[jasu]

i love my job but i hated the company & the environment.
sigh its depressing everyday to be in the office from 8.30am to 6pm with this terrible environment! im resigning tomorrow

[leeliana]

I just graduated in May and have sent out a few resumes to jobs (about 15?) related to my degree. It's already mid-June, but I have yet to hear of any call backs. Some friends of mine already have job offers lined up and it's making me feel anxious. They tell me the only reason why they were able to find jobs so soon is because of connections. Things like that really irritates me because, despite having a pretty good and well-rounded resume, I have no connections. Therefore, I am using websites such as Monster to find jobs. So my questions are: How long did it take for you to find a job post-graduation? Did having connections help? How long would it take for a person without connections to find a job? Do you have any advice for me, I'm feeling really anxious!

[709394]

connections help...a LOT. a LOT LOT LOT LOT LOT.
i found my first "job" through a connection...
the job i have right now i found on craigslist.

but lemme say again, connections help a LOT. trying to land a job through something like monsters is...sooo very very difficult...

[slimjim]

I found a job during school so not the same situation. I sent out 80 resumes but didn't use them all as I got offers before finishing with all the companies. After working, I realized that connections always help, but the usefulness varies by employer. Usually at the minimum it guarantees that your resume will be read by somebody which is a huge advantage given the number of resumes out there. I would suggest you find connections, eg through places such as Linkedin or your alum network.

[leeliana]

This is what I was worried about. I really don't have much or any connections. -sigh-

[kimlxf]

I'm in the same boast as you -- I'm still in school (last year) but it's SO incredibly difficult to find a job. It's currently the bane of my existence... okay, so I'm being a drama queen, but I've sent out my resume to so many places, it's hard not to get discouraged. I think finding a job is dependent on luck and... what industry you're trying to get into.

[crazyfrog]

although i haven't graduated yet, i've still had some experience looking for jobs. but from what i've learnt, experience is VERY VERY VERY important. Even if it's the most MINIMAL thing, put it down on the resume. my friend is able to find heaps of jobs because she has a lot of experience. as opposed to me, stuck with the same job for the past 3 years... *sigh*

and another friend said that she had to give out 25 resumes and only got 7 call backs... so keeps giving out those resumes, i guess.

[Pogichinoy]

Things like that really irritates me because, despite having a pretty good and well-rounded resume, I have no connections. Therefore, I am using websites such as Monster to find jobs. So my questions are: How long did it take for you to find a job post-graduation? Did having connections help? How long would it take for a person without connections to find a job? Do you have any advice for me, I'm feeling really anxious!

Your friends are lucky.

There is a reason why you're not getting any call backs, it could be anything from your resume or your skillset. Some people who do not have any relevant experience may find it difficult to land their first job.

Did you apply for any graduate roles a year before graduating? Have you tried recruitment agencies?

I already had a job lined up due to a graduate role when I completed my degree.

It may take you a while, because to them, you're an average graduate. What makes you so special?

[negitoro]

While connections are obviously important, I know plenty of people who graduated and got jobs on their own.

You really should have started looking much earlier. I know when I graduated, the ones most successful in their job searches were the ones who started early (some began up to 6 months before graduation). A lot of people had jobs lined up prior to graduation. Honestly, at this point, you're competing with every unemployed college graduate in the Class of '08 for a job and it takes just that much more effort to stand out.

Also really, 15 resumes is next to nothing. Some of my friends mailed out 5 resumes daily and attended every college job fair, on campus recruitment effort, company presentations, etc to hand out even more resumes. If you still have access to any of these, attend them. It's much easier to make an impression in person and you can make some connections while you're at it.

Don't even bother with the online job sites like Monster. It's USELESS. It's so easy to submit an application and has so many people reading the same ad that any job that you feel like you're qualified for, about 5,000 other people will feel the same. You definitely won't be the most outstanding out of such a large pool unless you have a killer resume (and by that I mean impressive qualifications with tons of keywords to help get past automated selection). 15 resumes sent out online is also much, much less effective than 15 resumes sent by mail. If you must apply to a job on an online job board, make sure you do it by snail mail, addressed to the person in charge of that hiring.

Also, don't get too caught up in job ads. Try applying to interesting positions that you're slightly under qualified for. Try sending your resume 'cold calling' to companies in your field you'd be interested in working for, who'd even remotely have a chance they'd need someone like you.

So really, don't get discouraged yet and keep trying. The path to a job without connections is harder, so you have to be more aggressive.

