Submitted by [deleted] t3_10q39fh in LifeProTips
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FriendOfShaq t1_j6nkim8 wrote
Get a degree, they said. It will catapult you into your dream career right out of school, they said.
Mysterious_Explorer4 t1_j6nl2vi wrote
Lol literally
chocolatehippogryph t1_j6nl51x wrote
Big tip! Use jobalytics (chrome extension) to match your resume to the keywords in job postings. So much of the system is totally automated now, and the first few steps in the process involve basic keyword matching. It sounds dumb, but it can dramatically increase your response rate to applications!
AGripInVan t1_j6nldda wrote
Resumé rule #1. Spell everything correctly.
Especially "GRADUATE"!!!
[deleted] OP t1_j6nlui1 wrote
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AMooreDoughnutz t1_j6nlxfn wrote
Master of Arts degree? Best of luck 🤞
Live_Move_4831 t1_j6nnrlp wrote
Best bet with LinkedIn job postings is to take the company name and go directly to their website and apply through a career’s page or get a contact for that supervisor and email them directly with resume or follow up. I like to think of LinkedIn as a middle man to get me the needed info and then i do additional searching from there. Good luck!
cblguy82 t1_j6no0om wrote
LinkedIn is usually behind the actual company site and many times just auto renewing roles if the company doesn't take them down. Chances are they may already have plenty of resumes to review or are weeks/month+ out of date.
Use LinkedIn as just one method to find roles that you may fit and then go to the actual company website jobs/career section and apply there instead if the position is not too old.
ZidorK t1_j6np1c4 wrote
I’ve always thought of a Bachelors of Arts degree as a stepping stone to get into another degree? What kind of jobs are out there for a B.Arts Degree? I’m also assuming that the employers are looking at your work experience to suit the job
andvstan t1_j6nppxf wrote
Completely agree with this advice. And, relatedly, conform the description of your education and experience to what the company says it's looking for, both to help with any automated screening the company is using and to help illustrate to HR and the hiring manager your fit with the role.
floydly t1_j6nqxil wrote
they have a Masters of Arts, lil more commitment then a BA
TheOriginal_Dka13 t1_j6nr81r wrote
Well yes and no, and they don't do a good job at explaining it more accurately. You have to decide on a path that either has lots of jobs, or you know your way into one if it doesn't. You gotta look at job availability even before yoy choose that degree. Getting your "dream" degree when there are no or very few jobs for it is just a waste of 50k+.
hopefullylastone t1_j6ns7kn wrote
10x more expensive, 10x more useless, too
hopefullylastone t1_j6nsot2 wrote
Did yall sleep when "they" said to research career prospects, too?
ConstantAmazement t1_j6nsqix wrote
Identify your target companies. Find out what temp agency they use. Take any job offered. Once you are in, you will have access to internal hiring boards not accessible to the public, and to hiring managers. Source: That is how I went from a lowly temp data entry job to a perm senior position in two years.
Live_Move_4831 t1_j6nt20t wrote
Great advice!
lolaleatherfire t1_j6nthab wrote
I reached out to all local staffing agencies in my city and got set up with initial interviews. Some agencies are better than others. The last agency placement I received opened up a career door. While I no longer work at the job I was placed in, I work for a former customer I had in that role. Best of luck!
[deleted] OP t1_j6nu0e8 wrote
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flightwatcher45 t1_j6nu58b wrote
Agree, it was good but now the online job application system is sooo saturated between websites and recruiting companies. Apply using a mix of everything and even through friends and family connections in person! Job fairs help too, hit them up at any local colleges even if you don't attend the school, if you can get in of course.
bluehat9 t1_j6nudsw wrote
What sort of experience do you have and what sort of jobs are you applying for?
_lcll_ t1_j6nvjwj wrote
I mean... if OP has a degree in a social science, s/he has okay chances. Not like getting a degree in straight-up math or biology would be any better.
