HR Corner: Looking for a new job

-- Rebecca Haven

Many students throughout the state graduated in Dec. 2008 including many Metropolitan State students. Along with this new pool of graduates in the workforce, there are also those people and students that are looking to change careers or who were laid off because of the flailing economy and need work.

Finding a job in an economy such as ours is a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Whether you just need to pay the bills or you’re on the hunt for your dream job, keep in mind some of these tips:

•Network, network, network. Just because companies may not be posting jobs doesn’t mean that they don’t have any openings for just the right person. If you know someone at a company in a hiring freeze who would recommend you in a millisecond, that sets you above the bar and far more likely to get a job. Employers are wary and don’t want to chance hiring someone that might not work out. If you network and create relationships with people at the company you want to work for, that company will be willing to take a chance on you.
•Let your friends know you’re looking. If you’re looking for a career change, or for a new job, tell people. If your friends and/or family know you’re looking for something, they can tell you immediately (before the general job market finds out) when something opens up at their company. They can also let you know if it’s something you would be qualified for, if the boss is tolerable or if the turnover has been high, so you don’t waste your time applying, interviewing and making sure a job that you may not want is a right fit for you. It’s always better to have the inside scoop so you can get a jump on a job.
•Check company Web sites. Everyone loves job Web sites like Career Builder and Monster, but if there is a company you’d love to work for, check their Web site not an employment Web site. Most companies have a far more complete job listing on their own Web site because it doesn’t cost them as much to post them and they can put a more detailed, lengthy job description up because they don’t have to worry about space constraints. It’s also invaluable to research the company. If you actually land an interview, you need to know detailed information about the company, which you can find on their Web site.
•Take the interview seriously. Dress professionally; arrive early; bring your résumé; be personable; ask questions. These are a given for any interview, but even more so now that jobs are scarce. Companies are looking for strong candidates; people they know will stay with the company for a long time and will take the job seriously. They aren’t just looking for smart, qualified people, they are looking for people who are professional, seem cooperative and will be easy to train and work with. So make sure you present yourself well.

If you keep your ear to the ground and take the interview seriously, you should have no problem landing employment in this tough job market.