Quote:
Originally Posted by spazzyfry123
But you do realize you came into this forum to ask for help finding a job, right? There are a lot of folks on here that could help you get where you want to go but have been turned off by the presentation. You came to the interview chewing gum and wearing a T-shirt tuxedo.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Reborn_
Exactly. I am an R&D hiring manager in SoCal. Medical device industry - your “specialty” (seems like a strong word for a new grad who didn’t major in BME). I nearly reached out to you to have a teleconference and at least give you advice, but it is really clear you don’t know how to present yourself. Here is my advice: every interaction is an opportunity. Treat them as such. You have nearly squandered this one - there are plenty of people in position to help you on this board, but you’re doing yourself a huge disservice.
Also, we’ve all been there. I know it’s tough. But being on the other side, I can tell you that if you actually have a shot for a job posting, you will be contacted!
Anyway, I’m a nice guy. PM me and we can connect and I’ll even review your resume. But to be clear, I have no openings for which you’re qualified at the moment.
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Bingo.
I'm the Sr. VP of Engineering for my company. I have teams of engineers in the UK, US, Philippines, and China. Point being, you never know who you are talking to on a public forum, so when you post about wanting help finding a job you need to bring your A-game.
Hiring managers want someone who cares about the details, both professionally and privately. You've already come across as someone who does not care to present themselves as a professional, outside of work. Now you have to work extra hard to convince anyone who has read your posts that you are much more than you've come across. When I picture you as an employee of mine I see problems already. You cant be bothered to present yourself as a smart, detail obsessed, capable, recruit. I'll give you a bit of a pass if English is not your native language, but God help you if it is. If you're my employee, how am I going to impress upon you the importance of doc control, revision control, GD&T, and every other little detail that makes or breaks a part when you wont take the time to read over a single sentence that you've posted here and correct the typos?
Sorry for being harsh but you came here for help and not babying you is the best way I know to help you. It's brutal out there. I get 100+ resumes for every job I post. You have to fight for it and you have to prove you're worth an interview.
I don't want to turn this into a generational thing but I have seen a tangible shift in recruits over the past 10 years. People fire off generic resumes to job boards and then complain about applying for 100 jobs and never getting a response. My top tips for you to set you apart from other young job seekers who don't sweat the details:
1) Know the company you are applying to. Applying to Boeing, Ford, or Microsoft takes a different kind of application. In the mega-corporations, a computer is often the first thing that looks at your resume and scans it for key words the hiring manager has identified as critical to the job. For a small company with a few hundred people, HR will be the first stop for your resume. Apply to a 10 person start-up and it's likely going to be the actual hiring manager that first gets your resume. Know your audience. Are you drafting your resume for a computer, an HR person who knows people and personalities but not technical details, or your possible next boss?
2) Customized cover letter with every application. I know it takes time. But instead of blindly applying to 100 jobs, focus HARD on applying to 20. Quality over quantity. When I get a cover letter that clearly shows me the applicant has read and understands the posting, has gone to our website to research us, and has taken the time to figure out who I am on LinkedIn and has directed the letter specifically to me, I take notice.
3) After an interview, any interview, even if it's just a phone screen with HR, follow up with a personalized "thank you" e-mail. it literally takes 5 minutes and I'd say 90% of people dont do this anymore. You'll immediately set yourself apart from the pack.
4) ALWAYS be ready with questions of your own during the interview. I take the last 15 minutes of every interview and turn the tables to allow the interviewee to ask me questions. if they sit there with a blank stare, ask about compensation, or vacation days, work from home policy, they are cooked. Be ready with smart, engaging, questions that show you have been paying attention and are passionate about making sure their company is the right fit for you.
5) I was not put on this Earth to help a candidate fulfill their dreams through my job posting. The industry I'm in is a popular one; people love our product. 1/2 the applicants I get lead with "it's always been my life dream to work in this industry, blah, blah, blah." I dont care. This is not about how I can help a young engineer fulfill their dreams. This is about how are you as a young engineer going to fill a need I have on one of my teams? Dont get that mixed up. A shocking number of recruits dont seem to get that.