Edit: apparently math was a bad example. How about... kinesiology then...? lol
[deleted] OP t1_j6nvl6m wrote
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Pussycat-X t1_j6nvlw2 wrote
Did the person ever work before? Cuz they'll lose every job to someone who worked before even at McDonald's if the employer can confirm that person can show up on time and work well with the public and coworkers. If someone has never worked they are not only an unknown entity, they are fighting the current stereotype of being lazy and entitled cuz their mom is still doing their laundry while they play video games.
Companies don't want to waste training dollars and all that HR crap you have to do just to find out they hired someone who sleeps through their alarm or thinks a hangover is a legit reason to call in sick.
Llanite t1_j6nwa0j wrote
It's actually quite rare for a math major to not have a job lined up in their junior year.
AMooreDoughnutz t1_j6nwkq6 wrote
I strongly disagree with you here. Getting something STEM related is the right choice for a degree and can open plenty of doors with high paying salaries (you know, if that’s your end goal and all).
Master of Arts? A great way to master the art of making a sandwich as a career (you know, if that’s your end goal and all).
Scarletsuccubus t1_j6nwzcf wrote
How do you find out the temp agency? This is great advice but I have no idea how to do this.
darkallen t1_j6nxgz8 wrote
Is there a Firefox extension?
_lcll_ t1_j6nxls4 wrote
Not true. A sociology, public administration, poli-sci or criminology degree - especially on the masters level - opens plenty of doors. E.g. it's the main pathway for policy and research jobs in government, non-profits, or in the private sector.
AMooreDoughnutz t1_j6nxtlm wrote
If you say so lol
[deleted] OP t1_j6nybeg wrote
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RegularIntelligent63 t1_j6nyqem wrote
Many universities host job fairs. It’s a good place to meet employers, especially ones you may not have considered before. Company recruiters will be there and sometimes they have a mechanism for you to apply (like iPads on their application portal). For resume and interviewing help, go to the university’s career placement office. They have people there that can help. They may also host workshops and may include alums or people from industry.
[deleted] OP t1_j6nz5pw wrote
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SweetCosmicPope t1_j6nz7a7 wrote
I think it helps to know what kind of field you're in to know what kind of job volumes are out there. Less jobs, means more competition and it's largely going to be a waiting game. Myself, I work in IT, so I can apply for about a hundred jobs a week if I need to.
Do you have work experience or just education?
What helped me when I was starting out was having a functional resume. It's all about psychology. You want to put your education, certifications, skills, etc at the top of the resume. Put your work experience at the bottom. Keywords are important, as well. That will get it through the automated filtering they use. When someone gets eyes on it, the studies show that after about the first 3rd of a page, people lose interest. If you can get their attention with all the good stuff early on in the resume, they'll have already decided they want to interview you by the time they get to your sparse work history.
It's probably a little late, but if you had an internship you should have/hopefully did make some connections. Some companies will offer jobs to interns after their program is over. If not, it's time to start cashing in on those connections and reaching out to folks and offering yourself up for service.
Vic_O22 t1_j6nzmxt wrote
- Make sure your profile and resume are free of errors. Have it checked by somebody else with the right experience. Double-check again.
- Avoid using popular templates which get used by many applicants. Try to create a light spin-off of a template you liked for your resume. Or create something from scratch.
- Connect with as many HR representatives/Talent Acquisition specialists as possible. Reach out to those that work in a field of your interest, let them know you're open to job offers. Some HR reps may be open to give some advice (e.g. tips to improve your resume, tip what skill to gain to be hired at their company), but not all.
- Connect to as many like-minded professionals as you are comfortable.
- Make sure there's nothing compromising/dubious on the internet with your name+surname, or on your FB, Insta, etc. accounts.
- Network, network, network. Online and personally. Build your reputation as a trustworthy, dedicated, curious, enthusiastic young talent who is looking for an opportunity to contribute to the team/boss/etc. Someday someone may be willing to recommend you for some job position/post about you on their profile/etc.
