CollegeSurfing Insider

This week, the CS Insider answers one of your questions! This comes from a 27-year-old MBA who is an accountant at a securities services company. He doesn’t think he can advance his career in his current position and is looking to find another job, but is unsure of how to approach the situation, especially since many of his requests have gone unanswered. “I know it helps to know people,” he says, “but in the event that you don’t, any tips?” Take a look at five…

Tip 1: Don’t get discouraged. You may be applying to jobs like it is your full-time job and you may not be leaving any stone unturned, but you just can’t seem to get a callback. Definitely stay positive because giving up will not yield the results you expect. Go into the search thinking that you’re the best person for the job and if a company doesn’t get back to you, it’s certainly their loss. But remember not to be cocky about it either.

Tip 2: Perfect your resume and cover letter. Since this is the first and perhaps only thing a potential employer can initially see about you, you’ll need to make an impression. Make sure that you reflect your skills that are specifically necessary for the job. This may mean tweaking your resume a bit, depending on the job description. The cover letter is especially important because this will hook the reader. Just think about it: you wouldn’t continue reading something that didn’t interest you. Constantly fine-tune and perfect.

Tip 3: Attend networking events. If you Google your field, there are sure to be networking events or job fairs in your area. It’s always a good idea to go to these because you never know whom you can meet. Though you may not know anyone now, you can meet people who you can leave an impression on. It’s a chance to showcase your personality and become more than just that piece of paper. You can also look into associations or groups that are specifically designed to support people in your profession and sign up for their listserves that might send you a list of jobs periodically.

Tip 4: Take advantage of your current position. If you’re already working, but seeking something more, be sure to get all you can out of your current position. These skills can prove very helpful in landing your next job. You’re already there so you might as well make the best of it until you’re able to move on to greener pastures, so to speak. And be sure to keep good relationships with those you already work with because you never know when they might be able to help you in the future.

Tip 5: Research. Take the time to learn all things you can about the company and positions you apply for. Call out those details in your resume and cover letter to stand out from the rest of the crowd. Also, check out who’s in charge and who might be the best person to send your info to. If you send it to the wrong person, it’ll take longer to get where it needs to be or may not get there at all. Be proactive in your search and follow up to make sure your resume was received. The one who is most likely to get a job is the one who leaves an impression.

Good luck in your search! And check out some stories of real career individuals at CollegeSurfing. Thanks for your question - keep ‘em coming!

-Amanda Fornecker

I just did a coffee run. I was crashing. It’s almost Friday, what can I say? When we got there the girl behind the cash register was fighting with another worker about someone who hadn’t cleaned something. Then the guy that was making the drinks started freaking out on another employee and screaming about how much he hated his job.

Now, while I realize it may not have been his childhood dream to make coffee for other people, there’s no reason to yell at anyone, especially in front of customers. Perhaps he was holding the job to pay for his expenses from school or something. Whatever the reason, he really did not need to get so upset. Everyone stopped what they were doing and just stared at him.

Here’s the thing - if you’re that unhappy with your job, why not look for another way to get other work? I know that this is not the easiest of things. Jobs aren’t just always available and transitions are certainly not easy. But people do it all the time. From career switchers to career enhancers you can really be anything you want nowadays. You don’t need to go back and get a whole new degree - go back and get a certificate. Some of those programs are really short. And you’ll have more experience and the backing of your school’s career services on your side.

Think about these factors:

1. Your likes. What interests you? Do you like to work with your hands? Do you like to write? Maybe work on music? Get involved somehow in something you like because it will give you something to look forward to every day.

2. Your dislikes. What do you absolutely hate, besides your current job? What bores you? If you get queasy at the sight of blood then being a nurse or phlebotomist may not be for you. But maybe you want to work in the medical field somehow. Perhaps you’ll look into medical billing and coding. Try to think outside of the box.

3. Your environment. Does the thought of a nine to five cubicle job drive you crazy? Maybe you need to interact with people regularly or maybe you like to work with a computer all day. Think about what kind of environment best suits you. Who knows you better than yourself? Not many people I’d say.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: make a pros and cons list. You’ll see everything you’ve been thinking right in front of you, on one piece of paper. And you’ll be able to assess the situation for what it is and make an informed decision.

Check out the best schools for you and different occupations you may never have even thought of before. Talk to admissions officers and get a sense of where you may belong in the future…

Good luck!

-Amanda Fornecker

I have a friend who’s not too sure what she wants to do with her life. She graduated from a top-notch school with a liberal arts degree and really doesn’t know what she’d be good at doing. My suggestion: attend a certificate program.

I think certificate programs are so cool. They’re a great way to hone your skills or learn specific things in a short period of time. Whether you’re a recent grad, a longtime grad, or a career switcher looking for something more, certificate programs can be the extra boost you need to get that job you’ve been eyeing.

