The Amateur Financier

I have had one interesting (by which I mean exhausting) week so far, and I still have a few days to go.  On Sunday, my mother called to let me know that Sanofi Pasteur was going to be having a job fair on Tuesday.  (For those of you who have never heard of Sanofi Pasteur, it is a French company that is a HUGE player in the medical and biochemistry fields.)  I have been trying to get a job with them essentially since I graduated, and this seemed like a wonderful opportunity.  I agreed to come home on Monday, and to attend the job fair, hoping it could be the ‘in’ with Sanofi for which I’ve been hoping.

That’s not the only thing that happened Sunday, though; I also fell down some stairs at my fiancée’s house, which is now my home, since I moved in a few weeks ago.  (I blame the design of her attic: the storage room had a narrow ledge outside of it that was next to the staircase.  I took a step back after putting away some of of my things, missed the floor, and well, down I went.)  I ended up bruising my ribs, which are still bothering me now.  It’s only really bad if I try to move quickly, though it has made me rather unhappy for most of the week.  (At least the story is mildly funny; only twenty-six, I’m already falling and having trouble getting up.)

Then came Monday.  I drove back to my mom’s house, a six hour drive from one side of Pennsylvania to the other(this point will become more important soon).  The trip was pretty uneventful, although in Pennsylvania during the summer, you can barely drive fifty miles on a major highway without running into road repair work.  The night itself was pretty slow, mostly involving some blogging, some printing out of resume copies, and eventually, some sleep.

On Tuesday, I got up early, went to the job fair, and spent quite a bit of time waiting to talk with the interviewers.  It turned out the job fair was more like a mini job interview.  The interviewer I spoke with was nice, seemed interested in my comments, and had actually attended my alma mater.  It went pretty well (as we shall get to in a moment) and then I spent the rest of the evening with my family.

The next day (Wednesday, for those who weren’t paying attention to the last paragraph) I did more work on my blog, tried to hunt up a job, and spent another six hours traversing the state to return to my fiancée and my new home.  We spent a sweet night together, and all seemed well with the world.  That is, until the next day…

On Thursday, I got a call back from Sanofi, saying they wanted me to come in for a second interview!  Fantastic news, right?  Unfortunately, I was on the opposite side of the state again, and the only day that Sanofi could do the the interview would be…Friday!  (Now remember, this is less than twenty-four hours since I drove across the state, for the second time, to return to my fiancée.)  Earlier today, I had to make a third trek across the state, this time with little warning (and after I spent much of the morning helping  to move furniture) and running into rain repeatedly along the way.  I only got home rather late in the evening, and when I checked for the email I was told I would be sent, I discovered that I had paperwork to fill out!

It’s now about one a.m. in the morning, I’m just finishing the paperwork now, my ribs still hurt, and I need to wake up in about five hours to make to my interview on time.  I have made three (count them, three) 6 hour trips across the state, each more troublesome than the last.  Anyway, as a result of all of this, I haven’t yet gotten to gather up posts for Thoughtful Thursday yet, although I should have it time for a Thoughtful Friday…

In short, it’s been one busy week, and please wish me luck!  (Also, in case you were wondering, the post title today is a Futurama reference.)

Tomorrow, I’ll be attending a job fair for a company at which I’ve been hoping to obtain a job.  (Wish me luck!)   In the spirit of helping others who are in a similar position, I’ll follow up my advice on applying to jobs and going on job interviews with a few tips on job fair etiquette.

First, there are in general two types of job fairs, the ones that seek a particular type of profession and the ones that cover a wide variety of companies and fields at one fair.  The former are sometimes used by a company in order to fill openings that they have, and can be a good way to get your foot in the door at company you are interested in joining.  (Such is the case with the job fair I will be attending on Tuesday.)   The latter tend to be rather less formal, particularly if they focus on entry level positions.  Be sure to check the published list of employers to ensure that at least one company you are interested in joining will be represented at the fair.

When attending a job fair, try to dress well; you will have only a short time to talk to the recruiters at the fair, and you want to make a good impression.  Be sure to bring copies of your resume; in most cases, you may only have enough time to drop off your resume before you have to leave.   When you get to the front of the booth, feel free to talk with the interviewer as long as you are able.

Depending on type of job fair, you might be able to talk with the recruiter for a just a short period of time, or you might be able to sit down for a short interview.  If you don’t have much time to speak with the interview, be sure to make your salient selling points during the short time you have available.  During a longer interview, you’ll have the opportunity to share more of your experiences and qualifications; brushing up on your job interview skills and considering some of the questions you may be asked will serve you well.

With most job fairs, the recruiters you meet will not be in a position to hire you directly.  It’s enough to share your resume, meet some contacts at some companies in which you are interested, and get your name out in front of them.  If you are able to make a connection or two, all the better.  Job fairs are all about planting the roots for future job opportunities.

