The job/career Questions Thread

[blackcauldron85]

I don't know much about life after graduation, so I figured I'd ask some of you experts on here! Other people with job/career-related questions can also use this thread to ask questions & receive answers!

I'm graduating in May with my Bachelor's Degree.

1. When should I start looking for a job?
2. When a job has certain qualifications (such as X number of years of experience), how much can you "fudge" it? If it says that you need 5 years of experience, but you have 4, should you still apply?
3. How hard is it to get an entry level position? It seems that so many jobs need you to have X years of experience, and when you're fresh out of college, your options are extremely limited. I have retail experience and I'm volunteering now, and I had an internship, so those help somewhat.

Any advice anyone has is more than welcome!

[Mr. Toad]

1) Now or earlier - I graduated in April(1990) and had a job the previous October.
2)Apply for anything that interests you within reason but don't ever lie about your qualifications or experience. Instead point out what you can bring to the job that helps you overcome an experience shortcoming.
3. What employers like myself put in the ad is their dream applicant. I would say half the time I end up hiring someone that is deficent in at least one of the major requirements of the job - education. experience etc.

[blackcauldron85]

When you say you had a job the previous October, Mr. Toad, you mean that they were holding the job for you until you graduated, or that you were working at the job then and you'd get promoted (or something) in April?

I was looking at jobs on DisneyCareers.com, and there are a couple that I may be qualified for. Should I apply now and they'll just see on my resume that I'll be graduating in May? How far in advance will an employer look to fill a position? If the position is being advertised now, could they even wait until May to fill it?

I need to update my resume- a couple weeks ago, I started volunteering for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (even though I've only done one thing for them so far and need to wait until Monday for my next assignment), and on Friday I'm starting to volunteer for the Orlando Ballet. Should I put these on my resume now, even though I've barely started or haven't started yet, respectively? I mean, only if I apply for jobs this week?

[Mr. Toad]

When you say you had a job the previous October, Mr. Toad, you mean that they were holding the job for you until you graduated, or that you were working at the job then and you'd get promoted (or something) in April??

They held the job for me. Most white collar jobs will be like that. Is there not some on campus recruiting going on? Check with your faculty.

I

was looking at jobs on DisneyCareers.com, and there are a couple that I may be qualified for. Should I apply now and they'll just see on my resume that I'll be graduating in May? How far in advance will an employer look to fill a position? If the position is being advertised now, could they even wait until May to fill it???

Yes tell them when you are going to graduate. For a white collar job six months to a year. If it is being advertised now it does not hurt to apply and see. Nothing to lose. Don't get discouraged. It does not matter if you lose 20 competitions, you just need to win one.

I need to update my resume- a couple weeks ago, I started volunteering for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (even though I've only done one thing for them so far and need to wait until Monday for my next assignment), and on Friday I'm starting to volunteer for the Orlando Ballet. Should I put these on my resume now, even though I've barely started or haven't started yet, respectively? I mean, only if I apply for jobs this week?

I would not put anything on you have not yet started. The Cystic Fibrosis thing is fine though. Volunteerism is a plus from my point of view although I know there are employers, particularly big ones that would not share that view.

My situation is hard to compare to yours. You seem to be aiming towards very large companies. I have always shunned them for small and medium ones despite some big money offers along the way.

[blackcauldron85]

If it is being advertised now it does not hurt to apply and see. Nothing to lose. Don't get discouraged. It does not matter if you lose 20 competitions, you just need to win one.

That's true- the worst that could happen is that they don't contact me. I asked this is the Disney Jobs thread I started in the Disney forum, but, if you don't read that before you read this, is it bad to apply for many (as in 6-9) jobs at once? Or should I just pick one or two that I'd like?

[Mr. Toad]

By the way the most important question to me in an interview is what is your biggest weakness?

I am looking for a real answer, because nobody is perfect. I don't want to here I have none or something like I work too hard. Indicates they are completely lacking in self assessment skills and will not listen to feedback.

[Barbossa]

blackcauldron85,

Join the club. I've got two diplomas. One in electronics engineering technology and one in marketing. I've been looking for work since January. I graduated this past May, with a bachelor's degree, in business administration. To this date I'm still unemployed. I've re-written my resume countless of times and written many cover letters also. And with these documents have applied for work not just here, but in the lower mainland (Vancouver) and in Alberta as well.

The interesting thing is I've got great experience. It may not accumulate to 3 or more years, however, what it is is far greater than any newbie will have, all of which was done on a voluntary basis. Unfortunately, companies are failing to recognize this. I too am not sure about what to put when it comes time to write down years of experience. One major problem is that there are not that many entry level positions.

