Phase II: Introduction

 After the initial contact comes the interview period. This is when companies and I determine if we are right for one another.  Much like a blind date, we each go in with the rosy pictures painted by our profiles (they have my resume, and I have their website) and hopefully get past those basic facts and on into the meat of the issue.  Will I fit in their company; do we each offer what the other is seeking?

A component of Phase II is evaluating just how selective I can afford to be.  How much do those credentials that I managed to rake up in University set me apart from the rest of the pack?  What exactly do I want in a position, how much of that do they need to offer upfront, and how much am I willing to accept one, three and five years from now?

 Phase II covers interview techniques and abilities.  Although I am not convinced that every position I interview for will be the perfect career for me, I plan to approach every interview with the same professionalism and learn from every success and mistake that occurs during the process.  This will include accepting any interview and using it as a practice opportunity.  I will also keep track of questions that will help me to determine whether I will have a positive relationship with an employer.

Finally, this will cover all of Method 5: self improvement.  Because the majority of what I have been pursuing through method 5 is knowledge that will help me in the interview process, I will no longer count method 5 in phase I.

Best regards,
Beth

The Premise, Continued

I realized after I thought for a while that I'd forgotten a few methods.
I would like to append the method list with:

5. Personal Enrichment.  This includes learning new skills that might help me find a job (at the moment programming and digital art), as well as studying for the GRE and preparing for potential graduate school.

6. Job fairs. Just that.  Preparing for them, finding them, and attending.

The Premise

This blog is meant to chronicle my post-bachelor's degree job hunt.  I've had some experience in the past, internships, part time positions and summer full time work, but it seems that the well spring that brought me those positions has all but dried up.  Moving into the official job market means I'm not just competing with my peers, but with individuals with decades of experience.

And I've been trying to come up with a few ways of giving myself an edge.  Reading articles, asking 'experts' (for my purposes, I consider an expert to be anyone who already has a position in their feild)  and lots and lots of leg work.  I've also come up with a few--probably dead end, but possibly fruitful--unconventional job search methods.

So the race begins.

It's time to see which of these strategies is the best.  Of course, I'll measure success based on which method I use to get my first position.

The methods:

1. Searching Job Postings.  I've found over a dozen such sites, which I will list later.  Each day I will go over the recent posts (from the past 24 hours) on each site, and apply for positions for which I qualify.
2. Posting my resume.  Again, back to the dozen sites.  The majority of sites allow for resume postings for passive job searches.  I will specify on the list of sites on which I have posted my resume.
3. Networking.  I've started volunteering at the library in hopes of meeting savvy business owners seeking a recent graduate.  I've also been fostering hope that the library might need a business major some day.  I've also started taking dance classes.  And, finally, I've been getting to know Henk's coworkers (and bits and pieces of his job) as well as I can; even sending my resume with Henk to work to give to HR.
4. Self employment.  Sounds like a challenge (and it would be), but I have a few methods that I've decided to employ for this.  Every day, I cook Henk a delicious lunch, make sure his shirts are properly ironed, and send him on his way.  My hope is that his coworkers, whose wives are in Germany or Michigan, will see the value of paying someone to perform these duties for them.  I will have to come up with a cost structure, if this becomes the case.

On your mark, get set...

GO!