While they shouldn’t be your only job hunting resource, job fairs can be a valuable resource for finding employment.  They allow you to speak directly to employees at a variety of companies, setting the stage for more substantial interviews in the future.  Plus, they’re more fun than many job hunting activities; you can usually pick up plenty of good swag while visiting some of the bigger job fairs.  Have fun, and enjoy the job hunting!

Some other job fair resources:

• Job Fair Success at CollegeGrad.com
• Job Search Guidance from The Riley Guide
• National Job Fairs.com

Yesterday, we discussed some of the basics for job hunting, a process most of us will have to go through at one point or another in our lives.  With these hints, plenty of solid job searching, and maybe just a little bit of luck, you should find yourself facing the next step in the job filling process: an interview!  If you’ve never had the pleasure of attending a job interview, or you simply would like to brush up on some of the basics, here are a few pointers to keep in mind.

First, before the day of the interview, be sure to check with the interviewers as to what they want you to bring.  In most cases, they will already have copies of your resume and references, as well as any other information you have sent to them previously, but it’s usually a good idea to have some extra copies ready, just to be safe.

Also, before the interview, do some research on the company, especially if you found the position on a job board and don’t recognize the company name.  Learn who they are, what they do, and how your job will fit into their corporation.  Almost all companies have enough basic information posted online that you should be able to learn quite a bit about them before even stepping in the door.  If there’s anything you’d like to know about the company in general, be sure to take a  note of it and ask, if it isn’t covered during your interview.

When preparing for your interview, be sure to dress appropriately.  Depending on what sort of work you are applying for, this could mean anything from jeans and a T-shirt to a suit.  When in doubt, dress fancier than called for; if you show up for a position that requires a suit and you arrive in jeans, you’ll definitely lose points with the interviewer.  In addition to the proper outfit, make sure you bring some items with you to the interview: the aforementioned extra copies of your resume, a few copies of your reference list, a tablet and pen to make notes, and any questions that you have about the company or the specific position.

Try to arrive at the interview site early, but not too early; fifteen to twenty minutes before the scheduled interview time will come off as punctual, but still respectful of the interviewer’s time and other possible duties.  Make sure you are well groomed and presentable, then sign in at the visitor’s entrance of the company and follow the instructions you are given.  Depending on the company, you might be met by someone from Human Resources, you might be given some paperwork to complete before the interview, or you might be told to sit down and wait for your contact at the company to arrive.

During the interview, look alert, respectful, and interested in what the interviewer is telling you.  During periods when he or she shares information with you about the company and your position in particular, jot down a few notes, particularly if there’s anything that puzzles you.  When you are questioned, answer truthfully, even about your shortcomings.  (But try to portray shortcoming or previous mistakes positively, as learning experiences or areas where you wish to improve yourself.)  The more confident and certain in your answers you appear, the better.

When it comes time for you to ask questions, bring up anything that still puzzles you from your research and the information the interviewer has shared.  Just be careful that you don’t ask about anything that was already covered, as it will appear that you were not listening.  (Asking for further clarification on a specific point is alright, just no  broad, ‘So what exactly do you do here?’ questions.)  On the first interview, it’s generally considered bad form to ask about your salary or other compensation, although if you have someone from the Human Resources department explaining the benefits you would receive (as has happened to me a few times), you could ask for more detail about any of the programs mentioned.

In general, the more questions you ask and the more of a connection you build with the interviewer, the better.  Besides making it more likely that you will be hired, being friendly and personable will also make you more attractive for future positions, should you not get the first position for which you interview.  Everyone would rather work with someone with whom it’s easy to talk.

When you finish the interview, say your goodbyes, shake hands, and head home.  But we’re not quite done yet; when you are at home, you should prepare a nice thank you letter for the interview, and send copies to the interviewer(s).  (If sending more than one thank you letter, do your best to personalize each one; if it looks like you just printed out a form letter, the thank you note will lose a lot of its impact.)  Send them out as soon as possible (preferably within a day of the interview).

Finally, follow up on the interview in the coming weeks, calling the week after the interview to see if your thank you notes have arrived, as well as determining if you have been selected for the position (or at least a follow up interview).   In some cases, it may take quite a while for a decision to be made, in which case you should continue to follow up on the job filling status regularly.  (In one case, I ended up making a weekly call to one recruiter for several weeks while the company I was attempting to join did not give her a decision; I ended up not getting the job.)  Eventually, you will know for certain whether you got the position or not.

Follow this advice, and you soon should find yourself invited back for a second interview, or even being offered the job.  That’s really all there is to it; be polite, be prepared, ask questions, and thank your interviewers, and you’ll be on your way to a good job.

