Readers:
Dr. Randall Hansen, a nationally recognized career expert, is the Career Doctor.
Discover more about Dr. Hansen, read about the purpose of this column,
and find previous issues of this column at the home of The Career Doctor.
If you have any college, career, or job-related questions or comments that Dr. Hansen could
provide valuable assistance with, please
feel free to email him at: careerdr@quintcareers.com.
Dr. Hansen writes this column on a biweekly basis.
Gary writes:
I had two interviews with a company that I am very interested in seeking employment
with. The first interview was with the hiring manager and the second was with his peers
and superiors. The second interview went extremely well and the hiring manager even
told me I did great! I followed-up with an e-mail two weeks after the second interview
with the hiring manager and did not receive any response. I also followed-up with him
via telephone and got his secretary who informed me the company was still in the
process of interviewing for the position. How do I find out where I stand and how can
I get to speak directly with the hiring manager without appearing to anxious/desperate.
I am currently employed and actively interviewing with other companies and would like
to know whether I am still being considered for the position with the company I had
two interviews with already.
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
Kudos to you for realizing the value of following-up with prospective employers.
All job-seekers please take note: your job is not done once the job interview is over;
first, you must send thank you notes to all the folks you interview with, and second,
you need to follow-up with the hiring manager and continue showing your interest in
the organization.
Employers have had the luxury in the last couple of years to really stretch the length
of the hiring process, some to many months beyond the initial interviews. I think we’ll
soon be seeing a change, once the employment environment improves for job-seekers.
In the meantime, how does a job-seeker follow-up without sounding desperate or
becoming a nuisance?
If the hiring manager is avoiding your calls, it could be a bad sign -- but not necessarily.
If you cannot reach him because his secretary is screening his calls, consider calling
during lunch time or after business hours -- where you may be lucky enough to catch
him, or at least be able to leave a voicemail message. And since you have his email
address, send him an email follow-up.
So how do you not sound desperate? Well, first, don’t act like it. I actually think
following-up about once a week is not unreasonable. Calling everyday is a warning
sign to employers. But, here’s something more important than the frequency -- the
content of your conversation. Whenever you do call, have a topic of interest to discuss
first -- perhaps the employer was in the news (about a new product, sales growth,
or something else positive) or perhaps you have news (such as completed more
training or some accomplishment)… and once you have discussed the news
(and shown your continued interest in the organization), then you can casually
ask about the status of the job opening. And if you do get a job offer from one
of the other leads you are pursuing, by all means call the hiring manager and
let him know -- it could backfire on you, but it might also hasten the hiring
process if you are the top candidate for the position.
Josh writes:
What careers offer lots of vacation time (besides educational careers)?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
There may be other professions that offer as much vacation time as
those of us in education enjoy, but the bigger question is why are
you so focused on vacation time as a factor in choosing a career?
To me, that’s almost as bad as when people ask what professions
pay the highest salaries? Why? You need to find a career that is
going to give you personal satisfaction -- that’s where you will be
your happiest and most productive.
Overall, the U.S. lags other Western countries in the number of
vacation days offered, with the average around 13 days per year.
Entry-level workers often start with one or two weeks of paid vacation.
Usually, the longer you are employed and the higher you are within
an organization, the more vacation time. When I worked at People
Magazine, I had six weeks of vacation time (not counting paid holidays,
personal time, and sick days). Obviously, these numbers vary by
employer/industry/profession.
I think the more telling statistic in this current era of overworking
employees to increase productivity is that several studies have
shown that the average worker is unable to use his/her allotted
vacation days because of work demands. And low-wage workers
who actually get vacation time often have to work other jobs during
their vacations to make ends meet.
Q:
Anonymous writes:
Hello, I am writing you to ask you for some expertise help on what would be
the best way to go about a pharmaceutical sales rep job ....Like what should
I major in? Whether to get a bachelor’s or master’s degree? Any info you
could give me would be more that appreciated.... Thank you very much.
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
Before I totally address your questions, let me first get on my soap box.
Over the last couple of years, the sexist job opportunity for college grads
and career changers has been pharmaceutical sales representative. During
that same period, I think the most misunderstood job opportunity has been
that of pharmaceutical sales representative. Most of the job-seekers I’ve
talked with have this illusion that the job is glamorous, offers autonomy,
and pays amazingly well. The reality is that this career requires a lot of
work and determination -- and if chasing doctors is your idea of glamour,
then so be it. High earnings potential? Yes, with the right company, in
the right location, with the right amount of persistence.
I know some former students and clients who are in pharmaceutical sales
and love it -- while others who thought it was their dream career have
changed careers yet again. So just do your research and go into this
career with a realistic view.
Requirements vary by company, but the basic package you should have
is a bachelor’s degree (in any field, though a business field might give
you an edge) and previous sales experience (through summer jobs, internships,
etc.). An interest in science/medicine is beneficial, but not necessary.
Master’s degrees are generally not required -- and may make it harder
for you to land an entry-level position.
Because of the popularity (and demand) surrounding pharmaceutical sales,
there are numerous books and other sources of information about this career.
Your best bet? Use your network to find a couple of people currently working
as pharmaceutical sales reps and conduct informational interviews to learn
more about their impressions and experiences. Informational interviews are
highly focused conversations with established professionals that provide
you with key information you need to launch or boost your career -- and
can often provide you with critical feedback about breaking into a career,
your credentials, and more.
Furqan writes:
I have a bachelor’s degree in Finance. I have not yet gotten any experience.
I want to further my education. I am confused about if I should pursue CFA
(Chartered Financial Analyst) or MBA in Finance. Which do you think would
help me penetrate the job market?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I’m going to offer some advice, but here’s what I suggest you do to
get the best possible solution to your situation.
You need to identify the specific career path within finance that you
want to pursue… research various finance careers, conduct informational
interviews with finance professionals, and intern/volunteer to obtain
experience in finance. Also, talk with your professors and career
professionals about careers in finance.
Typical career paths for people with a finance degree(s) include:
investment banking, commercial banking, corporate finance, money
management, financial planning, insurance, and real estate.
According to the Association for Investment Management and Research
(AIMR), the group that manages the CFA, the CFA has become known
as the designation of professional excellence within the global investment
community. “Around the world, employers and investors recognize the
CFA designation as the definitive standard for measuring competence
and integrity in the fields of portfolio management and investment analysis.”
To be eligible for the CFA, however, you need to have three years of
acceptable professional experience working in the investment
decision-making process.
By the way, many of the better MBA programs also require several years of
experience, so your best option may be to join the workforce and get some
practical finance experience under your belt before pursuing one or both of
these options.
Learn more about the CFA by going to the AIMR Website.
