Every Single Job Requires Experience

"In order for you to apply for this job, you must have 80 years of experience, two PhD's, have at least $100,00 in your bank account and your last name must be Kennedy or be related to the Queen."

Bottom of the Totem Pole 

After scrolling through a million, yes a million, classifieds for job openings, you always seem to check all of the boxes. All of them with the exception of one of course—the years of experience every single job seems to require. Immediately following graduation, there is no doubt that the bottom of the totem pole is the last place we want to be, but in order to get there, the experience have to wait for now.

Will over skill

I believe that there is nothing more appealing in a potential candidate than the will to learn. Almost every single job can be learned in a matter of six weeks. What is comes down to is if you are willing to overcome the fact that you may not know all of the details that the job will require or have a strong understanding of the vocabulary that is used in the field, but if you do have the will, drive and motivation, you are just as qualified for the position as another experienced candidate.

The ball is in your court

Although you may become discouraged by the fact that so much experience is required for your desired position, the ball truly is in your court. It is up to you and you only to take the initiative to build your resume to be qualified for that position. Get off the couch and start doing what you've been thinking about for forever now. There are endless internship, job opportunities, and volunteer experiences that can strengthen your skills and qualifications to beat the other candidates applying. Each and every one of these experiences can contribute to your growing knowledge of the industry. Even if you land an interview and get declined even though your interview process was very impressive, there is always something to learn through the process. You also never know if the recruiters are eligible to get you in contact with a company that they are also familiar with. This may lead to another opportunity that may have been a blessing in disguise. 

Career Fair "Duh's"

As awkward as career fair's can be, don't let the stereotypes refrain you from attending. Here are some tips to ditch the awkwardness at the door. '

1. Resume: 

At the age of looking for a grown-up job, your resume should be fairly solid. Obviously being a new graduate, you won’t have twenty years of experience and that’s to be expected. However, you must have something that makes you stand out from the other one hundred applications that recruiters will be receiving that day. But what if you have too much listed on your resume? As a recent graduate, make sure that if it is over five to seven years ago, you probably shouldn’t list it. Also, if you were at a company for three months or less, it is not worth it to list it. Make sure that you incorporate contrast, repetition, alignment and proximity in the format of your resume. Do not forget to list your volunteer experience and certifications you possess which may also be relevant to the position that you are applying for.

2. Handshake: 

Firm or flop. Nonverbal messages are just as prominent in communication as verbal messages. The firmness of your handshake can seal a deal or break the deal. Okay, maybe not break the deal entirely, but your level of professionalism will be answered through a handshake. Make sure that it is a genuine and sincere handshake to signify interest, respect, professionalism and thanks—just to name a few. Because this is such an important nonverbal gesture, make sure that you've got it down. Don’t be afraid to practice on a family member or friend.

3. Pitch: 

There is nothing more impressive when a person that can “sell themselves” in a few minute speech. There is no one else who knows yourself better than you do. If you are confident about who you are and passionate for what you stand for, there should be no trouble pitching a brand statement to a recruiter, or to anyone for that matter. Confidence is necessity and if you are bold in your first impression, you will already have your foot in the door.

4. Competition:  

Whatever you do, do not attend a career fair with a friend. If you are looking for a job, why would you bring your competition to the interview with you? Chances are if you show up in a pair, out of respect to the both of you, the recruiter will probably ask for both of your resumes and you just decreased your chances of landing a position that may be available. Before you know it, your friend unintentionally landed you dream job. You can carpool, but most definitely split up at the door. 

Job Posting Placement Strategies

Just how a sandwich tastes differently when you cut it diagonally, the way recruitment is done, makes a difference in the types of applicants that will be received. In order to attract the most ideal pool of applicants, determining your expectations are crucial. Are you looking for a more experienced person or perhaps a new graduate? Where you choose to advertise a position will make a difference in the outcome. There is a multitude of ways you can choose to display an opening for a position. There are strategic benefits to all, and all work quite well.

Newspaper: Newspapers are becoming a fairly outdated form of advertising. Recruiting through a newspaper is a paid media which has a tendency to be relatively expensive, especially for multiple days for it to be published to ensure a wide range of applicants. A newspaper route also may attract an older generation of applicants strictly because the audience is different than it would be if it was advertised on an online source.

Social Media: Social media is the newest and latest place to recruit for a position. There is no secret that the younger generation is in-tuned to social media and the fact that content occurs immediately in real time. The immediacy of social media allows for a quick turn-around time between listing the position and receiving applications and resumes for the position.

Website: A formal website posting of the new position opening is probably the most professional and credible. By listing the position here, this means that applicants must go out of their way to do their research to find the position. This means that they are already interested in the position and becoming a part of the company. They are being proactive and seeking out potential careers within your company. However, this may be difficult for other professionals who are qualified, but who may not seek out this given position.

