{"id":1060,"date":"2010-11-13T19:55:12","date_gmt":"2010-11-13T23:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mathgradblog.williams.edu\/?p=1060"},"modified":"2010-11-13T19:55:12","modified_gmt":"2010-11-13T23:55:12","slug":"never-look-for-a-job-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ams.org\/mathgradblog\/2010\/11\/13\/never-look-for-a-job-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Never Look for a Job Again"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Angelean Hendrix<\/a><\/p>\n

Seriously! \u00a0Companies should be knocking your door down. \u00a0Universities should be bending over backwards, begging you to accept their tenure offer.<\/p>\n

Ok, that’s a little much. Wouldn’t it be nice though?\u00a0 Becoming a hot\u00a0commodity on the job market is not inconceivable. \u00a0All it takes is a little confidence, and a lot of NETWORKING…NETWORKING….NETWORKING!<\/p>\n

You may have heard this all before, but it’s really hard to do naturally when you’ve been in a classroom, nose to books for the last……Oh we won’t say how many years. \u00a0It’s an essential part of any career. \u00a0Even once you get a job, networking within your field and department,\u00a0guarantees\u00a0you keep it.<\/p>\n

For optimal results, the sooner you begin the better. \u00a0The goal is to enter your final year of graduate school and already have a position secured.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the facts…<\/p>\n

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity\u00a0Commission requires\u00a0every company to advertise job openings, even when they already have a candidate in mind.<\/p>\n

Representatives at job fairs see hundreds of applicants a year. \u00a0Their job is to pre-screen people BEFORE the CV’s \u00a0are sent to the hiring\u00a0committee.<\/p>\n

Hiring committees already have a specific type of candidate in mind when they begin searching, if not a specific person.<\/p>\n

Your job, if you choose to accept it, is to\u00a0embed\u00a0your name in their head before the advertisement is drafted. \u00a0“How do I do this?” you may ask. \u00a0It’s really pretty simple! \u00a0Let people know who you are. \u00a0Yep, that’s\u00a0\u00a0it! Thanks for reading… \u00a0Ok, you need a little more. \u00a0Here are some great ways to start getting your name out there.<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Conferences!<\/strong> Whether you are a 3rd year graduate or an undergrad, going to conferences and meeting people is essential. You will find, that most people LOVE talking about themselves. \u00a0No…..YES! \u00a0Especially their research. \u00a0I don’t know one person who doesn’t, in their own way, light up when asked about their\u00a0research. \u00a0Your job is to ask, then listen. \u00a0You won’t believe how attractive mutual interest\u00a0and\u00a0curiosity is in a potential employee. \u00a0There are endless regional, national, and topic specific conferences that can be easy and cheap to get too. \u00a0Not only will you meet great people with similar interests, but the potential to learn from experts in your field is endless.<\/p>\n

2. \u00a0Always look for an opportunity<\/strong>. \u00a0One great one I tell people is to come up with one good question. \u00a0That’s all it takes to start up a conversation. \u00a0Now, “How’s the weather?” \u00a0is not always\u00a0appropriate, but sometimes “How’s the soup?” is. \u00a0Now if you can construct an intelligent question about a talk you just heard and the presenter is the head of a prestigious research institution, what could be better. \u00a0But you don’t need to dazzle them right out the gate. \u00a0Sometimes, “I’m really interested in ‘fill in blank’, how did you get started in this field?” \u00a0will go a long way. \u00a0(That’s a good one to memorize, just in case your brain freezes under the pressure.)<\/p>\n

3. Stalk your mentor<\/strong>s. \u00a0Ok, not really, but if you admire someone in your department, you can always join them in a conversation with an influential person. \u00a0Or, if you have heard a person you would love to work with, find out where they will be and put yourself in close proximity until the opportunity\u00a0arises. \u00a0If it doesn’t, they’ll ask who you are, and you just tell them you’ve always wanted to meet them but were just too nervous.<\/p>\n

4. \u00a0Leave them with something to remember you by. <\/strong>Business cards are very inexpensive and can highlight your major activities while providing a\u00a0concise\u00a0presentation of your contact information. \u00a0Ask if you can e-mail them if you have any other questions. \u00a0Head shot and full CV not required. \u00a0Doing this opens the door for further\u00a0communication\u00a0and makes sure they know how to spell your name.<\/p>\n

5. Volunteer.<\/strong> While summer internships are a great way to learn and network, not everyone has that opportunity. \u00a0Many have teaching, family, qualifying exams, or research obligations over the summer. \u00a0You can always volunteer! \u00a0Now\u00a0volunteering at the ASPCA is a wonderful, fulfilling experience, but it won’t get you a job. \u00a0Volunteering at a related lab at your university, or at a hospital, or even\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0just with another\u00a0professor\u00a0in your department can open\u00a0opportunities you couldn’t imagine, and because you are volunteering, your hours are much more flexible and you can stop anytime you want.<\/p>\n

6. \u00a0Be approachable.<\/strong> Smile, talk to people. \u00a0Show people you are the type of person they want to have around. \u00a0Then, they will want to have you around. \u00a0While this doesn’t come naturally for everybody, it is a skill that can be practiced. \u00a0Listening and being attentive also makes you an approachable person. \u00a0Keep the discussion about yourself to a minimum, smile and nod. \u00a0In other words, be the kind of person you would like to work with.<\/p>\n

Now while these are\u00a0relatively\u00a0simple things, the idea is to let as many people know who you are as often as you can. \u00a0That way when a position comes open, you are the person they have in mind, before the advertisement is drafted. \u00a0Your first job is the hardest one to get. \u00a0It’s never too early to start thinking about what you want to do, or where you want to be. \u00a0The more people out there that know how talented you are and what you want to do, the better the chance you will find one person who thinks of you when they hear about a position. \u00a0All you need is one.<\/p>\n

<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Angelean Hendrix Seriously! \u00a0Companies should be knocking your door down. \u00a0Universities should be bending over backwards, begging you to accept their tenure offer. Ok, that’s a little much. Wouldn’t it be nice though?\u00a0 Becoming a hot\u00a0commodity on the job … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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