RE: Interviews...

Subject: RE: Interviews...
From: "Tanja Rosteck" <tsr -at- videotron -dot- ca>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001 17:42:42 -0400

Hi Tara,

First off, good luck with the job hunt. Finding your first placement
after graduation can be pretty scary, especially if you're entering a
field that you don't have any prior work experience in.

I'm sure you will hear many different opinions about the "best" way to
contact prospective employers. Here's my two cents.

(1) Showing up in person unannounced is generally *not* considered
good business etiquette these days. (This may depend on the city
you're living in, though.) Even if you can manage to get past the
receptionist, you will probably not be able to talk to the key senior
managers who are in a position to hire you. Either they're too busy or
will resent a stranger showing up unannounced, and in any case will
probably send a junior staffer in their place. This is assuming you
can even get a meeting on-the-spot, which isn't likely.

(2) Always, always, ALWAYS send your resume and cover letter according
to the instructions listed in the job ad. If it says faxes only, then
send it by fax. If it says send by email to the attention of Ms.
Smith, then do exactly that. Do NOT call if the ad expressly says "No
phone calls". (Some people may disagree with that, however.) The
objective here is to show that you can follow instructions, and it's a
great way for recruiters to weed out undesirable candidates from the
get-go.

<RANT> When I did recruiting in the past, I specified *exactly* how I
wanted candidates to apply: "To apply, send your CV and a cover letter
outlining how your skills and experience make you the ideal candidate
for this position. Please send by email to <email address> before
<date>. No phone calls, faxes, or agencies please." You'd be amazed
how many applicants couldn't - or wouldn't - follow these simple
directions. I got phone calls, faxes, CV's sent without a cover
letter, and agencies calling me to offer up candidates. Extremely
annoying, and it certainly speaks volumes about the candidate's
ability to follow instructions.</RANT>

(3) Unsolicited Applications or "Cold Calling": If you decide to send
CV's and letters to companies who have NOT posted a job, do some major
research first. If you don't already know the exact type of job you're
looking for, figure that out first. (Sounds like you're past that
phase already though). Then do some brainstorming on what type of
companies you'd like to work for: Start-ups? Large corporations?
Companies who make a certain type of product? Companies within a
certain industry? and so on.

If you don't already have a copy, get the job hunter's bible "What
Color is Your Parachute?" - it's invaluable. There are also tons of
online resources to help new grads make the transition into
job-hunting and the full-time business world.

Whatever methods you decide to use, be consistent, always show
professionalism and enthusiasm, and always remember to make
connections in interviews between "theory" and "practice" - that you
know how to apply what you've learned in school to a real-world
business setting.

Good luck!

*Tanja

--
Words4Nerds: big-time technical writing for high-tech small businesses

web www.words4nerds.com
phone 514.935.0463
email tanja -at- words4nerds -dot- com


> -----Original Message-----
> From: bounce-techwr-l-68038 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
> [mailto:bounce-techwr-l-68038 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com]On Behalf
> Of tara bowman
> Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 4:28 PM
> To: TECHWR-L
> Subject: Interviews...
>
> I am about to embark on the interview trail and have a few protocol
> questions.

<snip>



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References:
Interviews...: From: tara bowman

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