What makes the situation worse is that I got student loans to pay off.
I am fustrated and I will continue to be frustrated until I have a good paid job. It is frustrating having put 10 years of my life into getting a good education and not being able to put it to use right away. You will have your share of frustrations also.

[Barbossa]

^Oops, double post. Had problem with my browser.

[blackcauldron85]

Mr. Toad- thanks for that pointer- I don't know how I've answered that question in the past (if I've been asked it), but I know what to say- procrastination. I always get what I need to get done, but if the post office closes at 5pm, I'm there at 4:30, if you know what I mean.

Barbossa- that's awful! My husband graduated college in 2003, with an electrical engineering degree, and he couldn't get a good job (he was working at Best Buy as a cashier), and then when we moved to Florida, he eventually got an engineering job (but was laid off/fired), and now he's been at the place he's at now for over 2 years...so I know that it can be hard, but I thought that it was a fluke for him. I hope you get a job that you like soon! (I'm not just saying that- I really do- I'm not even graduated yet and I'm stressing, so I can only imagine how you feel.)

[blackcauldron85]

A week or so ago, I applied to a job, and I haven't heard from them yet, but I know someone who knows someone who works at this place, and I called her, and I have an informational interview on Thursday. I didn't say that I have already applied for a position- I'm really just going in to find out more information about the company, I guess. On the phone, she mentioned a job that they're hiring for (just a part-time job), and she said would I like to interview for that, too, or just have the informational interview- I said just the informational interview at this time, but then I emailed her back later and said that I am interested in the part-time position (it is with a Disney company...so I figured anything would be better than nothing).

Today I really started my job search. I had called my parents this morning to ask them a question, and my mom kind of said that maybe now is too early to start job hunting, since I won't be graduating for 3 1/2 months. A person from one company I applied to emailed me back today, saying that they're really looking to hire someone before may, but that "you never know...".

I've applied to maybe 8 jobs so far, with one cover letter & resume sent to one more company, since their website had no specific jobs, but had a link to send your resume to, and one job that I can't apply to until the online maintenance is done. It's very stressful, and I'm just hoping that Mr. Toad is right, that many companies are looking for people months in advance of when they actually need the person to start.

I've applied to a variety of different positions so far, and I'm not done yet. I'll keep everyone posted, and I'm still very open to any advice any of you have!

Oh, and have any of you ever had your family or friends nagging you about what jobs you've applied to? I'm keeping pretty quiet on what jobs I've applied to (to my hubby and parents) just because I know that they'll find ways to criticize them (like how I'm under- or over-qualified for certain jobs)...

[blackcauldron85]

So, I'm applying to some jobs for when I graduate, as well as some internships; the internship would not be for school credit, since I've already done one for school credit, but it'd be something to put on my resume and give me a bit more experience until I graduate, as well as just giving me something to do, since I'm only taking 3 classes.

I applied to three internships so far, one being an office assistant, one being a fashion marketing intern, and one being a human resources internship. The lady from the office assistant internship wrote me back and said that she'll call me tomorrow, since she liked what she saw on my resume. Bobby is all upset, saying how I'm better than just an office filing position. I'm telling him that it'll only be for three months and that I just want something to do until I graduate. The fashion marketing intership would absolutely be more to my liking, so I probably shouldn't say "yes" to the office position right away, if it's offered to me. But it's just frustrating having Bobby (and his brother) say that I'm too good for that, so why bother applying. I'm an individual, and if I want to try something, why should they stop me? It's not what you know, it's who you know, my mom says. The company is a real estate company; I don't want to work in the real estate industry, but it's all about networking. Bobby was wondering how networking in that field could help me out. Bobby works for an engineering company, and I got the contact info for someone at Disney through the wife of his co-worker...the same thing could happen at this other company.

I'm just ranting, but if you read that, thanks...!

[blackcauldron85]

(A lot of this is a rant, but after the "*****", I have some questions, so if you want to skip down to that part, that'd be okay!)

Yesterday I applied to a couple jobs...one I think turned out to be a fake job, but someone from the other company called me, and I had a phone interview. When he asked me if I had any questions, I asked the question I always ask during interviews- Can you tell me what I'd be doing during an average day on the job? After that, he asked if I had any more questions, and I said, no, not off the top of my head. He said to check out the website and call back if I want a second interview and have any more questions.

That really rubbed me the wrong way. I know that I suck at interviews, but the condition for me to have a second interview is to have more questions to ask (about the postion, the company, whatever). That just really bothers me for some reason. I'm jobless, but I'm not super-interested in the position.

Which leads to my long-lasting dilemma- I don't really find any jobs that I'm super-interested in. I'm not even sure what type of job I really want. Any job is better than no job, some people say, and in general, I agree with that.

