How to land a great job?

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>Alright, so we know that getting a job is in no way mechanical. It's not like if you get a 4.0 then you've won the game, even though it might help out.</p>

<p>So what in your opinion most influences getting the more rewarding, best paying jobs out there?</p>

<p>1) The innate abilities of the person?
2) The credentials of the person? (college, law, med, school, etc.)
3) Personal connections?
4) Geography? (or in other words, luck)
5) Politics/Working the system?</p>

<p>A little bit of all? What do you think?</p>

2

<p>In my experience, finding a job is broken into several different stages.</p>

<p>First is the application stage, where companies will look at resumes and cover letters from hundreds of applicants. In order to get out of this stage, you need to have an excellent GPA, a cover letter that strikes recruiters as “different,” industry experience, and/or personal connections.</p>

<p>Second is the first round interview. You need to know how to answer the behavioral questions succinctly, and you need to know the right questions to ask the recruiters. You might need to address questions about your academic achievements or lack thereof. At this stage, they don’t <em>NEED</em> to cut down a ton of people, so if you seem like you might be a fit, you will probably make it to the next stage.</p>

<p>Third is the second round interview / super day. By this point your GPA shouldn’t matter anymore. You now may need to know how to answer questions specifically related to the industry you are pursuing, and you will definitely go through more intense behavioral interviews. A lot of the valence qualities of applicants influence recruiters at this stage. How is your handshake? Are you on time? Do you ask good questions? Do you seem interested? Are you smiling, or are you noticeably uncomfortable?</p>

<p>Finally is the offer and salary negotiation stage, and if you get here, you’re in good shape.</p>

<p>In all of the interview stages, you can really set yourself apart by doing novel things. If you’re at a career fair, think about interesting ways to submit your resume. I have heard a story about a kid from my school who boiled down his resume to the most crucial things and then printed it on a business card that he handed recruiters at a career fair; he got several interviews out of that. After interviews, I was always sure to send detailed follow up emails to EVERYONE I spoke to, including references to conversation topics we had had during the interview, as well as at least one question. I was told that these emails were large aspects of why I was eventually given offers.</p>

<p>The biggest thing I think is that you need to be patient. It doesn’t always work out that you have tremendous companies looking at you. One thing that happened to me was that while I was in the midst of interviewing, I interviewed with a company which I knew wasn’t for me, but which I knew wanted to continue the hiring process. It was very difficult for me, but it felt GREAT when I said, “I know I don’t have other clear options right now, but I also know that I will be miserable in this job, and I’m not willing to do that.”</p>

<p>Good luck, good sir. Everyone needs it.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the detailed explanation.</p>

<p>I suppose I should have asked another question: Is there any way to get my foot in the door without having a great resume or without having a college degree? I’m a bit confused as to what an employer might be looking for. Are most job decisions based on objective or subjective information? It sounds like from your post it goes from objective to subjective throughout the interview phases. For example, at the beginning, people who only have college degrees are filtered to remove the incapable,which is the objective criterion. Then it becomes more personal and subjective. So in my case, I would just need to get over the objective speed bump and then master my interviewing skills to ultimately get the job?</p>

<p>Also, do you think the job applicants most of the time sincerely want that specific job they are applying for or are applying and grooming themselves to be picked and to have a job…period? I read your example at the end, but what do you think the case is for most people? There has to be a balance obviously, but do you think the people applying for computer science jobs are really fascinated and excited about computer code and whatever else their job entails, or are excited to pay their mortgage loan and feed their family?</p>

4

<p>It’s 75% who you know - if not more.</p>

<p>Every job I’ve ever had is because someone I know recommended me and made an introduction.</p>

<p>It makes things easier for everyone, especially the Hiring Manager. Would you rather read 200 resumes, call 10 people, sit through 10 interviews - or just have a co-worker walk into your office and say, “Hey, that position you’re looking to fill, I think I know someone interested, can I have him send you his resume?”</p>

<p>I hire project employees and the first thing I do is call former co-workers and ask if they are available, if they aren’t, I ask them if there is anyone they know looking work and would do a good job.</p>