Need tips/advice: looking for a job

[happyscientist]

Job searching can be so frustrating. Fortunately I haven't had to do it in a while, but I do conduct interviews.

I agree with Crankin that you should always look good, even if you are just picking up an application. That doesn't mean you should wear a suit, but unless you are applying to a bike shop, don't wear a jersey. I also agree to check with the job placement offices at school. Also let your professors know that you are searching. When we open a new candidate search, the first person I call is my graduate advisor.

Think about the challenges you faced in the temp jobs or volunteering. Did you have to work with a lot of people and personalities? Handle high-pressure situations? Learn new skills quickly? Operate on a shoestring budget? Organize other volunteers? Parley these into skills on your resume.

When they ask if you know how to make coffee or fix a bike, don't tell them what you don't know; tell them what you do know. "I do small repairs on my bike, but have limited tools... I am very mechanical and learn quickly... I help my friends do simple repairs on their bikes..."

Also, when you apply on-line, notice the key words in the ad and tailor your resume to include those words. Whether it is scanned by a computer or a person, those words will be picked up on. Just don't turn your resume into a stream of jargon. And do NOT use the same resume for every job.

Good luck.

[GLC1968]

Re: asking about jobs while in biking clothes - I forgot that I live in the Portland area where biking clothes in all forms are kind of a 'norm'. I don't know where you live, but if you are on the east coast like Crankin is, she's absolutely right. You probably should look a little more presentable.

I have gotten so used to the ridiculously laid back attitude of the west coast that I forgot that not all places are like this!

[shootingstar]

Best of luck. At minimum, just wearing a pair of dress pants and plain classic shirt with good shoes would be suitable for alot jobs in retail area for interviews.

For professional positions, you need to throw on a dress jacket to match pants. Note: I didn't say skirt, but still applicable. Unless you are in the design/creative sector is better to look neat, polished and organized. Not scattered fashionable.

Alot of major employers even for their higher paying positions. require one applies for job via their database. It's a way for managing the information for an organization. Time-consuming/space-consuming to keep paper.