Yes, aesthetics are important. Even if your experience isn't super relevant or attention-grabbing, having the resume neat and your bullet points poignant will help a lot.
Which tells me nothing. It's a list of duties. You need to be able to show why whatever you did was important.
Job - Organized all company files in order to improve operations and create an easy to use database for reference - Answered phones and other reception duties, providing excellent customer service to build brand equity with clients - Communicated with both internal and external partners via email in order to effectively coordinate across different projects and departments
Also, use metrics whenever you can. Showing an exact amount of growth or a retention rate is always good.
For marine biology, I can't say I know too much about the field. I'd imagine having a portfolio of research, projects and experience in grant writing would probably be helpful. Try to get involved at your school in whatever remotely relevant department you can as an assistant to gain experience and contacts. I'm not too sure what the work relationship will be like for someone like you, since it's also tied heavily to academia.
also I'm really just looking for jobs in general to pay loans and such off, but I'm also looking into marine biology related jobs (which i assume you wouldn't know about, being a completely unrelated field to yours)
but tips in general I guess, how to get your foot in the door, etc.
It really depends on industry. Networking and finding ways to connect with people is how it all works. Also, don't submit generic cover letters. It's really obvious.
Think of a resume as your clothes to a fancy party. the hot irlbabes won't talk to you if you're wearing bad looking clothes. Companies won't talk to you if you have an ugly resume. If your resume is getting attention, you're doing it right. Interviewing is all about being comfortable and connecting with the interviewer. Unless you have the exact experience they're looking for (ie for a niche role, or a technical skill they need), you need to be able to feel like you're the interviewer's friend by the end of it. They'll train you and give you a chance if they think you're a cool dude with potential.
as long as i can make enough money to afford my own place, pocket money into my Roth IRA (and hopefully a 401K too if a new place offers it, which they should), location doesn't really matter as much. I don't get paid enough here to not care about what I'm doing.
Yeah man, the company I'm at is a year old and I'm their 4th employee, so I assumed I'd have a larger role. They told me as the company grows, I'll manage any new hires who do recruiting, but given the business we get, I just don't see that happening any time soon.
That's what I'm planning - I'm exploring a bit outside NYC first, and if that doesn't go anywhere, I will start applying more rigorously around here. I know a few people who could probably help me out. It's touchy because I've only been here for 4 months and that's a red flag to a lot of people.
Yeah, I feel you. Problem is outside of work I have hardly any time since I'm expected to be at my phone for work related stuff when not in the office, and I've been studying for the GMAT too. I'd much rather find a situation where I can do the skillbuilding while at work, if I can.
For the interviews I conduct with candidates for clients, it's mostly basic: Finding out their experience, what they're looking to do, salary, what's important to them, why they're looking to leave, etc. In my old job I asked much more pointed behavioral questions, which tells you a lot more about someone. It's not really emphasized here since it's more about quantity over quality here.
deletedover 9 years
The most important thing is that chicks dig people with humanitary skills.
deletedover 9 years
Oh, didn't realize the place you're at is just getting out of its baby phase. Yeah in that case you're probably better off leaving since you probably aren't going to rise and shine anytime soon. Could always directly apply for a transfer to a bigger company that's more up your alley of future plans? Either way I don't think leaving where you're already at [living-wise] and starting a-new is a good idea.
W/R/T the skills you want to get into I'd check into classes for that; even if you're just bundling up money ATP it's probably a good way to go if you just kind of want to know the basics of it.
What kind of process do you go through for the "interviews"?
My worst grade was in Biology, but I'd say the hardest class I've ever taken would probably be calculus. My Chinese classes when I was overseas were super rigorous too. I started drinking coffee regularly then just to keep up.
i'm finding out that i might be slightly dyslexic, I get number strings incorrect all the time now and it's freaking me out a bit.
You're right, NYC probably has the most opportunity. HR is pretty transferable since every company needs it, and most places only have it in their corporate office.
My job is really more like a headhunter than anything else. There's a lot of different directions I could go in HR, and this really isn't it. I joined the startup because I thought I'd have more opportunity to contribute on higher level / strategic areas, but since we're an incubator, the parent company takes care of a lot of it so my job is solely to recruit. I want to do something a little bit more mentally stimulating and have my success more reliant on the effort i put in instead of just the luck of finding the right person. Also, recruiting for clients is a lot more about just screening people, not so much "interviewing", so it's a lower level of competency compared to what i was doing before.
as far as skills, I'd like to be an environment that uses industry standard software (peoplesoft, oracle, more excel), and learn more about corporate HR (employment laws, best practices, etc.) I haven't really been trained formally at any of my jobs, and what I learned in school was all conceptual, not really teaching how to do anything operational, which is holding me back a bit.
But yeah, my network in NYC is definitely the best network I have. I have connections in Buffalo (especially because of school) and also Singapore (but tough to get in at this level).
deletedover 9 years
"I don't have internlligence"
deletedover 9 years
I guess you can arguably say it's a gamble that might pay off if you try somewhere else but you're probably already somewhat established at the place you're at so I don't really see the gain of moving.
deletedover 9 years
I honestly thought this thread was titled I don't have an internship
What's the hardest class you took in college, Renaldo?
deletedover 9 years
If you're still aiming for a job within the same "parameters" of the work, you'll more likely than not end up doing the same things regardless of where you're at, I'm just under the impression that your chances will be largely better in NYC than any/most other places. What kind of skills are you aiming to get; thought it was more of a start-up job in itself instead of a 6-figure one?
well i could get another one in NYC. It'd be way easier too. I just think that my job prospects outside the area are probably better now because i am still new to the game. bottom of the pyramid.
It's not really an HR job, which is the problem. It's a startup and the way the company has rebranded itself since i've been here has given me less opportunity to do what i like. plus i'm not really gaining any skills here. i just don't want to get pigeonholed. My temp job was more engaging. Heck, admin was more complex.
