Pursuit of Flute

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Running

I’ve always been a mid-distance runner – my dad forced me into track in 7th grade and I’ve been addicted ever since.

However, I used college and “being too busy” as an excuse to neglect this and let my endurance wither away. Very very pathetic and I could kick myself for it. . . but that wouldn’t be productive.

So here I am with my low running IQ (new subscription to Runners World), new shoes (I love Asics) and concrete sidewalks (I miss the dirt roads from Onsted and Allendale!)

Let’s hope I can keep up with my reslove to not care if it is raining or snowing and keep running consistently.

On My Way

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Even if you’re Internal

I was reading a post on Old Salty: Headhunter about people who think showing up to introduce themselves to HR will give them a better chance at snagging a position. Personal Development Opportunity: This tactic is just as ineffective for internal candidates!

Now don’t get me wrong I don’t want to be boxed up in my cube all day without any human interaction, but please do not follow up your 3 emails from this morning with 2 afternoon trips to my desk only to ask how the job you applied for is progressing.

As desperate as you may feel about your need to get a new job, the hiring manager does not feel the same way. They are going to do things at their speed (whether I like it or not). Often it is the HM’s decision on who to interview anyways, so maybe the more productive thing to do is to make friends with the decision makers in that department.

After all, it is really about who you know.

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Career Fair: to get a job?

What can you do at a career fair when companies are on hiring freezes?

Three years ago I walked into a career fair and two weeks later had an internship lined up for the summer, but now when you walk in no one even wants to touch your paper resume. . . so  what is the point of going?

For most people the benefit of a career fair probably is not going to be what they really want; a job. The trip to the local university or convention center prepared with your freshly ironed suit and crisp resumes at this point is not to seal the deal on a new career, but really to network and beef up your interviewing skills.

To maximize your time at a career fair:

1. Before you go: research the companies you are interested in and prepare some talking points and questions
2. When you arrive: go up to a company booth that you don’t think you would want to work for and strike up a conversation about their industry- get your nerves out of the way
3. While you are there: visit the booths of the companies you are interested in and spark up a small conversation with a rep — preferably asking questions to learn more about the company – things you can’t get off Google or their website.  (This is where you get to practice active listening and interviewing skills)
4. If you are lucky: get a business card or email address to send a message asking about opportunities and the chance to pass along your digital resume

Even though recruiters don’t want your paper resume and you won’t be offered a job on the spot there is still a reason to go to career fairs — at least to practice talking to the HR/company reps – we are not that bad.. really…

Hi My Name Is. . .

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Write Now

Worst case scenario: You write your first resume in anticipation of graduation.

Whose responsibility is it really?

Your parents? – no they probably haven’t written a resume in 20 or 30 years…
Professors? – maybe – however it depends on how long they have been in academia…
Friends? – perhaps if one is an HR Major (?)
University Career Center? - partly- should be a resource and provide opportunities to learn about resumes
Yourself? - Yes because typically no one has (or takes) the time to swoop you up and write it for you

There are plenty of articles that rant about “college the scam” — how students graduate ill prepared for the real world.
Well school is not there to hold your hand from scared freshman to savvy business person.

As ridiculous as it may feel  you should write/update your resume every semester of school and go to your Career Services department – do a mock interview and have your resume reviewed. This won’t make a difference until you apply for that first internship or job – but once you are at that point you will be surprisingly grateful you ever cared.

Tip: put your resume into PDF format — that way you know it will always look good — there are open source programs to do this if you work on a PC – or your Mac conveniently has this functionality already built in

This could be your Worst Case Scenario