So you're looking for a job...

[DisneyMomx7]

This is such a great thread. I have two sons graduating from college in May. One is going onto law school but the other will be job hunting. I'm a nervous wreck because he has Asperger's syndrome and I'm not sure how he'll come off in an interview. He has very good grades and has held two part time jobs (one in the college library and the other at a local movie theatre) for years. He is probably the best employee either place has had. He never misses work, is extremely punctual and gives his all, no goofing off.

Thanks for the tips. I'll be sure to tell him what I read. Wish him good luck!

 

[Miss Kelly]

I never give more than a cursory glance at objectives, because they are all the same blabbity blah blah blah.

If there's no objective listed, I'll never miss it. IMHO the cover letter is a more appropriate place to state your longer term goals--it can actually be a good opening sentence to express why you'd like to work for the particular company.

Anne

PS--Haven't seen your resume come through yet, would you be at all willing to relo to Abingdon? The regional manager there would LOVE to speak to you!

Thanks.

I'm working on my resume actually. I feel that it needs something. I'll have it to you by tonight or tomorrow morning. I hope that's okay. And yes to the relocation question. Anything is negotiable.

 

[ead79]

Anne,

Do you have tips for people looking for non-management jobs that have experience? I’m in the “middle ground” in my career right now. I graduated from college in 2002, so I am not really entry-level anymore. However, I’m also not in management.

Are there resume tips you have for that type of situation. I did change my resume to list my work experience before my educational background, but I don’t want to leave off my education since I graduated with a degree in my current field and graduated magna cum laude.

I have heard that my resume should still be only 1 page—is that true in your opinion?

Also, do you have suggestions for dealing with the salary issue? According to online sources with averages for my area, I am currently rather underpaid (by approx. $5,000 – $10,000 per year). I entered the job market at a rough time financially (graduated the spring after 9/11), so I have been working from a bit of a disadvantage since then. I have always felt that pursuing a position with a new company is an excellent chance to bring my pay up to market standards. As a hiring manager, do you have a problem with that idea? I wouldn’t want to come across as greedy, but I am underpaid and want to rectify that problem.

In case it is relevant to your answers, I’m a Marketing Analyst.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

This is such a great thread. I have two sons graduating from college in May. One is going onto law school but the other will be job hunting. I'm a nervous wreck because he has Asperger's syndrome and I'm not sure how he'll come off in an interview. He has very good grades and has held two part time jobs (one in the college library and the other at a local movie theatre) for years. He is probably the best employee either place has had. He never misses work, is extremely punctual and gives his all, no goofing off.

Thanks for the tips. I'll be sure to tell him what I read. Wish him good luck!

Let me wish your son lots of good luck! I went through the after college job search last summer. It was horrible. It took me 6 months to get a job. I started interviewing with one company about the end of April. My last interview with them was the morning after my last final. I was offered the job a day later. But I couldn't accept it. They sounded like a great company until they told me the not so good news. Basically I would have been greatly underpaid for a job I was way overqualified for. Also it would require A LOT of travel in my own vehicle. Since my car is older I would have had to spend just about a years salary to get myself a reliable car. It just wasn't the job for me. Nice place, great people, bad location, and horrible pay.

I used Monster and CareerBuilder and sent my resume to hundreds of places. I heard back from 2. One was definitely not what I was looking for, and the other was a head hunter. Neither were much help.

But wait, I have good news. Then I was given an interview with my dream job. Finally! I had the interview about a couple of days before I left for a trip to Disney. I was told I wouldn't hear back until after I came home. Nope, I got a call from my mom yelling at me to call them back while I was walking around AK. So I went back to my room and called them. They offered me the job, at a great pay, great benefits, and it is very close to home. So it was a great trip!

I am telling you this so you and your DS don't get discouraged. It's a long road ahead this summer. It's heartbreaking and tough. It takes a lot of interviews and time but he will find a job. If I can do an interview anyone can. I am shy, I am too honost, and I get very nervous when the spotlight is on me. Somehow I got through it. Have practice interviews with your DS. Is there a career center at his college? If so, use them!! They can help with resumes, cover letters, and mock-interviews. If your DS needs any help, or some words of encouragement from someone whose been there, PM me. Good luck.

 

[ducklite]

Anne,

Do you have tips for people looking for non-management jobs that have experience? I’m in the “middle ground” in my career right now. I graduated from college in 2002, so I am not really entry-level anymore. However, I’m also not in management.

You're probably looking at being called a "Sr. Marketing Analyst", which normally is not a management level job but would "guide" jr. level employees, maybe a "team leader" type of a position.