- Never stop trying.
[deleted] OP t1_j6o0l1x wrote
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rnason t1_j6o1tsh wrote
A lot of students aren't told that. You get told to " chase your dreams"
John_EightThirtyTwo t1_j6o1uvx wrote
>Apply to ~100 jobs and you’ll hear back from ~5% of them.
That's five jobs.
has strong applied-math skills
Realistic0ptimist t1_j6o2iub wrote
My last two jobs came from LinkedIn job posts so it is useful if done correctly. My biggest piece of advice is to apply to companies where a person is looking at the resume not an automated system.
The way you know the difference? If you can direct send a resume versus filling out a profile with all your information on it
Inside-Depth-8757 t1_j6o31jt wrote
A great list, also use your linkedin profile. Connect with people in your target sector Create content, either demonstrate your knowledge Reach out to recruiters and hopefully they'll add you to their mailing lists
Aunt_Anne t1_j6o33l6 wrote
I had better experience going directly to the company website and applying directly rather than going through an of the big online job factories. Job fairs are a better source too.
Averen t1_j6o365m wrote
What types of jobs are you qualified for with a Master of Arts degree?
Ken1drick t1_j6o368x wrote
This is true for beginners only I think
When you have enough experience people reach out to you constantly on LinkedIn
I changed jobs early january and got like 15 recruiters coming to me since then. I did update my job/company on linkedin.
[deleted] OP t1_j6o3wa7 wrote
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baguetteandcheese t1_j6o431n wrote
30 jobs aint enough. The response rate is like 5% or less for people with art degrees.
[deleted] OP t1_j6o46wq wrote
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aball1495 t1_j6o86ha wrote
Career consultant here: Network through your schools (and schools in the area you want to live) LinkedIn Page specifically through the “Alumni Tool”. It helps you find people with with your degree to better understand what they are doing, and once you find the people doing what interests you, connect and introduce yourself/how you came across their profile. Build the conversation up with them if they accept, asking them questions about their org/job/experience and get to know them, then hopefully they will help you find something of interest.
mrmrmrj t1_j6o98ti wrote
The language in your resume must match the language in the job description. You will hate this but you need to customize a resume for each job listing. Maybe it is just a few tweaks but still a pain.
Also, one way to check this box is to have an Objective paragraph at the top of your resume. You can throw sentences there that can help the matching. For example, if a job wants 5-7 years of experience but you have 10, this could count AGAINST you. Put "7 years experience doing X" in that Objective paragraph to check the box.
Mysterious_Explorer4 t1_j6o99o4 wrote
Who said I was throwing in the towel? That’s your interpretation. I’m literally asking for advice on how to continue. Go be a negative somewhere else. Thanks.
[deleted] OP t1_j6o9jxl wrote
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hopefullylastone t1_j6oa7ps wrote
Not if you have Asian parents lol
rnason t1_j6oaecp wrote
But you replied to a generalized comment
JANPAULofficial t1_j6oaxkp wrote
First and foremost, you need to have a decent resume. It’s tough out there but you can stand out highlighting things you’ve accomplished (work or school) and value you’ve added to projects, department or the companies you’ve worked for. Then, go to the companies LinkedIn and find out if there’s any one that you’re even second degree connected to (someone you know, is directly connected to the company). Ask your direct connection for a coffee or a quick zoom. Catch up genuinely first if you’re not close friends/connections. People who know they’re being asked for a favor are much less likely to help you both in the short term and long term and you never know when you’ll help each other out in the future (this is the backbone of networking). Once they ask you what you’re up to, this is when you mention you’re looking for work at company x. LET THEM OFFER TO HELP FIRST. If they don’t, it could be for various reasons, but the most likely reason is, it’s probably not a close or reliable connection.
Repeat all those steps over again until something hits.
The other piece of advice is to go to networking events/conferences where people from that company would attend. A lot of these have ice breakers and opportunities to get to know companies on a deeper level and meet a lot of influential people within the industries you’re interested in.
