Job Search Help!
 

So far I've sent out 60-70 resumes through my school's career site and also through careerbuilder.com. I had two interviews last week, three interviews tomorrow and one on Monday. I was wondering if there were any other places recommended to search for jobs? Especially since I want to relocate to Indianapolis for good and am searching from Cincinnati.

thanks for any help! :)

What field are you trying to get into? How one searches for a job is dependent on the type of job they are trying to get!

that's a lot of interviews, good luck!

I'm looking for jobs in one of three areas: Marketing (preferred), Sales (eh..) and Administrative (I've done it before and enjoyed it, I'd just prefer something else!). I'm mostly looking for something to get me a start in the working world and to garner experience. I hope this helps!

Marketing, for whatever reason, is actually a fairly tough field to get into right now. Probably because a ton of marketing/communication/journalism/etc... majors are trying to do it. Sales is incredibly easy to get into if you want to do straight commission (which I wasn't willing to do!). I work in Private Club marketing. If that may be something you want to do, there's been a big push on club's getting marketing directors. In which case, I would hunt out country clubs in your area. If nothing else, e-mail or mail your resume' to the marketing (membership) director at a club and ask if they need an assistant. If they are in a membership push (which doesn't really happen in the north until the fall, but is happening right now in the south) then they might hire you on as a temp, and even if you only work there 3 or 4 months, the networking system in that field is pretty good and as long as you do a good job, they'd probably have other club's they could help you get into. Just a suggestion.
This is really the only marketing track that I can give any advice for.

ETA: What is your degree?

If you want to live in Louisville, there is a job opening at my place! :)

It's a Media Arts degree with a concentration in Electronic Media (TV, Radio). I know I don't want to do production, but I could do the sales/advertising/marketing area. I also have taken lots of business classes, but never ended up with a business minor. I do have a philosophy minor (which means I'd be super at waiting tables or bartending ;) ).

Right now I'm mostly looking for things to garner experience. I may just look for clerical/administrative work to get me established in Indianapolis for now. I would do temp work, but I'm worried about finding a steady paycheck to pay bills with making the leap up there. Maybe I just need to make the leap? lol! I do have three interviews in Indy today, one in marketing, one in sales which is base + commission, and one in clerical. Monday I have an interview in sales, but I'm not very clear on the position from the job listing or their website so I may end up going and realizing it's not for me.

Update!
 

I just wanted to update and say that after 30 interviews, 250 resumes and lots of phone calls and e-mails I ended up with four job offers. One was for an advertising agency, two were for non-profit organizations and one was for a property management company. I went with a Communications Coordinator position at a Non-Profit organization that includes Marketing as part of my position. I don't have to do sales and I don't have to worry about commission!

If anyone needs advice on finding a job I did it in 5 weeks!

congrats on the job! that was a lot of resume's! glad you found something you like!

Yea I have sent out about the same amount of resumes you did jharb in about 6 months and have only had 3 interviews. I think my head has spun around at these interviews, and, at the ones that I didn't receive an interview with, they must be afraid of what I am actually capable of. :rolleyes:

Did you try following up after sending out your resume? I would always call and see if I could find out anything that wasn't in the posting about the position that I was applying for. Sometimes that gave me the extra push to get the interview. I obviously didn't do that for all 250 positions but I did it with the ones that I wanted the most.

I'd just recommend being aggressive and don't turn down any interviews. Also try a permanent hire staffing agency. I registered with three of them and one of them ended up producing one of the 4 job offers!

Yep, I followed up on each and every single one of them. It's rather depressing when they said they've found someone more experienced than me. I am like how the hell am I going to get more experience when employers won't hire me so I can gain experience.

ETA: The next thing to remember is that I have been out of college for more than a year. I haven't been able to find anything outside of retail (i.e. Belk and Target). My degree is in broadcasting and I don't have an internship anywhere so they're not going to hire me in the broadcast field without an internship.

Try anything in the field. Be a secretary, work in the mailroom, whatever it takes. I had this conversation just today, because if you look at my posts 6 or 8 months ago, I was at my wit's end trying to find a job. Now, I have a job that I LOVE and am looking at possibly more rewards down the road. And FYI-I started as a waitress and worked my way up.

Thanks CarolinaDG! You have really been a great source of encouragement! :-)

ztawinthropgirl:

What field of broadcasting are you interested in? Do you want on-air, producing, writing, production???

I've been in the field for more than two decades. I might be able to help you. Please feel free to send me a PM.

I haven't been in broadcasting as long as blueangel :D (only 19 years) but here are some links you might check if you haven't already tried them:

South Carolina Broadcasters

Jefferson-Pilot

All Access (Requires registration but it is free)

Clear Channel

Infinity Broadcasting

Feel free to PM me. Good luck


Edited to make the links work.