Referral: A referral for a position can be a little interesting. It may save you a few nickels and dimes, it takes some careful consideration. A referral from a long-lasting employee of the company may be a more credible source to take a referral from. They are very likely to know other experienced professional in the same field that can benefit your company. A referral from a new hire that has just entered the industry may take more research and an additional opinion before accepting the referral name.

Within: Promoting within has always been a great approach. Because the employing is an existing employee of a company, they know the culture of the company already. Although they will of course take on new duties and responsibilities, the turnover price will be significantly lower opposed to hiring someone from outside the walls of the company. You also have their resume and know what they are capable or not capable to do. 

5 Life Lessons I Learned from Dr. Seuss

1. “Step with care and great tact, and remember that life’s a great balancing act.”

You cannot please everyone. You will kill yourself trying. There will always be someone who will always disapprove or have a counter argument of your thoughts and beliefs. Remember to stick to what you stand for and to not give in to anything. Having enemy’s means you stood up for something. You also have the ability to say no. If you continuously say yes to everyone, you will bury yourself in to-do lists and will pack your calendar so full you will not have time to breathe.

Photo by Brandi Korte

2. “Just tell yourself, Duckie, you’re really quite lucky!”

This is one I believe that we don’t take into consideration enough. Especially in today’s society it seems just like second nature to complain about things that are not going the exact way that we want them to. Take a step back and look at all the ways that you are truly blesses in.

“Remember that you should be thankful for the taxes you pay because that means that you are employed, that your clothes fit a little too snug that means you have enough food to eat, your shadow that watches you work because that means that you are out in the sunshine, your lawn that has to be mowed, windows that have to be washed and the gutters that need fixing because that means I have a home, the spot that you find at the end of the parking lot because that means that you are capable of walking, all of the complaining you hear about the government because it means we have freedom of speech, the lady behind you at church that sings off key because it means that you can hear, the huge piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby and your alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am alive.” –Author Unknown

Photo by Brandi Korte

3. “If you never did you should. These things are fun, and fun is good.”

I swear spontaneity is one of life’s best medicines behind laughter. Being content and comfortable in a position that you are currently in is just the reason you need to not continue on. No reason to stay is every reason to go. 

Photo by Brandi Korte

 4. “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

      Although we want to view the world as rainbows and smiles, I’m going to let the cat out of the bag and say that it is anything but. Spoiler alert! Find someone who is just as passionate about something as you are whether it may be a project that you are working on or in a relationship. There is nothing more charming in a person than watching them in their own element when they are doing something that they are passionate about. In addition, things will not get better if you still keep on thinking that someone will pull through for you in a crunch when they have not proven themselves in the past. 

Photo by Cheryl Colan

 5. “Oh the things you find if you don’t stay behind.”

As much as you don’t want to believe it, it past is the past for a reason. Staying hung up on an issue, person, or position will hinder your current and future opportunities. If you are always looking back you will miss all of the blissful things that are right in front of you. Ask yourself if this will matter a year from now and make your decision as to if you are deciding to put forth such an effort to correct it. 

The Company Pot Luck: Beating the Generational Gap

Just like a pot luck, every person has something wonderfully different, yet equally as questionable, quirky, funky, and potentially smelly sometimes, to bring to the business table. What we do with and how we utilize these options and assets is what makes a strong business. It is no secret that the generational gap is something that we will all face, as well be a part of. We must understand our roles as an employee of a company as well as a role as a recruiter. 

Photo by Joe Wolf 

Each one of your recruits will fall into the category of Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Millennials, or a Generation X. See what characteristics and tendencies of each type of worker will most likely possess here.

Possibilities

As a recruiter, you must be aware of the limitless possibilities that can come out of having a conglomeration of these generational differences.                                                          

• Any additional types of critics to see your work before it is submitted, the better your work will be as a final product. 
• Experience may trump the latest trends. Even though the trends may be the latest and greatest, looking back to what has worked in the past can be a safe bet.
• Learning can occur to the highest of level. Understanding new processes and learning techniques that someone has not necessarily been exposed to can offer hands on learning experience for a new learner of a company.

Photo by Quinn Dombroskwi

Hurtles

Along with possibilities, there may also be hurtles to jump.

• Although different viewpoints can be a blessing, at time it may be difficult to find overall approval and acceptance from all of the people from different generational categories through the variations of experience and past encounters that each group bring to the table.
• Different people have an appreciation for different things, such as core values, attributes, work ethic, values, assets, and abilities. 
• Adjusting work processes and strategies based on how each person does their job in a way that works effectively for them.

Harrison Postler, communication professor at George Mason University and former student of The University of Northern Iowa, brings to life a very important issue faced by all Americans in the workforce in his nationally awarded forensics speech titled “Generation Gap.”

Photo by xflickrx

By keeping these tips in mind, we can create an overlapping effect rather than this so called “Generational Gap”. Hopefully this will be lead to yet another blissful business!