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I’m a recent college graduate, and recently moved back in with the parents in Queens. I must find a job now! I’ve tried Monster, Hot Jobs, the Times classified, etc., but so far, I’ve got nothing. Where else can I look?
Unemployed, Flushing
Perhaps an especially relevant question in light of the recent Apprentice finale. The good news is that you don't have to put yourself through a reality show to find gainful employment, but we understand the frustration of mailing out resumes in bulk and not getting any feedback. So here are some ideas for finding a job that maybe you haven't tried yet.
For starters, where you look really depends on the industry. Most trades have industry-specific market places online (for instance, if you work in publishing or media, check out Media Bistro). Those websites usually feature job postings and/or advice for finding jobs in your industry. Also, different industries handle job searches differently, so the steps you’ll need to take to find a good job may vary.
Generally:
Go back to school, or your school’s career center anyway. Your alma mater likely has a career center with a website that will offer more tips for finding jobs, and likely has job postings divided up by department. A career counselor there might also be able to put you in touch with an alumnus in your intended industry.
You can do some information interviewing. Find companies that you’re interested in working for and send them letters. Don’t ask for a job, but do say that you’re interested in learning more about the industry, entry-level positions, and the general atmosphere of the company. Clearly indicate your contact information and then put your resume and cover letter in the envelope, too; if your information interview goes well, whoever you talk to will likely pass the resume on to HR with some kind words.
If you need help finding contacts for information interviews, again go back to your college and check out the alumni association. Most have searchable databases where you can find other alumni from your school who work in the industry you’re interested in. You can send letters to alumni and ask to do an information interview.
The key is to make contacts. The job market is pretty competitive now, so getting to know someone at a company you’re interested in will help get your foot in the door. You’ll be considered first when new positions open up, or can let you know if they know of positions that might be a good fit for you.
You should also check out company websites. Most companies are now posting job listings on their own sites. This is also an excellent way to do research about a company you’d like to work for, and employers are impressed if you already have some information about what their company is about when you arrive for your interview.
Good luck with the job search!
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Good advice.
The only caveat is that you may not wish to include a resume with a request for an information interview. It would depend on the situation, but if you are unfamiliar with the person with whom you are requesting an interview, I would advise to omit the resume and provide it later in the process - either when meeting in person (when applicable), or sent along with a thank-you note. If you are quite familiar with the person, you could choose to send the resume as you request an information interview.
The reasoning is that you want to focus on obtaining an interview appointment, which is harder for a job interview than it is for an information interview. The more it seems like an information interview (and less like a job interview), the more relaxed your contact will be about accepting your invitation. In some cases, a resume might imply "job seeker looking for job interview" and that can scare someone away from a information interview.
By all means, KEEP YOUR RESUME HANDY once you get that appointment. And it does not hurt to offer it during or after your discussion. Providing it in person offers a discussion topic and perhaps even leads to good resume advice. Sending it with the thank-you note is a good way to make sure it's in their hands whether they think they want it or not.
One other thing about information interviews, applies to pretty much any advice you ever get in life; if it's important to you or represents a major change, don't take any advice as gospel. This is especially true if the advice came across laced with negativity/bitterness or if it sounds kooky. Bring it up casually with others who also know such things and discuss. Do not go ahead with major resume changes, large purchases, wardrobe/appearance changes, long car trips, or anything of that sort based on one person's advice. Make your own decisions and verify all of your research.
Oh, and don't read any articles about the job market. Sad and desperate stories sell liberal newspapers, and the job market has a lot of sad stories. Many of the people in those articles seem quite normal, but may be stubborn, inflexible, inept, awkward, unmotivated, well-funded, or undereducated. The author will convienently omit or underreport such things. It's not always the fault of the job seeker that the job search is so difficult, but it's easy to commiserate with other frustrated individuals and fail to identify and work on your personal impediments. Don't lose perspective in your own search. And good luck.