Job Hunting
Just after leaving the military and prior to coming to Ball Aerospace & Technology Corp. I spent a lot of time trying to find a company that specialized in the cutting edge of computer applications. This turned out to be no easy task since most of the jobs that I came upon were for low-end applications. Searches of the best-known job-hunt websites were of no help since they tend to focus on the jobs where masses of people are needed, rather than on high-end technology. In the high-end technology world, poor managers and supervisors tend not to survive long in their jobs since they can not recruit and retain staff of the necessary qualifications. Something else that became clear is that the basic principles of job hunting still apply. You still have to know how to network, present yourself, follow up, stay current, and perform.
It would be possible to tell a number of stories about some of the companies I encountered during my job search and the ridiculously low salaries they were offering, the unfocused fad projects, the flash-in-the-pan web-based radio stations and retail stores, and the slow follow-up on hiring opportunities. These convinced me that there is little wonder some companies find it difficult to hire or retain good people. The problem does not always lie in a lack of population qualified to do the work. However, these companies are really in the minority. It would be better to focus on sources of good information on how to prepare for and conduct your job hunt. Being well informed in this area will give you the background you need to avoid the bozos and aim for the high ground. Putting this information into action will make you attractive to the best employers. Believe me, the best employers do not hire just because they need bodies and they are very careful about who they bring into the workplace.
Lets start by looking at some websites that offer valuable
information
on preparing for and conducting a job hunt. These sites are also good
as
your tenure progresses because they help you stay focused on those
things
that made you attractive to your employer in the first place. (This is
not to say that if you are hired into a junior position you should
continue
performing as a junior person.) Thinking through this information from
time to time will help your self-examination.
Kate Wendleton is a job hunt coach. The title link is her company's site. They are certified career counseling professionals. There are a number of good articles here on negotiating pay and benefits, and on the job-hunt process. She particularly goes into detail on the following topics:
CareerBuilder gives a number of general articles on job
hunting and
the working life that are worth reading.
See their Advice & Resources menu.
Ostensibly an employees-wanted site for people living in
California,
these pages have some serious information that will be a big help in
your
search. Particularly useful are their links to over 300 different
salary
surveys and their discussion on the hidden job market. They also offer
career guides and a good piece on writing resumes.
When considering a change in jobs do not become enamored with a "much larger" salary. Estimate first how much you will need to make the move and how much it will cost to live in the new city. This site contains a salary calculator that has served me well.
Here is an article concerning salary surveys: http://www.ddj.com/blog/portal/archives/2006/11/salary_surveys.html
While you are in the process of changing jobs you should check
out this
report on wages and trends. There are also links here for career
exploration
and state profiles. Make use too of their resource library. This is a
good
site when you are just finishing school and trying to decide which
direction
to take, or if you find yourself suddenly laid off after many unbroken
years in the same company. At these times one has to step back and have
a serious look at the options.
From Northeastern University comes an insightful look at
preparing for
interviews. They tell us that "An interview is a meeting between an
employer
and an applicant to discuss a job. While job interviewing for most
people
may not seem to come naturally, there is much that can be done in
advance
to increase your effectiveness as a candidate. Some individuals believe
that just being themselves is sufficient for successful job
interviewing.
However, you are participating in a highly competitive selection
process.
You need to know how to effectively sell yourself, communicate your
skills
and experience, and to portray your personality as one that will fit in
with the culture of the organization. Being properly prepared and
informed
about the interviewing process can help you positively focus your
energies
on what needs to be done and help you find the right job."
Interviewing and Resume Techniques
Mississippi State University has put together some good information on interviews and resumes. They cover the following categories:
ComputerWork's
Career Resources
This is part of ComputerWork's larger job-hunt website. It contains information mostly for computer scientists and computer engineers in a wide variety of categories. See their Candidate Resources menu.