Looking for a Job

[alphachiohmy]

If any of you are like me, I am swamped in resumes, cover letters and job searches. At the same time, I am finishing up my last semester of school, working a 30-hour per week internship and battling the stress of facing the rest of my life. I am applying for an air force officer position, as well as contemplating graduate school.

So, I am asking if any:

alumni and professionals: have any openings within your company in writer/reporter/public relations, or any great advice as to how you landed your job

collegians: are you looking for jobs, what websites are you using, any other advice

Thanks,

Rhonda

[SigmaChiCard]

raytheon in louisville is more than tripling our work staff in every area of interest due to the war, some 520 openings...I'm sure you could fit on, eh?

Im out there looking to and I have been using Monster.com and my towns local online paper.

[The1calledTKE]

Hotjobs is good too. Try your campus. They should have a place to help you find a job.

[veruca76]

I always hated monster and hotjobs because I couldn't get exactly the right search going and the listing I could find were too vague. I'd recommend posting your resume there anyway, you never know. My new favorite job search site is www.flipdog.com. They supposedly pull the listings right off companies websites, it's super easy to use and find exactly what you're looking for and I always find at least a couple new contacts there.

Oh, for people looking for techie type jobs you have to check out dice.com and techies.com. They rock.

Also, something that really helped me was that book called Resumes that Knock 'Em Dead and the other book by the same publisher that's more general (sorry I can't remember the name.) They had lots of great advice about following up after you submit your resume, how to phrase things, interview tips, etc.

Good luck to you and other the other job searchers out there. Remember, persistance is the name of the game!!

[SigkapAlumWSU]

I've used Hotjobs, Monster, Headhunter, and Resumerabbit.. And have gotten job leads and jobs off of both Hotjobs and Monster... it really depends on the area of the country you are looking in, but it NEVER hurts to put your resume and cover letter out to as many as you possibly can. The idea: eventually, someone will see your resume and think you are exactly what they need!

Go to every interview you can, even if you don't think the job is right for you. You might find that they have other openings as well, but they thought you were only interested in the one. Many interviewers will mention other openings they have on the off chance that your skills might be better suited. Also, it never hurts to brush up on your interview skills!

[SigkapAlumWSU]

alphachiohmy -

Also, I have to say: Great Networking!! Good way to use your resources on hand!

[alphachiohmy]

My resume is solid, and posted on Monster, as well as other journalism job boards. I have used networking to an extent and have sent my clips and resumes out. It is just hard waiting ...

Thanks for all your advice.

Cory - what jobs are open at your place of employment? I may be looking for something temp from dec till march (if I get in to the air force thats when i head off to officer training ...) If ya get a chance email or pm me details. I could work in louisville easy and rent free for a few months staying with fam. Might end up there anyway and stay andhelp take care of my grandmother.

[Tom Earp]

Do Not run your resumes on a copy machine, No matter how good it is!!!!!

There are Secreterial Services whou can type it up, make it look proffesional and print it as tho you had it made for them!!!! Is not that expensive and for the money is worth it!

Recruiters toss more in the trash than they keep from litle things like that!

Keep it concise!

List your activities and any offices you held as they are looking for people not just with good grades but initiative and experence in working with and directing people!

Good Luck!!!!!!!!

[GmuTeke]

I recently landed a second job, and it was thanks to a lovely ZTA who worked for a legal firm and they needed a bilingual receptionist. If it wasnt for knowing her, I probably wouldnt be working there.

In previous job hunts, I've used the website of the local paper (washingtonpost.com), monster, and even the HR and career servivices section of my campus. They always post jobs available for current students/recent graduates. If you like being around your school, then why not help from the other side of things as an alum?

Also, have you tried getting a job with your GLO? Is there a national newsletter that needs people to write articles etc?

[SigmaChiCard]

i think for raytheon you need to look through rayjobs, or our plant web-site. It actually just said that there are no job openings here, but that's false, so investigate a bit. You could also contact Gloria West, but just say you heard of a job opening, rather than me having told you...I'm not the hardest worker and they likely don't want too many me's around.

[veruca76]

Originally posted by SigmaChiCard
but just say you heard of a job opening, rather than me having told you...I'm not the hardest worker and they likely don't want too many me's around.

Yeah but most large companies offer big referral bonuses. I got my current job through a friend of my boyfriend. He got a $500 referral bonus and split it with me. Seriously - it's worth looking into. My boyfriends company's referral bonus is like $1500 - no kidding.

[alphachiohmy]

I sent my resume in for a public relations position at raytheon in california, and I had a second interview with six flags in chicago for a pr internship for 8 months ... they want to do a third interview so please wish me luck!

[alphachiohmy]

Summary Of Qualifications: Ability to work in a high-pressure environment. Determined and enthusiastic with excellent verbal and written communication skills. Skills in newspaper reporting, editing and news design/layout. Bilingual in Spanish.

Experience: Southern Illinoisan; Aug. 26, 2001 to present.

·Intern: Responsible for nightly police coverage of 12 Southern Illinois counties. Generating two to three stories per week as well as enterprise work.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch; March 13, 2001 to June 1, 2001.

·Intern: Produced both news and features for Illinois bureau. Worked downtown police coverage on weekends as well as event coverage.

Rush Street Media; April 2000 to Nov. 2000.

·Freelance Writer: Crafted features on old Chicago night life for Rush Street Media's internet magazines, Left on Rush and Chicago Confidential.

Daily Egyptian, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale; Nov. 1998 to Dec. 2000.

·Managing Editor: Fall 2000. Responsibilities include assigning stories, serving as a liaison between reporting and art staffs, preparing news budgets and serving as second-in-command in day-to-day operations.

·News Editor: Summer 2000. Edited all news copy for content, AP style, grammar, punctuation and spelling.

·Section Editor: Summer 1999 - Spring 2000. Responsibilities included reporting and editing stories on deadline; assigning stories and photos to four reporters; directing coverage of university administration and campus life.

·Reporter: Fall 1998 - Spring 1999. Education: B.S. Journalism - Dec. 2001, Southern Illinois University.

Other Experience: Managed an equestrian camp for four summers at The Riding Center in Freeburg, Ill. President of SIUC Society of Professional Journalists, 1999-2000. Communications Chair of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, 1999-2000. Experience with QuarkXPress, WordPerfect, Microsoft Word and HTML.

References: Tim Bross, Illinois editor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 618.659.3630 Deb Kronowitz, publisher, Signature Bride magazine, 312.335.8774 Lance Speere, faculty managing editor, Daily Egyptian, 618.536.3307 William Recktenwald, Freedom Forum journalist-in-residence, SIUC, 618.264.5136

[aggieAXO]

Looks great to me Rhonda. I know I was impressed but someone in your field should give an opinion.