RadioZTA, You are just wonderful! You are too, Blueangel!

Sales Positions
 

All too many times I see candidates taking 100%commission positions with companies that are promising they can make them millions.

Best rule of thumb, don't ever take them, unless you already have sales experience! AND . . . for those of you taking positions that are working with selling a service directly to the consumer, be careful, even if you are making $100K a year you are still entry level to a company looking for B2B sales experience . . .

So . . if you are looking to get into marketing, yes, sales is a great option, but start with B2B sales positions with Fortune500 or Inc500 training. Yes, paid training!

If you are looking for positions nationwide, contact me!

Thanks,and happy job hunting!

I have a question. What subject should i put for emails that are friends of my parents, but i am the one trying to network to get a job?

I don't want to be too pushy, but also, not like "you used to work with my dad" type stuff.

In the subject, write the name of person who referred you.

In the email, write a quick note, calling attention to the person who referred you to them and how you know them (You might say, "My relative, Susie Brown" instead of "My mommy"), then ask if they would mind meeting with you for an informational interview to learn about the field, how they got started and any advice they have for you. Attach your resume and in your email list some career or experience highlights and your interests.

Bring your resume when you meet with them. Get feedback. Ask them about themselves, their career, professional associations, and the names of additional contacts you can get in touch with (refer back to this person when you contact those people.)

Send an immediate thank you note following the meeting and send them a monthly hey there-- maybe a link to an article relevant to the industry. Keep the lines of communication open. If they liked you at your meeting and you keep in touch, they will send your resume onto their contacts or give you a heads-up when they hear about a job that might suit you.

Having an "in" with them-- be it through a relative or friend-- is a benefit. Use your network, grow that network and maintain the network through good communication.

Career
 

I am a corporate sales and managment recruiter - I may be able to help you in your search. E-mail your resume to me at msmalstig@culvercareers.com.
We are based out of California - but work with clients across the nation.

I'm starting week number five of unemployment and I haven't been able to find anything. I went on a 2nd interview for a job last week and then they called me and said that the position was on hold because it hadn't been approved yet and they would call me back when they were able to hire me...I can't wait around forever!! I went on a job interview that lasted for TWO hours today. It was the strangest interview I have ever been on in my life. If they offer me the job I'm not sure that I would take it...

I've searched newspapers, online sites, looked up companies in the phone book and I can't find anything. :(

Any suggestions??

Endless job search
 

Interviewing can be painful.
Send me your resume and I will try to give you some advice and and idea of the market in your area.

msmalstig@culvercareers.com

Thanks adpiucf, i was going to ask for an informational interview if nothing else.

It seems all of my networks are undergoing the same prob my govt contacts are, money's not there b/c the new fiscal budgets haven't all been signed yet.

Good luck! Staying in touch with those contacts is crucial. you may feel silly dropping someone a note if you've only met once-- but it is the best way to stay in their minds. Set a day once a month and email all of your contacts individually with an article link about industry, a comment about it and your job search progress, ask them a question, have a great day-- this is just enough to keep you on their radar without you coming across as annoying.

I hear you on the time of year. I've been dabbling in various US markets and industries and I'm ready to jump into something else, but my network in the south isn't established yet, so I'm feeling a little frustrated.

New Careers
 

Great!

If you are looking to get into a new industry, or just curious about what industries you are qualified for, please call me anytime, and I can help!

Happy job searching!

Re: Job Search Help!
 

I read a great discussion on washingtonpost.com about this.

The expert they had leading the discussion said a HUGE issue with situations like this is the employer doesn't even consider people from outside the city - the employer figures you'll ask for relocation costs, you'll hem and haw while you're selling your house, etc.

She suggested a couple things that might help you...
[list=1][*]Get a cell phone with an Indianapolis phone number, and list that on your resume.[*]If you have friends in Indianpolis, ask to use their address on your resume. Have them fwd the mail if necessary (although in my experience, almost all communication takes place via email or phone these days.)[*]Above all else, NEVER MENTION THAT YOU DON'T LIVE IN INDIANAPOLIS.[*]If all else fails, find a company HQ'd or with a branch in Indianapolis, get a job with them, and then try aiming for the move from within the company.[/list=1]

Re: Re: Job Search Help!
 

Thanks for all this, but I got a job at the end of June in Indianapolis. ;)

Congrats!

Congratulations to you on your new job, and best wishes!

I did want to comment on the advice given on that website. I feel it is very, very bad.. and will all but guarantee you won't get the job. You have to understand that a huge portion of companies (even smaller companies) pay outside agencies to perform a background check on prospective employees. If you are found to have lied on your resume-- and that includes giving a false address, you will be disqualified from the job.

