By: Kristen Marie (Kryss) Shane, LMSW
1. Preparation is Mandatory…
If your résumé and cover letter aren’t updated and well-worded, you’ll never get the phone call for an interview. Getting this in shape has to be the first step, even if it’s the very worst way you can think to spend your tiny bit of free time as you’re finishing your degree or work the regular hours of your current position. Remember that this is often a marathon, not a sprint, so prepare yourself for this to be lengthy. Try to maintain some level of patience, tough as it will be at times.
2. Internet Preparation…
Search your own name on common Web sites (Google, Yahoo, and others) and read the results. If your personal blog or Facebook profile comes up, find ways to make them more private (remove your full name from your blog, change your privacy settings). Know that some companies have IT people who can get past the privacy settings, so it may be wise to remove some items and to let friends know not to post compromising info or photos of you. Understand that it’s very possible that potential employers are searching you, too, so consider what you want them to know about you. Yes, it stinks that you have to think about this on your “private” pages, but if you wouldn’t go to work telling your boss about your wild drunken night during Spring Break, you probably don’t want her or him to find the photos online, either.
3. Money Smarts…
Many Web sites make you think you need to have a full working wardrobe before you even have the job. Although it’s wise to begin adding pieces to your closet, you really only need two good interview outfits, because it’s rare that you’ll interview somewhere more than twice. Also, thrift stores can be great places to find items when you’re not sure what environment you’ll be working in. It’s often less expensive to pick up a like-new thrift item and have it tailored than to purchase new. Interviewers simply want to see that you’re neat, clean, and professional. They’re not looking for a fashion show. That said, use the professional résumé paper when printing résumés, and buy business cards with your contact information on them. It’s a bit of money, sure, but it’s worth it!
4. Don’t Be a Job Snob…
The newspaper and Craigslist can be great places to find out about openings. Don’t assume that the best positions are only found on company or other professional Web sites. Also, don’t immediately discount positions in lower-income areas or based on what you think you know about an agency or company.
5. Ask Around/Networking…
If your friends and their friends don’t know you’re looking, how can they keep an eye out for potential opportunities? Spread the word and attend events in your community. The more people who know you’re seeking employment, the better your odds of hearing about things before they hit the want ads. (Of course, anywhere you go may be the place you meet a contact or your future boss, so always look presentable and always carry those business cards.)
6. Know Your Stuff…
It’s great to be open to working with populations you’re not an expert in, but read up before your interview. Check out the company’s Web site and the people they serve. When you interview, the interviewer wants to know that you not only know about the specific needs of this group, but also that you are truly interested in working with them. Much like a first date, no one wants to be sitting across from someone who just wanted something to do on a Wednesday afternoon. They want to be with someone who is genuine and specifically wants to be there, and not just anywhere that’ll pay.
7. List Your Requirements…
In this economy, we all want to work, because we all need to keep the lights on and the heat working. But it’s far easier to find a good fit once than to job hop every year. Make a list for yourself of deal breakers and necessities. Be realistic, but be honest. Maybe you won’t get your own office as a new BSW, but maybe you and your family require health benefits from any employer. (Make sure to remember that there is a difference between a necessity and a desire!) It’s better to know yourself and to be prepared to turn down a position that doesn’t give you what you want than to accept it and be miserable, or worse, to miss out on the right fit elsewhere.
8. Salary Research…
Know what the range is for your skill/education level in the area where you’re searching. Don’t attempt to compare yourself to your friends unless you have the same level of education and experience and are working in the same specific field in the same neighborhood. All of these variables affect salaries. Trying to compare or compete won’t help and may lead to resentment or a feeling of entitlement, neither of which cause an employer to want to negotiate. Read up on the art of negotiation. Refer to your list of requirements, too. Maybe you can negotiate something from it into your job if you can’t get more money, or maybe, with more money, you’re willing to cross something off your list. Understand what’s realistic to negotiate and how to do so in a way that is professional and appropriate. Never ever give an ultimatum. Even if you’re willing to follow through and walk away if they don’t give you what you want, you come across poorly. You never want to ruin a relationship with a potential contact!
9. Thank You...
Always remember to send thank you notes! In this computer age, your best bet may be to e-mail a note immediately following the interview, as well as sending a hand-written note by mail. It gives you the chance to let the interviewer know that you appreciate his or her time right away, and it allows your letter to remind the interviewer of who you are and how much you want the position. If you’re not sure what to write, there are many Web sites that can guide you.
10. Celebrate…
It may seem silly to generations who have kept the same job for 30+ years, but your peers know how draining the job hunt can be. So when you find that position, don’t forget to celebrate! Be proud of yourself and of your hard work in finding a position that is not only a good fit for them, but a great fit for you!
Kristen Marie (Kryss) Shane, MSW, LMSW, earned her BS at The Ohio State University and her MSW at Barry University. She is currently working with the elder population as the program director at HANAC’s Ravenswood NORC in Astoria, NY. She is also on staff at www.socialworkchat.org and continues to be an advocate for the LGBTQ community on local and national levels.