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.
Christina writes:
I had an interview in the middle of June and it went very well. I left the
interview with the employer telling me that he and the company would
miss a great opportunity if they don't hire me.
I had contact with the employer at the end of June and was told that my
background check is clear, references checked out fine, and my application
is waiting for a stamp of approval.
My question is that since then I have not heard anything yet as of early July…
I’m wondering if a follow-up is necessary or should I just wait for the
employer to contact me. What is your advice?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I want everyone reading this column to make a solemn promise to me…
when you are next in the middle of a job-search, you will ALWAYS follow-up
with the prospective employer. Employers want to hire go-getters, people
who have an interest and desire to work for them, and that’s what following-up
does -- it shows the employer you want to work for that company. Job-seekers
must be proactive in your job-search, not reactive waiting for the employer to
contact you.
So, Christina, if I were you, I would immediately jump on the telephone and
call the hiring manager and simply state that you wanted to call and check
in and see if there was anything else he -- or the company -- needed from you.
I personally would be a bit more aggressive and add, anything they needed
from me in order to finalize the job offer, but that’s just me.
Follow-up after job interviews is essential, and it always starts with a thank-you
note or letter. You also have to make periodic contact with the hiring manager.
Now, don’t start calling everyday or once an hour, as happened to me when
I was a hiring manager years ago, because then you’ll be flagged as someone
desperate or psychotic… but once a week is certainly reasonable.
But do not panic because you have not heard back yet… many employers
have really stretched the hiring process over the last few years -- partly to be
sure they have found the best candidate and not overlooked anyone and
partly due to budgetary issues.
Perhaps the section with the most tools for job-seekers, if you need help
with any aspect of interviewing - before, during, or after, is this section of
Quintessential Careers: Guide
to Job Interviewing Resources.
Q:
Alicia writes:
Hi! I was just curious as to what I would need to major in to become
a dermatologist. I would really appreciate this information! Thanks
and have a great day!
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
According to the America Board of Dermatology, a dermatologist is a
physician who is trained to evaluate and manage pediatric and adult
patients with benign and malignant disorders of the skin, hair, nails
and adjacent mucous membranes. Dermatologists also manage cosmetic
disorders of the skin, including hair loss, scars, and the skin changes
associated with aging.
According to an October 2001 article in the Archives of Dermatology,
the current supply of dermatologists only slightly exceeds the current
published demand. The annual salary for dermatologists ranges from
$126,000 to $259,000
Because a dermatologist is a physician, becoming a dermatologist requires
many years of education. You should major in science in college -- biology,
chemistry, biochemistry, etc. -- ideally your school has a pre-med major.
To make yourself more attractive to medical schools, consider adding an
additional major or taking additional courses in other areas.
Medical school will generally take about four more years. Graduation from
an approved medical school will result in the title Medical Doctor (MD). After
medical school, you’ll need to complete another five years in the
dermatology division of a university, including three years of residency.
Completion of the qualifying licensing examinations is required to practice
medicine. Licensure by a regional licensing authority is required.
I don’t exactly know where you are now - in high school or college. If
you are still in high school, you should consider soaking up as much
math and science as possible. If you’re in college, meet with the
director of the pre-med program.
Finally, to further your knowledge and understanding of the profession,
I would suggest conducting a few informational interviews, as well as
shadowing one or more dermatologists. Start with your family’s
dermatologist -- and then ask him or her for the names of a few
other colleagues. You might also consider volunteering at local
hospital or assisted living facility.
Carol writes:
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and did quite well in
my classes, however the job market is not very good right now and
there is rarely any entry level positions. Although I do have some
experience in basic bookkeeping and general ledger postings, it
doesn't seem like that is enough. In all of my interviews I do fine
when it comes to transferable skills, as I am an assistant bank
manager and have leadership and organizational skills. However,
when it comes to the question "Name some areas in which you
used analytical skills" I seem to come to a halt and start stumbling.
I would really appreciate any feedback that you could give me on this
issue since it seems to be a major drawback in my interviews. I have
been to 7 interviews this summer and have heard nothing, not
even a letter of denial!!
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I’m not sure what types of jobs you are currently interviewing for, but I am
guessing they are accounting-related rather than banking. If that’s the case,
I think it really is critical for you to get a handle on your analytical skills and
experiences because I believe these employers may be asking the question
as a way to determine your true interest in accounting since you did not go
into the field after you graduated college.
Job interviewing success is strongly determined by pre-interview preparation.
So before you go on any more job interviews, please sit down and make an
inventory of all your analytical skills and experiences. You’ll need to not only
say you have the skills, but also demonstrate you have them. Once you have
this general set down, your next step will be to match your skills and
experiences to the qualifications an employer seeks in the job description.
Nothing works better in job interviews than using the employer’s own words
to describe your experience - it makes you seem like the perfect fit.
To be certain my hunch is correct, you could also contact one or more of
the people you interviewed with and ask them if they would be willing to
give you some honest feedback on your interviewing performance. Not
only will this exercise be helpful for future interviews, you may impress
one or more of them enough that they will consider you again for future
openings.
Finally, as I repeat this advice yet again, you CANNOT just sit and wait
by the phone expecting employers to call you. You must first send thank
you notes after each interview, and then you must follow-up with phone
calls to the employer to show your continuing interest and enthusiasm
for the job and the employer.
Q:
Amy writes:
I am writing my first resume and I am using your web site for information in
doing so. I have 7 years of experience and 3 employers on this resume.
At my first job I was there for 5 years and had 3 positions while I was there.
I know my whole date of employment with that employer but I don't know the
exact dates that I went from 1 position to another. I only have estimated dates.
How do I put estimated dates on a resume? I have been looking at sample
resumes and I haven't seen any with my situation. All of this will make my
resume about 1.5 pages. Is that too long? I tried to cram it on 1 page but
the only way was to crowd it and put the type as small as 9 pt. and it was
hard too read at 9 pt. Please give me your feedback.
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
First, kudos for thinking ahead and perfecting your resume before you jump back
into the job market. A resume of more than one page is fine for someone with
seven years of experience. A one-page resume that uses non-existent page
margins or tiny type will just not get read.
As for content. First, remember that it’s perfectly fine to develop a generalized
resume, but once you identify prospective jobs and employers, you’ll want to
customize your resume using the employer’s words and highlighting the experience
they seek.
In terms of describing your experience with your first employer, you have two
choices. In the first approach, you list all three positions within the same company,
using the company as an umbrella. In the second approach, which is favored by
my partner Katharine Hansen, you list each job separately, which gives more
weight to each position. I also tend to favor the second approach. And if you are
unsure of your dates or exactly how to list them, contact the human resources
department of the company, thus the dates on your resume will match their
records in case a prospective employer calls to check.
Finally, some general resume rules to remember:
Customize your resume to each position and employer.
Focus on accomplishments, not duties.
Design an attractive resume using normal fonts, sizes, and page margins.
Provide as much contact information (phone, cell, e-mail) as possible.
Avoid all errors, especially misspellings and typos.
Keep your resume factual.
Never include salary information, supervisor’s names, or references on your resume.