Are there resume tips you have for that type of situation. I did change my resume to list my work experience before my educational background, but I don’t want to leave off my education since I graduated with a degree in my current field and graduated magna cum laude.

ABSOLUTELY leave the education on--like you said at the bottom, and because you are within five years of your graduation, it would be appropriate to briefly mention your educational honors in your cover letter.

As far as your resume, use ACTION words! Built, organized, led, complied, supported, collaborated, prioritized, created, etc. Also include anything that shows you managed a project. Be sure to include words that are in the ad you are responding to so that the person reading the resume can easily identify you as a possible candidate by simply skimming your resume. In your cover letter briefly explain any solution you found or way that you managed to save your current or a previous employer money--either by cutting a direct cost or creating a time-saving initiative.

I have heard that my resume should still be only 1 page—is that true in your opinion?

At the point you are in in your career, yes. In a few years it might be appropriate to spill over onto another page.

Also, do you have suggestions for dealing with the salary issue? According to online sources with averages for my area, I am currently rather underpaid (by approx. $5,000 – $10,000 per year). I entered the job market at a rough time financially (graduated the spring after 9/11), so I have been working from a bit of a disadvantage since then. I have always felt that pursuing a position with a new company is an excellent chance to bring my pay up to market standards. As a hiring manager, do you have a problem with that idea? I wouldn’t want to come across as greedy, but I am underpaid and want to rectify that problem.

In case it is relevant to your answers, I’m a Marketing Analyst.

That's always a touchy subject. The best way to handle it is to show why you are worth more than you are making. Comparing your salary against others isn't always the answer, rather giving specific examples of why you were/are a valuable employee might be better. I just got a decent raise at my six month review because I've been able to cut some costs pretty tremendously by streamlining processes and renegotiating contracts in our favor, and I pointed the actual savings out to my boss during my review.

Anne

 

[Chicago526]

How far back do you go in listing past employers on resumes? If I went back 10 years, I'd be listing my hostessing job at Rain Forest Cafe, and if I went all the way back to high school, I'd have 7 employers to list! Do you only list jobs that are relevant to the job you're applying for? I work as a corporate travel agent right now, but have had only two jobs in the travel industry (this one and my 1st travel job, together that's 9 years industry experience). If I applied for another travel job, would I just list those two, or should I add in the hostess job? If I applied for a job in another industry (travel ain't what it used to be!), do I only use my travel jobs since they are the only office jobs I've had? Actual travel to destinations (like WDW, Las Vegas, international destinations, cruises, etc.) counts a lot towards a travel agents knowledge and skills, is it a good idea to include where I've traveled to, and if so, where would I list it? It's been 7 years since I've looked for a job, and I hope it will another seven if I have to. But I'm a big believer in being prepared, you just never know when you need to hit the want ads!

Also, I went to college but did not finish (long story) so I have no degree at all. Do I just not mention I went to college at all? I do have a "certificate" from a community college where I got my basic travel agent training. It was non-college credit so that and a buck will buy me a cup of coffee, but I know it means something in the travel industry, would it be appropriate to include it if I'm applying for a non-travel industry job?

 

[ducklite]

How far back do you go in listing past employers on resumes? If I went back 10 years, I'd be listing my hostessing job at Rain Forest Cafe, and if I went all the way back to high school, I'd have 7 employers to list! Do you only list jobs that are relevant to the job you're applying for? I work as a corporate travel agent right now, but have had only two jobs in the travel industry (this one and my 1st travel job, together that's 9 years industry experience). If I applied for another travel job, would I just list those two, or should I add in the hostess job? If I applied for a job in another industry (travel ain't what it used to be!), do I only use my travel jobs since they are the only office jobs I've had? [/qupte]

Leave off any non-relevant jobs that you haven't worked at in the past five years.

Actual travel to destinations (like WDW, Las Vegas, international destinations, cruises, etc.) counts a lot towards a travel agents knowledge and skills, is it a good idea to include where I've traveled to, and if so, where would I list it? It's been 7 years since I've looked for a job, and I hope it will another seven if I have to. But I'm a big believer in being prepared, you just never know when you need to hit the want ads!

I wouldn't list the destinations at all, in a cover letter for a travel related job you could highlight them.

Also, I went to college but did not finish (long story) so I have no degree at all. Do I just not mention I went to college at all? I do have a "certificate" from a community college where I got my basic travel agent training. It was non-college credit so that and a buck will buy me a cup of coffee, but I know it means something in the travel industry, would it be appropriate to include it if I'm applying for a non-travel industry job?

List the certificate regardless of the job you are applying for--it shows that you are able to learn new skills, and also list the college like this:

Smith County Community College, English Major, 37 credits completed

Anne