Job-hunting: some questions

[JiNX-01]

Do you know anyone who has a management position? I don't mean a low-level supervisory job but someone near the top rung?

If so, ask him/her to critique your resume and cover letter. S/he can tell you what you're doing right and what you need to do so you stand out against the competition.

 

[RoJoHen]

I don't know... it's crossed my mind, and it might be something I could do, but I tend to doubt that any bank would hire me based on my previous work experience. Plus I've never been much of a math person.

I had friends who were bank tellers when they were still in high school when they didn't even HAVE work experience yet.

 

[Plomeek Broth]

What are some good career paths for one who has a Bachelors degree and can't get a damn thing with it? What are some good occupations for college grads that may be outside of the degree field of what was obtained and is absolutely worthless? Sales? Any suggestions?

 

[RoJoHen]

What are some good career paths for one who has a Bachelors degree and can't get a damn thing with it? What are some good occupations for college grads that may be outside of the degree field of what was obtained and is absolutely worthless? Sales? Any suggestions?

Waiting tables.

 

[SmoothieX]

Do you know anyone who has a management position? I don't mean a low-level supervisory job but someone near the top rung?

If so, ask him/her to critique your resume and cover letter. S/he can tell you what you're doing right and what you need to do so you stand out against the competition.

That's a great idea!

What are some good career paths for one who has a Bachelors degree and can't get a damn thing with it? What are some good occupations for college grads that may be outside of the degree field of what was obtained and is absolutely worthless? Sales? Any suggestions?

If your degree is absolutely worthless, why did you choose to pursue it? There are a lot of degree paths out there that have zero career prospects, it makes you wonder why colleges even offer them.

I also think students need to do a better job of researching career potential in a certain major before selecting one.

Can you find a job in your line of work that may be lower than your qualifications? I'm a civil engineer, but if I was hurting for work I'd go apply to be a CAD tech or field tech or something. Pays better than Burger King and is relevant experience.

 

[trampledamage]

That's a great idea!

What are some good career paths for one who has a Bachelors degree and can't get a damn thing with it? What are some good occupations for college grads that may be outside of the degree field of what was obtained and is absolutely worthless? Sales? Any suggestions?

If your degree is absolutely worthless, why did you choose to pursue it? There are a lot of degree paths out there that have zero career prospects, it makes you wonder why colleges even offer them.

Because studying a subject to degree level can be an end in it's own right.

Maybe times have changed since I was last looking, but general administration positions (civil service / goverment, head offices) often require degree level studies without specifying a subject - the fact of having a degree shows a level of ability in studying, work-ethic and intelligence that companies want. They then train you with the specifics they need.

 

[Brolan]

I my experience you have to be "pushy" to the get the job. Call even if they say no calls. Show up at the place that is hiring, impeccability dressed and groomed. Ask more details about the position, what will you be doing? When will the hiring decision be made? Who will be the hiring manager?

If you can build a rapport with the person you are talking to you can ask about your application. This has gotten me far. Just remember people who apply to jobs on the internet, and doing nothing else, have a 3% success rate.

 

[Brolan]

What are some good career paths for one who has a Bachelors degree and can't get a damn thing with it? What are some good occupations for college grads that may be outside of the degree field of what was obtained and is absolutely worthless? Sales? Any suggestions?

Sometimes a worthless Bachelors can be turned into a useful advanced degree. If you stay in school you can keep putting off some student loans. This is what many people are doing in this economy.

Hopefully this is an option for you.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

If you have a four-year degree and no local attachments you might consider becoming an ESL teacher in South Korea. It pays handsomely, requires only a four-degree, and you'd be near Seoul, which is one of the world's greatest cities.

 

[trampledamage]

If you have a four-year degree and no local attachments you might consider becoming an ESL teacher in South Korea. It pays handsomely, requires only a four-degree, and you'd be near Seoul, which is one of the world's greatest cities.

A friend of a friend does this - the Korean government pays for her flights to come back to Canada regularly as well as paying a good wage.

 

[RoJoHen]

If you have a four-year degree and no local attachments you might consider becoming an ESL teacher in South Korea. It pays handsomely, requires only a four-degree, and you'd be near Seoul, which is one of the world's greatest cities.