There aren’t shortcuts here unfortunately right out of college, but it gets easier once your network increases and you can start tapping into those the longer you’ve been in your career. And if you want to change industries? You start from the LinkedIn step above again.
It’s a journey, but can be rewarding! And you end up meeting some really great mentors along the way this way too.
Mysterious_Explorer4 t1_j6ob7ds wrote
Thank you very much for the thoughtful advice.
Eilaver t1_j6ocrlm wrote
none, outside of teaching other people about it.
anime_or_suicide t1_j6od116 wrote
Both valid arguments but a missing fact is that the world just needs far more stem graduates than art graduates and thus more of the latter struggle starting of their carreer
Ttd341 t1_j6oe60s wrote
Going to the page is good advice. If someone emailed me their resume, it's going straight to spam
[deleted] OP t1_j6oe88z wrote
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Live_Move_4831 t1_j6oeocv wrote
Emailing a resume may be a bit outdated. I would have to agree with you!
ConstantAmazement t1_j6ogj37 wrote
Contact the company HR dept and ask what temp agencies they use and for what type of temp. Some larger national companies with state or local divisions may have HR departments at each level. Some have contracts with specific temp agencies for specific types of temps like IT, nursing, admin, janitorial, accounting, etc. Ask the questions.
ConstantAmazement t1_j6oh60t wrote
Food for thought: It can be an extremely difficult and lengthy process to simply fire an employee, especially for large companies. For this reason, some companies will hire exclusively from temp agencies. If a worker isn't working out, just call the agency and ask them to send a different person in the morning. No HR fuss!
UsualAnybody1807 t1_j6ola3z wrote
Agree as well. And the same with any interviews you get. Even though you are a new graduate, you likely have life experiences that will be useful skills for any job. If there are any listed items that you just don't have, be ready with additional info, especially communication skills - critical for any type of job.
runtheroad t1_j6olfwx wrote
Are you actually looking for jobs in the Art World? There tends to be a lot more people looking for jobs in the arts than there are jobs and you'll probably have a tough time if you're just sending resumes out to places you don't have a preexisting connection to. It's an industry where networking is really important and you're unlikely to get a career level position somewhere unless you have a relationship with someone there already.
ditavonreeses t1_j6olujq wrote
If you have money to spend on getting professional help with your resume, try TopResume.com.
Actually-Yo-Momma t1_j6omkx3 wrote
Which degree you get has always mattered. Nobody telling you to get a history degree and expect big bucks after
endosurgery t1_j6omt7l wrote
You need to talk to a person. These automated things don’t work. Once you talk with. Person you will get interviews galore. I switched positions after 15 years and it used to be that you spoke or contacted a person. Then they looked at your cv etc. I found this automated stuff a barrier. In every interview case I had to call them directly. One possibility that looked perfect did not have a number or email for contact. Thats the only interview I didn’t get. The job had been open for 6 months and was still open 6 months after I signed. Maybe they only look internally, but what a waste.
Utilize any resource in the profession. Friends or professors etc. A lot is who you know. The old boy network still exists. If you have an established person on your side it’s a big coup.
GooberAGoGo t1_j6oo6vi wrote
I found LinkedIn to be a waste of time.
FactsFromExperience t1_j6opxbl wrote
I don't think LinkedIn is very good that's because they're just jumping on the bandwagon late in the game because that's not what they started out being but my wife is recruiter for a major corporation and she loves and really recommends many of the common websites for job searching. It has changed and migrated a little over the years. The first big one I remember hearing about was monster.com if I'm remembering it correctly but you never hear of it today. My wife really recommends indeed.