It's different, being married and all- I haven't worked for money since the end of 2005...the job I had was getting in the way of school, so I quit. I've never had difficulty quitting jobs. Back in Massachusetts, I worked at the same grocery store for over 3 years. (I did have a couple other short-term jobs, though.) I moved to Florida and have had a bunch of short-term jobs. I have excuses for quitting each one, but no one wants to hire, especially in this economy, someone who doesn't have job stability.

I can't change the past- looking back, I wish that I had stuck out one job here for longer than I did. My bad.

I'm just really frustrated. I don't even know if I'm going to look on that company's website and think of more questions.

I always look at the Sunday newspaper's job section, and I don't usually find that much that I'm interested in, but this week I highlighted a bunch of jobs, but I haven't called any of them yet. I'm not motivated. Maybe it's because I'm not finding any jobs that excite me. But I don't even know exactly what I want to do. Part of me thinks that working for the Disney Movie Club, doing customer service, would be ideal; some people who work for the DMC have no idea about the movies, and I could be more effective in helping the customers when it comes to the merchandise. But that's in Neenah, Wisconsin, and Bobby doesn't want to move. So I'm not even calling the DMC to see how someone goes about getting a job with them.

I would write here my feelings on how I think that young people shouldn't get married, partly because you can't follow your dreams or try things out (I can't just move away to see if I can get a job that I want)...but I won't elaborate, just because it will take too long and it might not even make much sense.

6 months ago when I went to Walt Disney World Casting, the recruiter said to come back in 6 months to a year when I have steady employement. No one has hired me; I've had countless interviews, I've sent out my resume hundreds of times...part of my problem is that I don't know how to sell myself- I just flat out suck at interviews. Maybe I'm just not qualified for the types of positions that I apply for, I don't know. I don't have a clue what I'm good at, and that just makes me feel bad about myself, like I'm useless.

I don't know why people should hire me, what I have to offer that the next person doesn't. My dad even bought me a book called "Marketing Yourself for Your Dream Job". I've read a little of it, but I really should read more of it. But I don't really even know what my dream job is. Something with Disney that's not at a theme park would be my dream job, but I can't really elaborate more than that. And, living in Orlando, the only thing close to that is WDW (or the Disney Store), and they won't even hire me again! They're not really hiring much at all these days because the economy sucks.

I really just don't know what to do. Reading the book might help, but I still don't know what I want to do with my life, and I have limited options, as far as finding a local job (I can't relocate). There's just so much that I would change if I could, from what I majored in at school to not being married so young, to going to the college that I originally was going to. I'm just upset with myself for things that I can't change now.

*****************

In your opinion, what are you supposed to say when, during a job interview, you are asked to "Tell me about yourself"??? I mean, should I say that I have 2 dogs and I love Disney and I like to grocery shop? Or should I say that I love people and have a high standard for customer service and that's why I want to work in the customer service field? (I think I BS a lot during interviews...lol.) I think the answer is the latter, but that's not really telling them about myself, because I have to make things up.

Also, in your opinion, how do you market yourself? I know that you're not me, but how do you let them know that you're better qualified for the position than the other applicants? Even if you're not sure that you are?

I got some job applications at the mall for some seasonal cashier work. I haven't returned most of them, though. Should I? Bobby won't give me an answer as to whether or not I should (to bring in more income). More income obviously would be great, but I'd rather not cashier at the mall if I really don't have to. (My problem isn't cashiering- my problem is the standing up for 8 hours a day, since I have tummy problems and if my tummy hurts, it sucks having to stand up for a whole shift.)

[blackcauldron85]

I have a temporary job (I think!)!!! I had applied to a temporary job last week, and someone from a staffing company called me and set up my interview for me. I interviewed with the company last week, and it turned out to be a group interview. It was a very simple interview, basically just learning about the position and then reading off of a sample script. I felt confident about my reading, and I just got a call from the lady at the staffing company saying that tomorrow is my second interview/training. I don't know if they're going to let anyone go after the second interview, or if everyone will have the second interview and then start training.

It's not my ideal line of work- it's calling executives asking for help with a fundraising event for a non-profit organization, but it's $10/hr., which is way more than the $0/hr. I've been making, and it's a job, and I guess someone finally wants to hire me! I have no idea if there will be positions open afterwards...it's only about a month-long position, and it's for a specific event, so I really don't know.

But someone wants to hire me (I hope they won't send me home after the 2nd interview!), and that makes me feel really good, because no one has wanted to hire me after my interviews!

[PeterPanfan]

I already told you this on AIM, but...CONGRATULATIONS, AMY!!!!!!

