Reaction to a posting on jobs.

[klo1335]

So on ivillage.com there are these message boards for 20-somethings. I was on there the other day and came across this posting from a college student in Toronto, Canada. I couldn't believe how simple she was making it seem to find a job. Of course everyone couldn't understand her logic and found her to very naive. I will copy and paste her posts for you. I would like to know what your reaction is:

#1 "I've seen posts where people are ranting about their jobs and the inability to find a good one, etc. My question is this: Why don't you get in contact with a headhunter, or even with someone who may have connections? Networking is a great way to find the job you want. You can even contact someone from your school's alumni association. I know that many people would like to find great jobs on their own, but the reality is that connections help."


#2 "Ok, but what about connections through older friends, alum associations, etc? A guy I used to go out with got his current job through his floormate's older brother. Or rather, he got the interview through that guy, and was then hired."

#3 "I'm doing an internship right now. Another point is this: Why not do something that is totally different from what you studied? A girl I know is going back to her high school to be an Don (RA--> the school has about 100 girls, from age 12-18 in boarding) for a year before going doing her MA. She has an undergrad in something that has nothing to do with education! This job is great....she doesn't have to find a place to stay (she'll be living with the girls), nor does she have to worry about food (she'll be eating in the dining hall), and during the day, she'll be working with kindergarten kids (who aren't in boarding, of course). Sounds like great to me, and sounds like something that'll be great for the resume (leadership skills)."

#4 "Maybe I live in a different world, but my friends who are not yet employed (or rather, unemployed...and this is most of them) have all moved back home. In fact, some of them have never lived outside their parents' except to go away to university. Then again, we're all like 23 and none are married or have kids."

#5 "GAWD NO! Too darn scary. But your use of "reality" isn't fair, because it's saying that my friends and I live in a fantasy land. Yes, it may be so to some people, but it definitely isn't the case with us. Fantasy is Harry Potter, Matrix, Star Wars, etc. This isn't fantasy."

#6 " The job market is bad everywhere, but some people manage to get something, or at least interviews. I have a feeling that my friend who's going to work in boarding thisfall was seen as more valuable, despite not having much experience, because of her connections. Another young lady was offered an interview at a rival school, because they felt that she "understands the system". "

#7 "1.) Connections still help. Companies are more willing to place people who "know people" than someone who just sends in a resume.
2.) I'm still in school, and will be until at least the end of August 2004, when I'll finish my certificate in volunteer/fund raising management. I'm sort of helping out with the planning stages of a cotillion portion for a ball that raises money for a seniors' centre in Toronto. I also want to start my own philanthropic organization (either arts related, or leadership related for underprivileged girls).

Anyway, like I said, many of my friends are not really working right now, and are hanging out at home, pet sitting, as one girl put it, or are taking advanced degrees (most are in either law school, with a few in meds). Then there are the lucky ones who are working in finance, right out of school. Most of these kids somehow know people (parents, uncles/aunts, etc)who know people and were able to help out."

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-rltwenty&msg=29037.1

[coll214]

Klo- She definitely sounds naive to me about the job market. Connections will help you get your foot in the door, but the bottom line is still generally your skills and experience. I know i wouldn't want to get a job based solely on who i know; i'd be constantly thinking would they have hired me if it wasn't for so and so...

And trying to get a job in a different field can be just as difficult because you have absolutely NO experience in it. my sister is in that place right now; she doesn't want to do work in her degree field, but she also doesn't know what she wants to do- just what she doesn't want to do, if that makes any sense. :)

the posting sounds to me like it's from someone whose never really had to go out looking for a job....going through the interview process, sending resumes, going to formal interviews, etc. Lucky her.

[EmilyH]

#7 "1.) Connections still help. Companies are more willing to place people who "know people" than someone who just sends in a resume.

#1 "I've seen posts where people are ranting about their jobs and the inability to find a good one, etc. My question is this: Why don't you get in contact with a headhunter, or even with someone who may have connections? Networking is a great way to find the job you want. You can even contact someone from your school's alumni association. I know that many people would like to find great jobs on their own, but the reality is that connections help."

What if the only connections you have are parents and friends who work in completely different fields and know nothing about yours, and your former employers don't know anyone who is hiring? Also if you have to temp to pay the rent, you can't attend any networking meetings during the day. I'm lucky enough to be able to schedule interviews after 4pm.

Also, headhunters don't want entry-level people. They want people with management experience.

I went to a 4-year college in a different town than I live, and my technical college does nothing for people other than printing out a few job listings that may or may not be related to what you're looking for.

#5 "GAWD NO! Too darn scary. But your use of "reality" isn't fair, because it's saying that my friends and I live in a fantasy land. Yes, it may be so to some people, but it definitely isn't the case with us. Fantasy is Harry Potter, Matrix, Star Wars, etc. This isn't fantasy."

One little nitpick, Matrix and Star Wars are generally considered Science Fiction, not Fantasy.

[klo1335]

Thanks for your reply Emily. I enjoy posting so much more here then on ivillage.com because I just can't relate to the people who post there. Some of their "problems" that they have seem so minor to me and it drives me crazy. While here at QLC, people tend to be on the same level as me :)

[jku]

Getting a job has so many indeterminate factors to it, thus there is no single way. You're right, this woman's view is HIGHLY simplistic.

I got my job after a horribly competitive internship, and then a three month waiting period. We had 6 people, ONE job. I don't know what happened to other college grads - one got a job at Costco (one of those mega-stores); with a subtle twist of faith he could have been working in TV.

But it seems this woman believes things just "happen" - "look on the brighter side" - "cheer up!"

Listen. When you're at WAR for your future, this kind of attitude gets you "shot." It's the glib, cynical ones with a steely eyed focus on REALITY that understand what they need to improve about themselves, while at the same time attempt to think deeply about what their employer is looking for, that get the job.

One factor that I can say here anonymously that is never spoke about, but is a definite factor in my experience is your overall APPEARANCE - and not just what you WEAR to the interview.

I would say working out and being in excellent shape is as much a factor, if not more so, than having a strong academic background. Employers are seemingly looking for the proverbial "whole package." Bill Maher said recently that "college today is what HIGH SCHOOL used to be." Employers have a dismissive attitude about college grads (especially from non-stellar universities) for the most part. So they seem to revert to their more primal instincts when hiring for some reason. HEALTHY GLOW GOOD.

If people you interview with LIKE you, feel attracted to you, want to be around you - they extrapolate that to how you will be as an employee. It's wrong, I know.

With this kind of economy, and a fear of foreign nations to invest in America (at least until what happens in Nov 2004) - as well as JOBS (tech jobs too) going to ASIA, the job market will continue to get tighter and leaner.

Without hitting your resources on every angle; personal relationships, internships, educational institution "connections", continued higher education, improving personal appearance, etc - the WAR to crawl back into the middle class womb from which your parents bore you will be a continual fading vestige of a bygone era.

[meri78]

i have more connections than any of my friends(who also majored in the same thing as myself) and i don't even have a job yet! this chick seriously needs to get a clue-it's EXTREMELY cut-throat for jobs right now. maybe she'll get to work cust service for a year out of school and then she'll see what all the college grads who can't get jobs in their field end up doing to pay the bills. but probably not-maybe she'll be a "pet sitter." whatever! -meri