SenorNoods t1_j6oqja2 wrote
I don’t have much to add that others haven’t already said, but don’t get discouraged. I just switched jobs 5 years post graduation and applied to roughly 320 positions. Out of those, I received about a dozen interviews and 2 offers. All applications submitted between September and November, and there are still more than 100 that I haven’t received a response from. It’s a numbers game. I will say, I had more success with applications made through a company website rather than LinkedIn.
naestse t1_j6or858 wrote
Thirty jobs only? When I landed my first “adult” job a year ago, I applied to probably 100-150 jobs in a month or so. Everyone has great advice here, but also a lot of jobs are either old posts that they forgot to take down, or internal promotions they have to pretend is open to everyone. Good luck out there
Obiwan_ca_blowme t1_j6orc1z wrote
My wife has a BS in kinesiology with an emphasis on sports science. She is now a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Some degrees are nothing more than feeder degrees. Kinesiology is either a feeder degree or one you use to become a Personal Trainer.
Obiwan_ca_blowme t1_j6oro2n wrote
>First and foremost, you need to have a decent resume
First and foremost, you need to have a decent degree
FTFY
[deleted] OP t1_j6osx2r wrote
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[deleted] OP t1_j6ox8r9 wrote
Alexis_J_M t1_j6p01sz wrote
Write three or four resumes tailored for three or four different aspects of jobs your degree has prepared you for. Make sure to use keywords scraped from job postings to get past the automated filters. Start spamming them out to any reasonable match. I've got decades of experience and get very few responses to my resumes.
You say you've just gotten your master's degree -- what jobs have you had along the way? Can you get more of that type of job, just tilted a little bit towards using your education, and work towards stuff directly in your field?
It's really hard to step right out of school into a job in a non-STEM field, it's a tough job market. Spread your resume around to job boards, but make sure to use a different email address for each place you post it so you can start figuring out where your junk mail comes from.
For example, if my email address were Alexis.Morganza@gmail.com I might post resumes with email addresses like
alexis.morganza+indeed-2023@gmail.com
So that I could immediately see when and where someone got my resume.
(I put my resume up on monster.com for two weeks in 2012 and took it down because of low quality responses. I still get email to that address )
There are specialized job boards for all kinds of fields -- make sure you are looking everywhere relevant to your field. Go to a university library and read a bunch of professional periodicals -- they often have job ads. Even if they are advertising for a senior position you don't qualify for, you now have the name of a company hiring in your field. Check their website for open positions.
If your university has an alumni newsletter, mine that for the names of companies people are bragging about getting jobs at.
Go to a web browser and search for "my field jobs" and there are likely to be a ton of job boards and talent agencies that show up. Career counseling sites, too. (For example, I searched for "fine arts jobs" and in addition to a bunch of job boards I also found an interesting looking site in the UK titled "What jobs can I get with a fine arts degree". I don't know what your field is but I assume there are similar results for it.)
[deleted] OP t1_j6p2myc wrote
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stekthamster t1_j6p2wqn wrote
I got a tip from a HR person when applying for a Internship. (That I didn't get) Works well with what everyone here says about working on your application. "You only need to be first in line for one job, doesn't matter how many second places you get. Do a few reaaally good applications to things you would fit as, rather than a lot of applications half-assed"
Worked as a charm for one of my next 3 applications. Good luck!
Sapphire580 t1_j6p2yfc wrote
This is the 21st century equivalent of turning in your application in person to the manager and shaking hands and letting them know how bad you want the job. I’m only 35 but that’s how I got all my jobs before I started my company
Fearless_Wash t1_j6p4mza wrote
Yes. Once you've applied, call and let them know you're calling to follow up on an application. I have never snagged an interview without this crucial step.
kingzustin t1_j6p6i52 wrote
There's a ton of great advice in this thread already! Me and my classmates have also found the same thing, getting no responses from lots of applications. I've found a great job now though, so my piece of advice to add to this great pile of advice is:
Keep at it! You'll find something! It will take time and it certainly gets depressing to put lots of effort into each application just to get ignored, but it will work out if you do your best and keep at it.
