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.
Sing writes:
I am going to graduate college this May. Recently, a relative gave me a contact number
to a vice president of a company, and asked me to call him to ask for any opportunity in
his company. My questions are as below:
I called that person for 3 days already but I still couldn't reach him. I left a
message said that I would try the next day. What should I do?
I feel weird asking for any job opening to someone that I don't know. If that person
asks me what kind of job I would interested in doing, I might stumble and don't know
how to answer. I could say I can do anything, but I am afraid he will think that I don't
have a goal in my career. How should I handle this kind of situation?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
We’re certainly at crunch time for college students gradating in May -- and who
want a job before graduation. You should have started your job-search months
ago, but be in high gear during these last few weeks.
And your best bet for finding a job is through networking, such as in your situation.
I hope you are also attending career fairs, checking with your career services office,
and even targeting specific companies where you want to work. Just a reminder that
the Internet should be a very small part of your job-search.
To your first question. You’ve done the right thing. You could leave your phone
number too, but it is appropriate that you will keep trying to reach him. I would not
take it as a bad sign yet; he could be out of town. If you have other contact information
for him, such as a cell phone or email, you might consider sending a respectful message
through those routes. And when you leave a message, remember to keep it brief,
stating in the first few words who referred you, and stating why you are calling. Keep it
that simple.
Your second question is all too common -- and you are correct, you do not want to
sound too desperate or unfocused. Only you can answer this question, but if you don’t
have an answer to it, I suggest immediately doing some career research and assessment.
Employers want prospective job-seekers to be focused on specific jobs -- while identifying
the key skills that make you a more attractive candidate than others applying for the same position.
Kimberly writes:
I graduated from a MBA program with honors in December and have been
unsuccessful in my job search. Thus far, I have done the following: (1) networked
through associates and friends; (2) attended career fairs; (3) applied for positions
online that are posted to corporation's websites or my university's job postings.
I have not had an interview since December. Can you provide any advice?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
My best suggestion for you would be to run immediately to the career center
of the university from which you received your MBA. There is obviously something
wrong with your job-search, and I don’t have enough clues from your question.
If I were making a guess based on similar questions I have received from MBAs
in your same position, I would say it probably relates to three things: no or
limited job experience, a poor or underdeveloped network, an unfocused resume.
If you have no job experience, immediately seek some out through volunteering,
consulting, or temporary work. Employers expect undergrads to have job
experience -- so you can only imagine how much they expect from a MBA.
If your network has not led to any kind of results, then either your network is
weak, or you are not using it correctly. Besides the usual family, friends, co-workers,
professors, etc., have you joined one or more professional organizations? You
need to get more involved with your networking.
How’s your resume? I suggest getting it critiqued from a professional -- either a
resume expert or someone from your field. An unfocused resume will not get
you job interviews.
Margaret writes:
Do you have information on which skills and attitudes employers want? I
have tried searching the site but as yet can’t find this.
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I wish all job-seekers asked this question, and I especially wish college students
would ask this question while still in college. Because job-hunting is a self-marketing
practice where you need to convince the prospective employer you have the skills
it is seeking, job-seekers must know -- beyond the technical skills specific to
each job -- the softer skills employers seek.
So, besides identifying your key accomplishments from your college and work
experiences, you also need to be cataloging your mastery of a number of other skills.
Here’s a short list of the some of the key skills employers seek from job-seekers:
There are also a number of personal characteristics employers seek,
such as loyalty, honesty, work ethic, professionalism, and a willingness to learn.
And remember that once you understand the skills and characteristics that
most employers seek, you can tailor your job-search communication -- your
resume, cover letter, and interview language -- to showcase how well your
background aligns with common employer requirements.
Anonymous writes:
I have a few questions I hope you can assist me with. I have recently been
invited back to a third interview with a company. This is a lunch interview
with the CFO, Supervisor, and an IT consultant. I had previously met with
the CFO and Supervisor for the second interview. What could this mean?
Is it a good sign? Do they want the IT consultant to interview me by
asking IT related questions? Are they really close to making a decision?
Am I in really good standing for the position? Will they make me an offer
at this location?
I have several more questions but I'll let you answer those for me first if you will.
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
From what you’ve written, I would say you are in great shape -- and yes, I would
expect an offer to be forthcoming, either at the lunch or shortly thereafter.
With job-hunting, the toughness of job interviews often goes in inverse relation
to the order. Thus, the first interviews are usually the hardest, where you can
expect to be grilled, asked to take various psychological tests, sit before a
panel of interviewers, even given a case you are asked to solve.
But once you get to the later interviews, especially revolving around a meal, and
especially with the same people you have already interviewed with, it now becomes
more of a question of fit. Does this job-seeker have the personality to excel in
our culture. And I am assuming the consultant is there not to grill you but to meet
with you.
The key to this interview is all about fit. You still need to be in job-seeking mode,
but allow some aspects of your personality to show. Enjoy yourself -- but be sure
to follow the rules of dining etiquette.
These rules or protocols should guide a job-seeker’s conduct. Some people call
these rules good manners, but more refer to them as business etiquette. By
adhering to proper etiquette, a job-seeker can gain a perceptual edge over other
job-seekers that can lead to a job offer.
Dining etiquette is all about knowing all aspects of table manners (napkins,
silverware, glasses, plates) as well as having ordering savvy. I don’t think a job-seeker
who uses his salad fork for the main meal would not get hired, but someone who
orders something messy like ribs and eats like a pig might lose the offer.
