| When the AMA asked to write an article for this month's newsletter, I was a little flattered, though apprehensive. After all, my writing skills are pretty much limited to the occasional three line emails I send to friends and the less occasional reports and memos that I provide for business analysis. I found it quite appropriate, however that I bang out a few lines on my favorite day of the year--opening day for baseball! So I got settled at my desk, turned on my computer, and turned my radio to the pre-game announcers to get a little perspective on things to come. Oh, and I opened a bag of peanuts. I was prepared to let the creative juices flow. Going on the assumption that my reading audience would be mostly bright college students with an interest in marketing, I thought I should be able to make a great connection. Right? Let's hope for the best.
See, even if you're not a baseball fan like me, you can't help but appreciate how this important day is synonymous with the passage of winter, the advent of spring, and for all of us a new beginning. For some, it's the first time in the new year that we can actually see the ground as the snow and slush of winter begins to disappear. Perhaps this signals the time when the annual ritual of cleaning out the closets and rotating in a new wardrobe bring elation and anticipation for the new fashion season. It may be the first foray into the garden, the time to put the top down and drive through town, or the time to get the boat out of storage and hit the lake. I suppose for a few, this April day might signify the arrival of your parents' monthly credit card bill. The one where the charges from your week of indiscriminate usage while pursuing spring break activities show up. Each time you slapped it down surely must have seemed like you were using it "only in case of an emergency, right?" Right. For most of us it is a nice time.
And just as the players, coaches, and fans gear up for the coming season long competition, I know several of you readers are preparing for a new challenge of your own. You see, not only is this time of year symbolic of the annual tradition of "America's Passtime", it also happens to be a time of year when you may well find yourself being measured for a cap and gown.
With the spring semester still representing the highest percentage of graduate each year, many of you no doubt find you're in the midst of a pretty competitive job search. The economy has shown inconsistent signs of full recovery and many employers are still in either a downsizing mode, or hiring freeze. It's imperative to find ways to market your greatest asset (you) while not compromising your true career ambitions. Too often people "settle" for a job offer for the sake of security, only to find they're not at all satisfied with the opportunity's career track and future potential. For those of you who have already landed the job of your dreams, you are welcome to go back to watching the game on TV. For the rest of you, here's some advice: |
- People don't just "settle" on who they marry, where they live, what they drive, or what they eat. Why then, would you want to "settle" on a career choice? I think the first step in finding the ideal fit is to do a little detective work. Today's access to information is greater then ever. There are avenues of research that can provide you (quickly) with nearly everything you need to know about the opportunity before you ever actually send out the first resume. Investigate the industry as well as the company. Look for stability and signs of promising future. A potential employer's history, corporate structure, product or service portfolio, finances and track stability are often available to those who make the effort to inquire. Most companies provide online job descriptions and details about the necessary qualifications. Points of contact are usually there if look hard enough. There are 1,033,199 companies out there with jobs to offer to qualified applicants. The trick is being the one who is best qualified. OK, I made up the number, but you get the point.
- You have to be honest with yourself and the employer. If you're not the right fit and your qualifications do not match up with those necessary for that particular opportunity, keep looking. It doesn't mean a thing other than you are perfect for something somewhere else. I think I'd make a great astronaut; NASA probably wouldn't think so.
- Find your career passion. When you consider that you'll spend the majority of the rest of your life working (sorry to break that to you), it makes good sense to work at what you find most satisfying and rewarding. Anyone willing to give you good advice will tell you that the responsibility, the money, and that status will come in time if you're truly happy with what you do.
- Be prepared to articulate your qualifications and how you see them making you the best candidate for the position. This is called selling yourself. In the world of sales, one of the most important things is to know your product. No one knows you better than you, so there's no excuse for not being "salesperson of the year" in that respect. Discussing your qualifications in a confident and comfortable manner bodes well on you as a candidate, and demonstrates your understanding of the position. You'd be surprised how often this doesn't happen.
- Remember you're the one asking for the job. There will be other qualified candidates that won't be concerned with where they are asked to move in order to begin their career. That will usually make them a more appealing candidate. Too many times I see people (especially new college grads) pass up great opportunities because of something as often as meaningless as location--almost always for the wrong reasons. I've yet to be impressed in an interview by someone with limited or no professional work experience telling me they really have to live in Chicago because they have so many friend there.
- At the end of the interview, review your qualifications and if it feels right ask for the position. Don't leave anyone guessing as to whether or not you're really interested. The ideal career opportunity is too important to let slip away by not grabbing it when you have the chance. It will show you're desire and confidence in having the ability to perform the necessary responsibilities of the position.
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| I suppose there are plenty of other bits of advice that I could offer, but I'm running out of column space and the game is tied. I'll leave it with this: treat your career search as the most important event of your life. In most cases, at this stage it probably is. Don't rely on someone else to "find you a job", you won't be happy. Attack the process! It won't be easy, nothing worth having ever is. As they say in baseball, you have to swing to get a hit.
Swing for the fences! |