Quintessential Careers:
Q&A with Andrea C. Eastman
Please note: On a somewhat infrequent basis, Quintessential Careers asks noted
career experts five questions related to their expertise and publishes the interview
in the current issue of QuintZine,
our biweekly newsletter. Here is one such interview.
Andrea C. Eastman is assistant director of Career Services at Brown
University, Providence, RI.
Q:
What do you feel is the most disturbing trend in job-hunting
today?
A:
In my view, lack of follow-up is the most disturbing trend in
job-hunting today. In this economy, job-seekers can't afford to be
lazy about anything, which means send thank you notes after
informational interviews and job interviews, follow up after your
resume is sent, and be persistent! Expression of continued interest
is key, and it will make you stand out from the crowd.
Q:
How persistent should job-seekers be with following up after
sending a resume/cover letter in response to an ad and not hearing
from the employer? How soon and how often should the job-seeker
contact the employer?
A:
Once a resume has been sent, call 7-10 days afterwards to seek
confirmation that the document has been received. If necessary, leave
a message, but understand that you probably won't get a call back.
Wait a few days and call back again. At this time, don't leave a
message, and don't be nasty. Keep calling until the recruiter/hiring
manager answers. Keep in mind that recruiters have hundreds of
applicants for just one opening and are probably overwhelmed. When
recruiters are caught at their desks, they are forced to review your
resume! Moreover, your persistence and interest in the job shines
through. These are qualities that will set you apart from other less
motivated job-seekers, and these behaviors may lead you to an
interview. Each time you follow-up, your strategy should be to
reinforce the perception that you are the ideal candidate for the job.
Q:
We are hearing increasingly from job-seekers about frustrations
with Internet job-hunting. They complain that they never hear
anything from employers, and that employers increasingly put up
impenetrable barriers to keep job-seekers from following up and being
proactive. Are the old rules of job-seeking and follow-up changing? How will job-seekers need to
adapt to the new rules of Internet job-hunting? Are there ways to
follow up after responding to an online ad, and if not, what can
job-seekers do in lieu of following up to increase their odds?
A:
Old rules of job-seeking and follow-up are changing slightly
because of the influence of the Internet, the poor economy, and a
tight job market. There are many qualified job-seekers out there, and
employers are inundated with applications. As a result, more and more
frequently, hiring is based on personal referrals. My recommendation
is that if you're a job-hunter, devote time to speaking with people
who are affiliated in some way with the
company/organization in which you are interested. Most schools have
alumni career networks in place that will help you identify contacts.
If there isn't a network in place, draw upon personal connections,
such as family, friends, doctors, dentists, and hairdressers. Conduct
informational interviews, attend the meetings of professional
organizations in your field, and go to job fairs
where you can talk to employers in person. [Editor's note: To learn
more about conducting informational interviews, see our
Informational
Interviewing Tutorial.] Bottom line -- network, get off the computer,
and get yourself in front of employers!
Ideally, you can use networking contacts to identify the "real"
hiring manager for positions and have your contact either refer you
or go directly to the manager on your behalf. Or, you can attempt to
reach the manager directly. Be ready to talk intelligently about how
you can help the organization be more successful. This technique is
key and will make you stand out from other applicants.
Q:
What's the one job-hunting secret you share with clients/students
but that may not be widely known?
A:
It's okay to take on an internship or a temporary job after
graduation. For many, doing so will result in direct, hands-on
experience that serves as a great resume enhancement. Frequently,
internships and temp jobs lead to more permanent positions because
candidates have already proven themselves to employers and are a
"known quantity." Do what it takes to get your foot in the door!
Q:
What's the biggest myth about job-hunting?
A:
Many job-seekers grossly underestimate the effort, planning, and time
involved in conducting an effective job search. I often recommend
that students view a job search as taking another class, and that
alums consider it a full-time job, meaning that they should devote a
certain number of hours per week to it and stay committed to a
schedule.
Andrea C. Eastman has approximately 12 years of combined experience
in career counseling and human resources management. She has worked
in various settings, including higher education, consulting,
nonprofit, insurance, defense contracting, and banking. As assistant
director of Career Services at Brown
University, Eastman counsels undergraduates, graduate students, and
alumni. Additionally, she has developed and presented numerous
workshops, including resume writing, interviewing, finding
internships, evaluating benefits packages, managing the transition
from college to work, and working a career fair. Through her past
work experience in the human resources arena, Eastman
is familiar with the employer side of the recruiting, interviewing,
and hiring processes. She received a bachelor of arts degree in
psychology from Brown University and a master's degree in counseling
from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining the staff at Brown,
Eastman was an assistant director of Career Services at Tufts
University and senior career counselor at Johns Hopkins University.
