As you begin assembling the tools for your job search strategy, you
must remember the basic rules of the hiring process:
Keep in mind that the hiring process is expensive and, because of this,
it is a very conservative process. This expense is reflected in the
cost of recruiting and interviewing; the amount of lost productivity
that is occurring while recruiting is taking place.
Upon hire, training often occurs. Training will consist of assisting
you reach your potential, which occurs between the third to fifth year
of employment (This time span can change depending on the level of work
and organizational complexity). As organizations continue to evolve
and specific knowledge based work takes precedence, you need to possess
the right mix of knowledge, abilities, and skills employers seek to
make a hiring match.
Relatedness of Major:
The more technical the organization, the more specific they will be
in the types of majors interviewed. Accounting, Computer Science, and
Engineering firms hire almost exclusively from academic majors that
fit their functions. Organizations seeking client caseworkers or counselors
will indicate specific degrees, e.g. social work, psychology, counseling,
and may also request specific licensure. Non-technical majors should
remember that “relatedness of major” also means employers
want to know if you know how to present your academic degree in occupational
language and if you are able to project and apply your knowledge, skills
and abilities into their organization.
Cooperative Education or Internship Experience:
As costs of hiring and training continue to rise, the request for cooperative
education or internship experience has risen from something that would
be nice to have to something employers use as a prescreening criterion.
In many cases, if an employer participates in a cooperative education
or internship program their need to recruit has been eliminated with
a source of trainees in the hiring pipeline.
Degree Level:
In some cases organizations very clearly state, within the position
description, a preference for a degree level the position they are recruiting,
e.g. Bachelor’s degree required. Whether or not you will be interviewed
may depend solely upon whether you have a bachelor or doctoral degree
in addition to skills, experience, licensure or certification. Do Not
Deselect Yourself! If you have the skills and qualifications, submit
your resume and cover letter. Choose to apply based on the qualifications
required for the position. If you are interested in learning more about
a position, use the contact information from the job description to
arrange an informational interview for your own career pathing tool
bank.
High Motivation
Such a person generally exhibits a high energy level, drive, initiative,
enthusiasm, and more often than not is involved in leadership roles.
Good Communication Skills
Having well organized thoughts is essential to effective communication,
and being able to express those thoughts in an articulate manner (both
written and verbal) is paramount to effective job interview.
Defining Career Goals that mesh with the Organization’s
Needs and Objectives
Understanding this relationship requires researching the organization.
Professional Personal Appearance
This means more than being well groomed. It means presenting a professional
presence during an interview.
Relevant Work Experience
Not only does this permit a potential employer to more accurately evaluate
technical expertise, but it enables the candidate to more clearly define
career goals and more realistically evaluate the potential in a job
offer.
Other Factors
Showing interesting in the position discussed, exhibiting maturity,
salary and promotional expectations, and geographic flexibility in the
case of multi-facility companies are integral to the success of becoming
hired.