[blackcauldron85]

Thank you, Dan!

[blackcauldron85]

Yeah, so today was my first real day of the new temporary job I got. I knew that calling strangers on the phone was just about the most non-ideal job for me, but I figured that since it's for a good cause, I would try it. I left after a couple hours, and we didn't even start caling people until at least an hour after getting there. It's just not my thing. I feel kind of bad about leaving, but not completely, since they said yesterday that if it's not for us, we could leave.

It's just hard, because I know what type of job I do want, but I don't know what type of job I do want. I mean, I kind of do, but really I don't.

[DisneyFanatic]

I have no real advice for you. All I can say is good luck on the search or a career/decent job. I have a similar problem about being unable to find a good/real local job and I can't relocate because I don't have a real job and therefore no money to move (or even have an apartment...not fun)

I also have a bachelor's degree. Graduated in June 2006...and have yet to find anything. Right now I am working at a retail clothing store (but for an ok amount of $). I am still debating between my master's (and hopefully an eventual Ph. D) and nursing...the school I want to get my nursing a.a. from is lottery based, meaning they randomly pick students and I didn't get randomly picked. Also I can not get any financial aid due to the fact that I HAVE a bachelor's...lame. The degree didn't help me get any money at all and I was still under my parents before I had it.

Sorry that all sounded more negative then I intended. Guess I had to vent. p.s it must be nice not to have to work for money...not saying that to be mean. though.

I wish you luck and don't get discouraged!

[blackcauldron85]

Thanks, Kristina! It's weird...we definitely need the money- Bobby said that once I get a job, the money will go towards his student loans and other debt, and it can help with the mortgage. So, even though he has even recently said that I could even just volunteer (he's rather see me do something productive then sit on my butt doing nothing productive all day), I know that we could use the money. I mean, it was nice being able to focus on school (since I stopped working in my sophomore year of college, except for my internship junior (?) year), but at the same time, I should've stayed working...it'd help my resume and it looks so much better...there are people who work all through college, and they should have a better chance at landing a job, since the interviewer will see that they worked hard. (If I've said all this before, sorry- I don't know what I said here and what I've thought to myself in my head, lol.)

That really stinks about your degree not helping you. What is your degree in? Can you try for the lottery at a later time, or is it a one-time shot? If you can't go into the nursing program, then will you go for the Master's degree? Surely you'll be able to get financial aid for that, right?

[DisneyFanatic]

Ok really long but here goes,

Well the internship that you did WILL matter to someone. All my jobs that I worked while in high school and college were horrible, UNimportant, and do not impress people...unless I try to work at another horrible job. It would be a good idea to volunteer I think because then while it may be a gap in unemployment technically, people will appreciate the fact that you were productive as Bobby mentioned to you.

My degree is in the worst thing possible...psychology. However, I did have a plan to become a psychiatrist or ent doc. Of course I ended up not being able to cut it in the chemistry department so that dream is on hold or killed. I can try for the lottery again in February, but I don't want to wait and hope forever that I will get randomly selected. I could do a wait list at another school but if I am in the middle of the program when my boyfriend transfers to university and we must move then that will be bad.

The Master's is looking better and better but the length of time until I get a Ph. D and can actually counsel people is so long. As far as getting financial aid for that I don't think I can so I will have to get a loan but I am still weighing my options (even though time is not on my side).

But don't worry about it, I sure you will find something. I tried to reread what else you said previously so if you said this sorry. I'm sure you know that you need to be kind of aggressive in the job search. Call hiring managers back after you submit the application or resume. Where I live there are NO jobs. NONE. It is hard to even get hired at a fast food place. Act like you know that you have desirable skills, you know that if this place passes you up then the next one will come running. I don't know how you have been going about the job hunt, but it won't hurt to apply everywhere even if you think you aren't totally qualified for it. They have to hire someone and the worst that will happen is that they won't call you or say you aren't right for it. If you have to get a job somewhere like the mall then it may help to...I hate to say this but...somehow let them know that you will be their robot (if money is needed quickly for you guys). It sounds like settling and being a minimum wage slave, but if that is what is necessary sometimes you have to go against how you really feel. While that is risky because then you will be setting yourself up to have skills in the minimum wage field and nowhere else.

I am sure that you have lots of skills that you can bring to an employer, take some risks in where you apply and you may find something you really love and deserve! Try not to get discouraged and be confident. They WILL want you!

[blackcauldron85]

Thanks for all the advice & kind words! I don't know what else to say at the moment about it...I need to let it process, though.

I think that if you want to counsel people, then it'd be worth spending the time to get your Ph.D, right? Is there something that you don't need a Ph.D for that is similar to what you ultimately want to do?