One thing that I truly dread doing is job hunting.  Unfortunately, I’ve been doing it nearly constantly since I graduated from college.  (I graduated in the spring of 2005, for anyone who is curious.)  Even when I had a job, I was always searching for a better job, a job in a different location, a more interesting job… you name it, it motivated me to search for a job.  During my searches, I’ve slowly gotten better at job hunting, and so today, I hope to share some of advice with you.

First, when you’re first starting your search, you should go to your parents, older siblings, college room mates, and anyone who would be willing to help you out and see if you can get them to help you get your foot in the door.  While you shouldn’t count on getting a job based on a relationship with someone already working at a company, just getting an interview somewhere you’d like to work can be a huge step in the right direction.  If you went to college or a trade school, try to stay in touch with your classmates and professors; that way, if something does come up, they will think of you if a new position becomes available.

Thanks to the internet and online social sites like LinkedIn and Facebook, it’s easier than ever to keep up with your contacts and avail yourself of any possible job leads.  (Although, LinkedIn tends to be better at networking; Facebook is much more of a social site.)  On the flip side, the ease with which you can use the Internet to stay in touch has decreased the perceived worth of online messages and contacts; if you only send someone an email  (or worse, only when you need help locating a job), chances are they aren’t going to feel very close to you.  Instead, try to phone people you want to stay close with; it comes off as much more caring, and it’s always possible that you can use the time on the phone to find out more about the person and become closer to them.

If you don’t have a built in network from school or previous jobs, or none of them have any good suggestions for job opportunities, you will probably turn toward online sources.  Two of the most popular job hunting sites are Monster and Careerbuilder, although, depending on your education and job desires, there may be specialized job hunting sites available to aid you in your quest.  For example, I’m a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), and they provide job hunting resources and advice for chemistry graduates via their portal at chemistry.org (which is rather different than chemistry.com…)

While you are doing your searching, you might be tempted to rule out temporary positions, especially if you are looking for a long-term job.  Don’t.  Many temp jobs can lead to longer term positions and can be a useful to get your foot in the door at some of the larger companies, some of which prefer not to hire directly.  (Sanofi Aventis, a pharmaceutical company I’ve interviewed at in the past, comes to mind in the biochemistry field.)  Even if a temp position doesn’t lead to anything permanent, it will give you something to put on your resume and some possible references, which will make you that much more attractive to the next employer you petition.  (Full disclosure: three of the four positions I’ve held since graduating college have been temp or temp to perm positions, and the fourth was at my alma mater, an example of using your connections to get yourself an opportunity.)

When you’ve found a position that looks attractive, take a second look at your resume, and be sure it is appropriate for the position.  If you’ve had a substantial job history, especially if you’ve worked in multiple industrial sectors during your professional life, then not all of your job history may be relevant for every position.  Consider trimming back some of your experiences or with holding them entirely and emphasizing others according to the specific job you’re attempting to acquire; the better a fit for the job you appear to be, the more likely it is you will get an interview.  (Note: this is not an invitation to lie on your resume; besides being unethical and in bad form, if you lie about your qualifications, you can end up giving your employer grounds to dismiss you later.  What I’m suggesting is simply tweaking your resume so as to emphasize the qualifications most applicable to the position to which you are applying.)  Consider keeping several different versions of your resume handy, each focusing on different qualifications you hold, and using whichever is most appropriate for a given job opening.

Next, when you send a resume off to a company, do what you can to make it stand out.  Most job sites give you the opportunity to attach a cover letter to your application.  A cover letter will enable you to specifically address the recruiter in charge of filling the position, pointing out your strong suits and why you’d make a good fit for the position.  If you’re given specific contact information for a position, direct your cover letter towards that person; try to highlight why you fit their needs for this position and why you’re looking to work for their company.  The more specifically oriented to the specific position the cover letter is, the better.

Finally, follow up.  Where the contacts for a particular position give their phone and fax numbers, be sure to send them the occasional reminder (preferably by phone) that you are interested in the position, and to see how the job filling process is going.  You’ll accomplish several things with this: making your resume stand out to the recruiter, showing you are really interested in the position (rather than just tossing your resume everywhere and seeing where it sticks) and perhaps, getting the recruiter to keep you in mind for any future positions they may have available.  All that from just one little phone call!

By now, you might start to see why people say that searching for work is a full-time job; if you diligently build and check your network, scan through hundreds of job postings, apply to numerous jobs with customized cover letters, and follow up on the most promising ones, you could easily spend eight hours a day (or even more) hunting down your next opportunity.  And we haven’t even gotten to things like job interviews and all their attendant preparation.  We’ll talk more about how to prepare for a job interview soon.