The options seem endless with certificates. Most programs last a couple of weeks to a couple of months, depending on the curriculum. Once you complete the prescribed course of study, you’ll have an additional piece of paper that will prove your worth; not to mention the support you’ll gain from the school you attend. Many career schools and community colleges offer programs, as do traditional colleges.

Some schools offer the opportunity of completing a certificate program completely online. This way, you’ll be able to complete the requirements at your own pace and convenience of your own home. Though it may not seem credible (I’ve had many people express excessive doubt on the whole online arena), it’s becoming more and more commonplace as time goes on. You’ll also be able to keep up with your current schedule and complete your course on evenings and weekends.

In addition to all this, certificate programs are so affordable. They typically cost less than a regular degree, mainly because they are for a shorter period of time, making it more cost- and time-efficient than a degree.

I’m certainly not suggesting that a certificate program can take the place of a bachelor’s degree, but I do think that it’s a great supplemental idea or way of trying out another field. Four-year degrees are also not always for everyone. What I do suggest is checking into them. You never know what you may come up with. Just another way of leaving no stone unturned…

-Amanda Fornecker

The writer’s strike has really put a damper on television as of late. Luckily for me, I have a ton of DVDs to keep me busy in between work projects and until my shows return.

One of my all-time favorite shows is Friends. As I watched season nine last week, I came across an interesting episode. Chandler had been unemployed for a while and finally needed to get moving on some sort of job. He had been unhappy in his previous career (for which most of his friends did not even know what his actual job was). Finally, he secured a job at a marketing firm… as an intern. **Cue dramatic music… Of course, Chandler goes through some funny bouts, especially when on his first day an intern offers to get him coffee and calls him “sir”. He replies to this saying that he’s an intern too and that there’s no need for the formalities. The intern looks at him, laughs at him, and accuses him of being too old for an internship.

Now why would you need to be a certain age to complete an internship? Isn’t the actual definition of an intern, someone who is starting out and learning at a company? Oftentimes, career switching is thought of as not the best of ideas because it is a major life change. In fact, many people decide not to switch their career because it’s too much of a hassle and they have already settled nicely within another career. But why not take the plunge? There are many resources to help you through this venture.

You’re never too old. In fact, my mom was just telling me about a segment she had recently seen on the Oprah show. One woman never did anything in her life and just muddled through a mediocre existence. One day (in her fifties) she decided to start writing and turned into an instant success. She now owns her very own publishing company! Now, while this type of success may not be available to everyone, it doesn’t hurt just to try. What do you have to lose?

I always say that if you don’t have experience, interning is certainly the way to go. And while that may not pay that much or at all, it will give you the knowledge you need to go forward. Make something of your new passion or old interests. And no, interning does not necessarily need to include fetching coffee. So get out there, laugh with them, and make a better life for yourself!

-Amanda Fornecker

Let’s be honest — “thankfulness” is probably not the first word that springs to mind when you consider your career. Maybe what rises up feels more like responsibility, necessity, or even drudgery.

But more likely than not, you were lucky enough to choose your career. It wasn’t dictated to you by society, or thrust upon you by your parents. And that’s what I’m thinking of as I prepare to eat this year’s bird and sustain a major tryptophan overdose: choices.

I’m thankful that today’s technology is such that I can do freelance work online, on my computer, in my home … and I can spend the rest of my time being a stay-at-home mom. This is ideal for me. I consider it the best of both worlds.

Maybe you’re thankful you don’t live in the 1950s and you have the option to be a full-time working mom, or just a working woman, period. Perhaps you’re a man who derives more satisfaction from working at home, or from being a stay-at-home dad. (BTW, the number of stay-at-home dads climbs higher every year: The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are 159,000 dads that made the choice to stay at home in 2006, compared to 143,000 in 2005.)

Isn’t it great that we have the opportunity to try out different roles, or create new ones altogether? Dads can stay home, moms can work, women can be CEOs, men can be nurses … or anything and everything in between.

Choices. Maybe you’re thankful you decided to leave your version of “The Office” to pursue your dream. Maybe you’re like me and you’re thankful for the Digital Age, which ushered in the work-from-home phenomenon.

Or maybe you’re not happy with the choices you’ve made so far. You got yourself into this job, but now you’re dying to get out. Why not consider making some different choices? It really is never too late to change careers, and of course, CollegeSurfing has a ton of career education resources to see you through the process.

This Thanksgiving, I’ll remember this: Whatever I’ve chosen and will choose for myself, I’m grateful to live in a generation where I have career choices at all.

Enjoy your turkey!

-Robyn Tellefsen