follow-up are the thankyou message and the inquiry. These
are generally handled by letter, but a phone call is often just as effective, particularly
if the employer seems to favor a casual, personal style. Express your thanks within two
days after the interview, even if you feel you have little chance for the job. Keep your
message brief. Acknowledge the interviewer's time and courtesy, convey the idea that you
continue to be interested, and then ask politely for a decision. If you're not advised of
the interviewer's decision by the promised date or within two weeks, you might make an
inquiry, particularly if you've received a job offer from a second firm and don't want to
accept it before you have an answer from the first. Assume that a simple oversight is the
reason for the delay, not outright rejection.
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BUILDING YOUR CAREER
At one time in the United States, joining an organization meant you would most likely
be employed with that same organization for life. You would start at the bottom step of
the hierarchy and, through seniority, climb the ladder to success. Today the average
person beginning a career in the United States will probably work in 10 or more jobs for
five or more employers before retiring. So getting a job after graduation is only one step
toward build-ing your career.
Employers are seeking people who are able and willing to adapt to diverse situations,
who thrive in an ever changing workplace, and who continue to learn throughout their
careers. Employers want team players with strong work records. So try to gain skills you
can market in various industries. Join networks of professional colleagues and friends who
can help you stay abreast of where your occupation, industry, and company are going. As
you search for a permanent job that fulfills your career goals, take interim job
assignments, consider temporary work or freelance jobs. Employers will be more willing to
find (or even create) a position for someone they've learned to respect, and your
temporary or freelance work gives them a chance to see what you can do. You might even
consider starting your own business.
At the least, work on polishing and updating your skills. While you're waiting for
responses to your resume or to hear about your last interview, take a computer course or
use the time to gain some other educational or work ex-perience that would be difficult to
get while working full time. Have a plan, but be flexible and ready to take advantage of
new opportunities. That's the way you’ll build your career and achieve your career
goals.
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