A Slightly Better Economy?

I did not get the job I previously posted about. Of course, I was disappointed because the job searching process has been a tough one. I am interested in learning more about the HR process.

Fortunately for me (and other recent grads), I have seen a slight spike in the number of entry-level communications positions; however, due to the still extremely large pool of unemployed college graduates (including some from the Class of 2008 who might have taken a part-time or temporary job in the mean time), competition is still fierce.

Sometimes I think about going back to grad school and getting a master's, but my top priority is entering the workforce and building a career.

One thing I noticed was that some of these larger agencies I have been looking into do not post entry-level opportunities on their career database. Some companies don't even have a career database, and just want you to email your cover letter and résumé to the HR main e-mail. As much as job seekers like seeing job postings, if you e-mail the company directly, it shows you have initiative and that you are interested in working there. Even though they may not have any openings, they can put your résumé aside if they have any future openings.

I wonder how flooded their inboxes get. For my first job interview, the interviewer told me he received 500 applications! 500! And this was for a tiny company.

But I am happy to find at least the amount of opportunities is slightly going up. Just a little bit.

Until next time.

Interview Review

Did you ever go on an interview and get nervous? Following the interview, did you ever wish you could go back and rephrase something, add to an answer or take back something you said?

I hate that feeling.

Today I met with three people for an interview. The first interview was with an HR specialist, and it was very brief. I wouldn't even call it a real interview. We just talked for a couple of minutes about the company and the team I'd be working with. Then I met with two of the Account Supervisors.

I felt nervous around the first interviewer. Don't get me wrong - she was extremely nice, and she asked a lot of questions I had answered well in previous interviews. But a hectic morning (including a lost credit card, causing me to have a lack of funds to buy my NYC train ticket) made me more stressed. Nevertheless, I think it went well overall; however, I would go back and rephrase a few statements I made or add some more things.

By the time I spoke to the second Account Supervisor, I wasn't really nervous. He told me more about the busy nature of the account. Which is good, because I do not like jobs where you sit at a desk all day and it is really slow.

Hopefully, they all liked me, and if so, I can meet with the Account Director. My fingers, toes and eyes are crossed. I really want this.

Until next time,
Lauren

And the Job Search Continues...

I realize I have not updated this blog in a while. Unfortunately, I am still unemployed.

As many recent graduates probably know, the 2009 job hunt has been a tough one. So far, I have only interviewed with one company and am interviewing with another company this Thursday. So now I have to pull out the suit and hope it is not extremely hot when I go into NYC for the interview. Hot, muggy days in the city are the worst; however, for a potential job, it is worth it.

The interview I have on Thursday is for a position that is relevant to my career goals. Though I know this is an interview and not a job offer, things are starting to fall back into place, little by little.

The only piece of advice I can give to recent grads who still do not have a job and are having trouble getting interviews is to hang in there. Something will come up eventually. You might wait one month or ten months, but careers fall into place if you work at it. Finding a job can be a full-time job itself. Too bad you do not get paid for it, otherwise many of us might be rich...

Until next time.