[watcher]

I just graduated in May and have sent out a few resumes to jobs (about 15?) related to my degree. It's already mid-June, but I have yet to hear of any call backs. Some friends of mine already have job offers lined up and it's making me feel anxious. They tell me the only reason why they were able to find jobs so soon is because of connections. Things like that really irritates me because, despite having a pretty good and well-rounded resume, I have no connections. Therefore, I am using websites such as Monster to find jobs. So my questions are: How long did it take for you to find a job post-graduation? Did having connections help? How long would it take for a person without connections to find a job? Do you have any advice for me, I'm feeling really anxious!

just keep sending resumes and be open to positions that you might not usually take up. people are going to tell you about how they started searching months in advance or how they knew the right people, but that really helps you little right now. keep pushing more resumes. write cover letters when mentioned, and just keep applying. if you don't have a job yet, it means send more resumes. when you get interviews, prepare for them. research the position and refresh your knowledge. keep a positive 'can do' attitude and raise your confidence.

i think one of the biggest things you'll learn within the next few months is not so much your skills in the field, but problem solving by overcoming situations like these. make it happen, and i'm sure everything else will fall into place. good luck!

[Yuki_Muto]

Connections help A LOT. I've noticed that with a lot of my friends.
I think the best connection you can get is through your friend. Contact any of your friends who have jobs and ask for a referral.
Relatives and family friends work too.

I got my current job (my 1st job out of college) through my internship. I met a lot of people in my industry during my internship and one of them contacted me while I was still in school.
So being social and open to meeting new people helps too...aka. job fairs.

-Yuki

[suki_*]

when you come out to look for a starting job, it's usually who you know first and then what you know

timing and luck is also very important. haha

[709394]

Alright guys...dilemma. I'm trying to break into finance.
I'm doing marketing now and dislike my job. problem is, i'm getting paid much more than avg for my "level of xperience"...haha, which is like none at all. Anyhow, i'm getting paid around 52k/year

this new job that im applying for, entry level finance, is starting at 33-38k.....WTF. u cant live in the bay area with that kind of wage. Anyone tried negotiating wages before? And i have an econ degree from a pretty good school so to be willing to accept that kind of pay is pretty ridiculous.

then again, for an entry level finance job, its much like an internship to me (and i have no internships in finance either)...
what should i do? look elsewehere? sigh..

[watcher]

Alright guys...dilemma. I'm trying to break into finance.
I'm doing marketing now and dislike my job. problem is, i'm getting paid much more than avg for my "level of xperience"...haha, which is like none at all. Anyhow, i'm getting paid around 52k/year

this new job that im applying for, entry level finance, is starting at 33-38k.....WTF. u cant live in the bay area with that kind of wage. Anyone tried negotiating wages before? And i have an econ degree from a pretty good school so to be willing to accept that kind of pay is pretty ridiculous.

then again, for an entry level finance job, its much like an internship to me (and i have no internships in finance either)...
what should i do? look elsewehere? sigh..

well... we all gotta start somewhere. nail the interview and show them you got much more potential. it'll be hard otherwise to negotiate the salary. i'd do my best to reach the upper end of that salary and consider resetting your budget to cut costs here and there. if this is the path you really want you should aim for it. of course, you gotta make sure you can feed and shelter yourself first.

worst case scenario, work two jobs. keep your current one and see if you can intern somewhere that offers experience in finance. [or just wait for the next opportunity]

when you come out to look for a starting job, it's usually who you know first and then what you know smile.gif

timing and luck is also very important. haha

depends on the field. in mine, it's always what you know. [i work in software engineering]

[negitoro]

Alright guys...dilemma. I'm trying to break into finance.
I'm doing marketing now and dislike my job. problem is, i'm getting paid much more than avg for my "level of xperience"...haha, which is like none at all. Anyhow, i'm getting paid around 52k/year

this new job that im applying for, entry level finance, is starting at 33-38k.....WTF. u cant live in the bay area with that kind of wage. Anyone tried negotiating wages before? And i have an econ degree from a pretty good school so to be willing to accept that kind of pay is pretty ridiculous.

then again, for an entry level finance job, its much like an internship to me (and i have no internships in finance either)...
what should i do? look elsewehere? sigh..

The problem is you have no grounds for negotiations. You're starting fresh in a entry level position, with no relevant experience so you really don't have a lot of leverage. After all, there's probably someone else who is just as qualified (degree from a good school) who would take that wage.

If you really want it, then you'll have to sacrifice. Dig into your savings a bit. Once you have some experience, you can go and find a better position.

[xkiseki]

So after majoring in Criminology & Law I figured I'd go to law school, but I've been working at this law firm as a paralegal for almost 2.5 years (since like sophomore year) and I discovered how much I despise the field. So after taking my LSATs and applying my friend and I, who was a pre-med major are gonna mover to SF on a whim and try to break into the PR/Marketing world.

A ex pre-law and an ex pre-med. Perhaps we are crazy, I do not know. But geez... I wish we had connections. Does anyone have any advice about moving to the Bay Area and looking for work in general? It would be greatly appreciated.

[D_K]

Alright guys...dilemma. I'm trying to break into finance.
I'm doing marketing now and dislike my job. problem is, i'm getting paid much more than avg for my "level of xperience"...haha, which is like none at all. Anyhow, i'm getting paid around 52k/year

this new job that im applying for, entry level finance, is starting at 33-38k.....WTF. u cant live in the bay area with that kind of wage. Anyone tried negotiating wages before? And i have an econ degree from a pretty good school so to be willing to accept that kind of pay is pretty ridiculous.

then again, for an entry level finance job, its much like an internship to me (and i have no internships in finance either)...
what should i do? look elsewehere? sigh..

