Making connections advantageous in job search
DEAR J.T. & DALE: I am about to graduate with an engineering degree. I think I don’t know how to search or apply for a job. I haven’t applied for any jobs until now because it always says “experience needed.” I want to apply to be an intern or a project assistant, but I think they don’t consider the applications sent in via websites. — Brett
J.T.: You aren’t alone. School teaches you a lot of skills, but “job search” usually is not one of them. And a job search is actually very challenging right now. You need to know how to go around the online application process so that you can get noticed by an employer, especially if you’re just starting out. If you haven’t already, talk with the folks at your college’s career center and see what it does to help you identify employers who hire for the role you want. Also, see if they’ll introduce you to some alumni who currently do the job you want. You also can find those folks on LinkedIn and reach out to them directly. Invite them to connect by saying: “We haven’t met, but I’m a student at ___. I’d love to learn more about what you did to land your first job out of school.” A lot of alumni love to help students by doing informational interviews.
Dale: Yes, alumni are a great resource, especially if you’re thinking of working in a different city from where the college is located. (For example, a fellow UCLA grad is more “special” in St. Louis than in Los Angeles.) Leaders of local alumni groups usually are happy to help facilitate connections. Also, your parents and relatives probably know people who know engineers you could meet. You see where we’re going here — you’re making connections, not just searching for job postings. Job postings almost always ask for specific experience. Why? Because it’s so easy to fill the jobs that don’t require experience that they usually are filled via word of mouth.
J.T.: Finally, I will tell you that I started my company WorkItDaily.com for individuals like you. We offer video courses and one-on-one career coaching online to help you learn step by step how to get a job. We understand that the sooner you learn the right way to look for work, the faster you’ll get your dream job!
Dear J.T. &Dale: I can’t get a job. I’ve applied to hundreds of jobs in the past year. I got a degree in business and wanted to go into insurance, but I got turned down. I worked for a few tech startups, and they crashed. Now I’m taking my real estate exam. I can’t get any companies to take me seriously. — Claire
J.T.: A recruiter’s first reaction would be to conclude that you don’t really know what you want to do, and that means hiring you could be a risk — no company wants to hire you only to have you decide that the job isn’t for you. Employers want to be fully convinced that you know your strengths and how the job they might offer plays a key role in your success path.
Dale: Here’s an example of how you’d work at turning your existing work experience into a logical career evolution: You mentioned that you’ve worked for tech companies but would like to be in real estate. So, you apply for jobs where those two intersect. For instance, you might train people in real estate on how to use software, or work on a software company’s help desk. That’s a natural evolution. Said another way, you then will have a career story that makes sense to a recruiter. It also will make sense to your former colleagues in tech companies, and to all of your friends. When you know the type of work you want to do and the companies where you’d like to do it, you can undertake an effective campaign to make new connections and get hired. Instead of submitting hundreds of job applications, start making dozens of new connections, and you’ll soon have the chance to jump ahead in your search.
Jeanine “J.T.” Tanner O’Donnell is a professional development specialist and the founder of the consulting firm jtodonnell. Dale Dauten resolves employment and other business disputes as a mediator with AgreementHouse.com. Please visit them at jtanddale. com, where you can send questions via email, or write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019.