Spe333 t1_j6p7nvg wrote
Make a resume, get fitted for your clothes, drop off resumes in person to local places. Many construction types of places don’t really put the word out, they don’t want to or don’t know how.
They might even see your resume and like you, so they’ll fit you in somewhere.
ebert_42 t1_j6pa583 wrote
This. I didn't use any web extensions but applied for nearly 100 jobs with very little success post college, which was highly discouraging. I visited with someone who looked at my resume for me and advised a section at the top for technical skills (i work in IT) where I can basically add buzzwords off job requirements that I have done before. I immediately started hearing back about job applications it was crazy. Please feel free to PM me if you want more advice.
SmurfSniffer2 t1_j6pam6v wrote
30 applications per week at least. My last two jobs took 400 & 700 applications. I could have found a job more quickly if i was willing to apply to any job in any city, but i wad looking within a specific field in major cities only. Regardless, you need to grind.
guanogato t1_j6pb17n wrote
This! LinkedIn is so robotic. Contacting the company directly just seems more personal. I applied to nearly 500 jobs to get my first one. I only ever get calls from companies I reached out to directly. And easy apply is just a complete waste of time - don’t do it.
Playful-Opportunity5 t1_j6pcgs4 wrote
Applying to job openings isn’t a lost cause, but it is a lot of work and can take a while. I suggest you continue doing that but augment it with other approaches. Find a “best employers” list for your city and use LinkedIn to reach out to current employees asking for their advice. They might know of an opportunity, now or in the future. Read the feed posts on LinkedIn and follow the people you like. Ask them for connections. I just got a job because I saw “we’re hiring” on a post by a woman I respect; I went to her company’s website, applied for an opening, and ended up interviewing with her. Go down as many channels as you can think of - online and in-person - because you never know where the next opportunity might present itself.
[deleted] OP t1_j6pcqpq wrote
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Columbus43219 t1_j6pdh3t wrote
Damn, that's discouraging. Been in IT since 1986, mainframe to java to cloud. Not a single person has reached out to me.
oOoChromeoOo t1_j6pdy5o wrote
You must network, a lot. Learn about the functional area you are interested in and meet lots of people doing that work. Get to know everything you can about the job. Eventually someone might offer to pass your resume to the right person.
Source: I’m a career coach.
stonedNick t1_j6peqjs wrote
Generally speaking I find applying for jobs where you have no previous connection is a fruitless cause
brinazee t1_j6pfbuu wrote
Do you have any slightly older friends that work in places you might want to? Ask them if their places of employment are hiring.
The_Cowboy_Killer t1_j6pga1i wrote
Is your actual degree in Art?
yanqyan792 t1_j6phq1k wrote
You have to match and tailor your resume to the job bulletin that you want and are applying for. If you don’t match it HR will just immediately throw/discard your resume. You have to remember that not all HR personnel understand every single job posting that they post nor do they have the time to scan and read every resume application.
For example: if the requirement is master of arts degree make sure that its on your resume and clearly stated in the front.
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if certain years of experience is required: make sure to have dates of employment on each position.
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Another mistake that resumes have is not highlighting what is on the job bulletin. For example: they want someone proficient in Microsoft word, good communication skills. You have to add this on your list of task in your résumé otherwise HR will overlooked your resume.
I have learned to add most of what’s listed in the job bulletin and then adding other task/skill that highlights those bulletins even though that’s not the bulked of my experience.
By tailoring your resume, you increase your chance for interview and also increase your score on hiring managers as well. This is from experience when I got hired my supervisor told me that I was immediately the first choice because I have the experience based on my resume.
If you are applying to any entry level, these employers know that you just got out of college. What they really want to know is your willingness to learn and also excel on that position. Chose and vet the companies that you are applying to also, and see if it’s the right fit for you. It’s a two way street you have to like the companies where you are applying to.
Good luck!
total_looser t1_j6pit5y wrote
YOU WANT A JOB OR WHAT
keepthetips t1_j6nj45d wrote
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