A friend of a friend does this - the Korean government pays for her flights to come back to Canada regularly as well as paying a good wage.

I have had several friends do this in China (a couple of them have even gone back for a second and third year). It's a great way to post-pone real life.

 

[Thena]

I my experience you have to be "pushy" to the get the job. Call even if they say no calls. Show up at the place that is hiring, impeccability dressed and groomed. Ask more details about the position, what will you be doing? When will the hiring decision be made? Who will be the hiring manager?

If you can build a rapport with the person you are talking to you can ask about your application. This has gotten me far. Just remember people who apply to jobs on the internet, and doing nothing else, have a 3% success rate.

Rapport is good, but just be careful that you don't antagonize the person you are talking to. I once had a woman come in and demand to speak to my manager who was on a lunch break. This woman didn't take no for an answer and insisted that the manager come out and talk to her. Why? She wanted to apply for a job.

Obviously, we didn't hire her.

 

[Commander Rabbit]

What are some good career paths for one who has a Bachelors degree and can't get a damn thing with it? What are some good occupations for college grads that may be outside of the degree field of what was obtained and is absolutely worthless? Sales? Any suggestions?

Government. Federal (if you can master the application process!), state, county or local.

 

[Daneel]

What are some good career paths for one who has a Bachelors degree and can't get a damn thing with it? What are some good occupations for college grads that may be outside of the degree field of what was obtained and is absolutely worthless? Sales? Any suggestions?

Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm trying to figure out. I mean, I suppose I could've furthered my education and then went to teacher's college; I think that's what my parents wanted me to do, but... I don't know, I just don't really see myself as a teacher. Granted, I don't think it would be a terrible job, and it is one I could probably do, but for whatever reason, it just doesn't hold much appeal to me personally.

I suppose I could always make teaching my fallback plan... just like every good arts major.

If you have a four-year degree and no local attachments you might consider becoming an ESL teacher in South Korea. It pays handsomely, requires only a four-degree, and you'd be near Seoul, which is one of the world's greatest cities.

A friend of a friend does this - the Korean government pays for her flights to come back to Canada regularly as well as paying a good wage.

Hm, yes, I've heard of people doing that. Actually, I have a friend who works in Korea (I'm not quite sure doing what... HR for some energy company, or something), and she half-jokingly suggested I go over there to teach ESL so that we could hang out.

I have had several friends do this in China (a couple of them have even gone back for a second and third year). It's a great way to post-pone real life.

Postpone real life? Hm, maybe I should look into this...

 

[Lindley]

Check if the school you graduated from does job fairs of any kind. Even if you're not going there anymore, you should still be eligible to show up at the fair and drop off your resume. This has several advantages:

1) You don't need to worry about seeming pushy. Everyone in the room is looking for a job, the people there expect it.
2) You can drop off a paper resume, which is sometimes easier to distinguish through the use of high-quality paper (the slightly yellow-ish kind).
3) You can drop your resume with 20 different companies at once. Better the odds of one of them noticing you.
4) If you're good with people, there are better odds you can make an impression with one of the HR people there. Make sure you mention your name when talking to them so that this can help you.
5) Even with an entire senior class as competition, the applicant pool is still smaller than the entire internet.

 

[SmoothieX]

That's a great idea!

What are some good career paths for one who has a Bachelors degree and can't get a damn thing with it? What are some good occupations for college grads that may be outside of the degree field of what was obtained and is absolutely worthless? Sales? Any suggestions?

If your degree is absolutely worthless, why did you choose to pursue it? There are a lot of degree paths out there that have zero career prospects, it makes you wonder why colleges even offer them.

Because studying a subject to degree level can be an end in it's own right.

Maybe times have changed since I was last looking, but general administration positions (civil service / goverment, head offices) often require degree level studies without specifying a subject - the fact of having a degree shows a level of ability in studying, work-ethic and intelligence that companies want. They then train you with the specifics they need.

I agree that studying and the pursuit of knowledge is a great thing in its own right, but it doesn't necessarily put dinner on my table.