And in the remote chance you were able to get away with it, and got hired-- you'll eventually slip. You can forget any further promotions. Nobody wants people in their employ who lie about where they live. It will make them wonder what else they lie about.

Honesty is always the best policy. Just say, "I'm anxious to relocate".

HDPhiMu-- do you have a link to that discussion? I'm interested in seeing who that individual is and exactly what they had to say on the topic. I'm quite surprised to hear of an employment expert telling people to be deceptive.

Sure, here you go:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...012301094.html

Thanks for the link! What was the specific article she wrote? I clicked on the link, and I got this list:

Resolve to Improve, One Step at a Time
Resolutions. They're easy to make, even easier to break.
_
Job Hunters Take Note: Your Best Fit May Be Federal (By Mary Ellen Slayter, December 25, 2005, Page K01)
_
For Every Face of the 'Big, Bad Boss,' an Experience to Match (By Mary Ellen Slayter, December 11, 2005, Page K01)
_
Career Track: Bad Breeds of Bosses (Post, November 27, 2005, Page K01)
_
Too Many Temp Jobs Can Spoil the Resume (By Mary Ellen Slayter, November 13, 2005, Page K01)
_
Smaller Companies May Offer Bigger Opportunities (By Mary Ellen Slayter, October 30, 2005, Page K01)
_
Workers Grapple With the Sick-Leave Malaise (By Mary Ellen Slayter, October 16, 2005, Page K01)
_
There's No Smash-Hit Interview Without Rehearsal (By Mary Ellen Slayter, October 2, 2005, Page K01)
_
Research Your Role Before a Change of Scene (By Mary Ellen Slayter, September 18, 2005)
_
Expand Your Horizons, Not Your Waistline (By Mary Ellen Slayter, August 28, 2005, Page K01)
_
Author Helps Newcomers Navigate Corporate Waters (Post, August 14, 2005, Page K01)
_
Career Track: Workplace Experts and Novices Share in the Blogosphere (Post, July 31, 2005, Page K01)
_
Advice for Twentysomethings: Resisting the Offer to Move Into Management (Post, July 17, 2005, Page K01)
_
Whoa, Nelly -- New Managers Should Go Slow (Post, July 3, 2005, Page K01)
_
Attention Deficit Defiance (By Mary Ellen Slayter, May 22, 2005, Page K01)
_
A Guiding Hand, Man's or Woman's, Can Lift You Higher (By Mary Ellen Slayter, May 8, 2005, Page K01)
_
Magazine Aims to Make It All Worthwhile (By Mary Ellen Slayter, December 19, 2004, Page K01)
_
The Unspoken Etiquette of Workplace Gift-Giving (By Mary Ellen Slayter, December 5, 2004, Page K01)
_
For a Working Transition From College, Try an Internship (By Mary Ellen Slayter, November 21, 2

Yes, but there are ways you can do that without having issues. For example, I'm applying for jobs in an area where I have never lived, but my boyfriend is practicing. I am listing my current address and his address as a "local address" on my resumes.

Really? I wonder if that's because you're not logged in. I get a Washington Post Live Online discussion.

***

Washington, D.C.: Thanks for taking questions.

I am planning on moving from D.C. to Boston. When applying for jobs in Boston, how should I address this in my cover letter? What is the best way to convince a future employer that I am actually moving? I don't have an actually move date, but will move once offered a job. Should I mention this in the first paragraph, or in the body of the cover letter?

Many thanks.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Go ahead and get a Boston area cell phone exchange.

Do you have a friend in the area whose address you could use as your local address on your resumes and cover letters.

Don't even mention living in D.C. in your cover letter.

This all assumes that you don't expect any help with moving expenses.

Thanks for posting the quote. I suppose I'll have to agree to disagree with the "expert" in the article.

My advice is: don't play games on your resume and job application.

My company would have discovered the fake address right away as we-- like so many other companies these days, do background checks on all prospective employees. Seeing the fake address would have sent up big red flags.

It doesn't matter to us where a person lives-- it is just how serious he or she is to relocating along with whether he or she is the right fit for the job. It's a matter of sorting out those aimless job searchers who throw a lot of stuff on the wall hoping something will stick-- from those who are focused on where they want to work and what they want to do.

Here's what I mean. If I'm looking for someone to add to my team, I don't want a "jack of all trades" and "I'll do anything" type of person. I want someone who can fulfill exactly what we need.. which, specifically is someone with on-air experience, good news writing abilities, and is a self-starter. I don't care if they live in Alaska or Florida. As long as they are the right candidate for the job with the experience, talent... and INTEGRITY.

My advice to job seachers is: know exactly what you want to do, and then go for it. Be honest, and perservere.