38k sounds ridiculously low even for an entry level position though. Especially in a Bay Area where wages are usually inflated..any thoughts in what type of finance career you're looking into (research, asset mgmt, corp fin, IB, trading, risk mgmt, sales)?

[Deadalready]

Okay a quick brief on what's happening, I was looking for a change in career path and decided I'd like to try out working in the signwriting/advertisement industry. So I looked around and joined up with a company as a "work experience" and learnt all the skills I could and landed myself a job.
This was originally about 1.6 years ago and since then I've learnt almost all the skills and techniques that are possible in my section (and others) additionally I am the *only* worker capable of doing several jobs and because of that often sent to solo many projects that often get me kept back for many hours a week. I originally negotiated part time work with my boss and he wanted me to go full time, so I negotiated shorter flexible hours so under normal schedules I start at 9:00 - 3:00 and stay back to finish any emergency jobs.

I consider myself the only one in my section who is actually able to work on any job we're assigned and a good friend of everyone in the workplace. By nature I am easy going, relaxed and patient and basically impossible to anger.

I am also the lowest paid.


I approached my boss the other day to talk about getting a raise and to my surprise he was already planning to give a raise and in his words "We're happy with what you've done for us and the only question is how much." In about 2 weeks we'll be meeting to discuss what my new pay conditions, so I'm just looking at what I should be thinking about and what approaches I can take.

I will also be contacting my friend (who offered me position in his company) to get an idea of what I'm worth and I also suspect my boss will want me to step up into a leadership position within our company. I consider my current conditions perfect and if I wanted to change anything, would rather look to lower my hours or get a higher rate of annual leave accumulation.

[watcher]

^ i think it's important to sit down and first understand what the boss's expectations are. as much power as you have in your current position, if it's still out of sync with the company's best interest, they may give in now, but later on down the line, it would pay off more for the company to find someone else who is capable and will fill in the company's need/culture. thus it is important to first understand fully the reason for the promotion. a good boss will not promote you simply because you outperformed. that is the least of the reasons. the main reason will be your significance to the company for the future. so if your plans do not aid in the company's future success, though you get the promotion now, you may end up hurting yourself.

i think the best approach is to first understand the situation, and then let him know your concerns/desires. ease into it as you get a better idea of what the company wants from you, and if there is any conflict, remember that it's ok to assert your wants, but at the same time be open minded. let your boss know that even though you want these things, the thing you want the most is for both you and the company to win.

if things go ideal, you will probably get whatever you ask for, but it's important on how you go about it so that your boss doesn't feel like he's getting pinned down because they can't replace you right now. in case of conflict, negotiate and work on it together until both of you agree to the terms. in case you absolutely cannot accept their terms, perhaps offer up a different course of actions. rather than a promotion with new responsibilities, to instead get a pay raise based on performance, and then take some more time to figure out how you can fit in the company with new roles while trying to ensure your own personal wants from the job.

in the end, the relationship comes first. sincerity and an open mind will go a long way. good luck

^ i think it's important to sit down and first understand what the boss's expectations are. as much power as you have in your current position, if it's still out of sync with the company's best interest, they may give in now, but later on down the line, it would pay off more for the company to find someone else who is capable and will fill in the company's need/culture. thus it is important to first understand fully the reason for the promotion. a good boss will not promote you simply because you outperformed. that is the least of the reasons. the main reason will be your significance to the company for the future. so if your plans do not aid in the company's future success, though you get the promotion now, you may end up hurting yourself.

i think the best approach is to first understand the situation, and then let him know your concerns/desires. ease into it as you get a better idea of what the company wants from you, and if there is any conflict, remember that it's ok to assert your wants, but at the same time be open minded. let your boss know that even though you want these things, the thing you want the most is for both you and the company to win.

if things go ideal, you will probably get whatever you ask for, but it's important on how you go about it so that your boss doesn't feel like he's getting pinned down because they can't replace you right now. in case of conflict, negotiate and work on it together until both of you agree to the terms. in case you absolutely cannot accept their terms, perhaps offer up a different course of actions. rather than a promotion with new responsibilities, to instead get a pay raise based on performance, and then take some more time to figure out how you can fit in the company with new roles while trying to ensure your own personal wants from the job.

in the end, the relationship comes first. sincerity and an open mind will go a long way. good luck

[Deadalready]

I was wondering where my thread went.

~

Very good points Watcher, thankyou.

I'll must admit I was thinking purely of my own expectations rather than the company's, so I'll spend some time thinking about my role. Since maybe I didn't clarify, I'm not actually looking for a promotion (to power) I'm actually more concerned that my new conditions will force me into a leadship position and at this current point in time I don't believe any amount of money could convince me to take up a leadership position.

Still my expectations aren't oracles of the future, so I'll be sure to discuss what he expects of me before I enter into the closing parts of the negotiations.


PS: Why post the same post twice?