Getting the Best Education
Depending on an individual's career goal, the required background for a career in business may be gained in a high school, vocational school, technical school, community college, college, or university. This article will focus on where to obtain the needed education and training. The majority of the careers requires college and university degrees and, in some cases, graduate study.
Probably the most useful source of educational information on programs nationwide is The College Blue Book. This five-volume set is particularly useful to those seeking highly specialized programs. The volume entitled Occupational Education includes a listing of available programs of study in technical schools and community colleges, organized alphabetically by state or by subject area. Another volume, Degrees Offered by College and Subject, includes degree pro-grams offered by two-year colleges, four-year colleges, and universities. Other volumes offer narrative descriptions of schools, costs, accreditation, enrollment figures, scholarships, fellowships, grants, loans, and a lot of other information.
The College Blue Book is found in the reference section of the library along with many other educational resources. Also available in most college and university libraries is a variety of college catalogs enabling one to compare curricula of different schools offering the degree or program of interest. Education is important and expensive. A person should shop for it the way he or she would for any other important, expensive item. Gaining information from counselors, teachers, local colleges and universities, people working in the field, and potential employers is very advisable before selecting an educational program.
One important consideration when choosing a program is whether it has established national accreditation. National bodies that accredit these schools are the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of Independent Colleges and Schools, the National Association of Trade and Technical Schools, and the National Home Study Council.
Gaining the Necessary Experience
Experience is required for many of the more desirable business careers. This experience can be gained through internships and cooperative programs, part-time jobs, and involvement in campus activities.
Internships and traditional internships are usually three-month summer positions, while cooperative programs (co-ops) last a college quarter, semester, or longer. Internships are sometimes arranged by an interested faculty member and a company manager, and the intern is not always paid. Co-ops, on the other hand, are part of an on-going college program for which students receive both credits and pay. These distinctions aren't as clear any more since companies want interns for longer periods as well and they frequently offer paid internships. Many organizations hire their brightest interns and co-op students. Roughly 26 percent of 1993 graduates were hired from internships or co-op programs.
Smart students start looking for internships from their freshman year, and competition can be stiff. Professors, older students who have had internships and family contacts in a student's chosen field can be great sources of information and referral. Internships are described in such books as Internships, the Guide to On-the-Job Training Opportunities for Students and Adults, published by Peterson's Guides, Princeton, New Jersey. Internships may be advertised in campus newspapers and may also be advertised on college campuses through placement offices, on billboards, through faculty members, campus newspapers, and books. Many professional associations offer information on internships available with member companies. Student membership in a number of professional associations is available at a reduced cost and is worth investigating.
Interviews for internships are essentially job interviews, so students should learn everything they can about a company prior to the interview. Often interview sign-up sheets are posted on campus bulletin boards. The best time slots are first, last, or right after lunch-never right before lunch.
A number of organizations assist students in arranging international internships, including the following:
Association of International Practical Training (AIPT) Columbia, MD 21044-3510
Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences
Economiques et Commercials (AIESEC) New York, NY 10020
Institute of International Education, Washington, DC 20005-2403
Part-Time Jobs Apart from intern and co-op programs, many students find part-time jobs on their own that offer both pay and experience. Though part-time jobs often pay a low wage, this work experience is very important to prospective employers. Former employers can give important recommendations for full-time jobs after graduation. That an individual is reliable, works well with coworkers, and has initiative is what any prospective employer wants to hear.
Many on-campus jobs can be obtained through student financial aid and job placement services. Throughout every college campus are job boards and student publications advertising openings. Graduate assistantships are available to qualified students. Any opportunity for work experience prior to graduation should be considered because of the strength it lends to the job search for that first, very important, full-time job.
Involvement in Campus Activities
An option for all students is involvement in campus activities and organizations. By joining student business associations and taking a role in student government, students can develop the interpersonal skills needed in most business professions. Students who hold leadership positions in campus organizations are particularly sought by corporations. Though grade point average and work experience are very important, they do not always reveal the potential for leadership. Campus leaders are often hired for jobs over scholars in many fields of business. The very charisma that helps students gain elective offices also scores high marks in job interviews. Participation in organized sports by both men and women also increases the strength of their resumes. How to be a good team player is an important lesson learned through participation in team sports. This along with the acceptance that the coach may not always be right but is never wrong has probably influenced promotion in corporations as much as scholarly preparation.
Finding a Good Job
Competition for the best jobs in most areas is stiff. Graduates should develop job-finding skills as a necessary part of their education. The first full-time job out of college is particularly important because it sometimes sets the direction for an individual's entire career. The first step in the job search is to decide what attributes you want in the job and how the job fits into your overall career objectives.
Defining Career Objectives
Since all individuals do not define a good job in the same way, it is important for each job seeker to define what he or she wants in a job before beginning the search. For example, to an entry-level employee, a good job may be one offering growth through a formal company training program or company-financed continuing education; to the physically handicapped person or to a parent with young children, a good job may be one that can be done in the home; to a student, a good job may be part time or have flexible working hours; to a partner in a dual-career marriage, a good job may be one available locally; to an ambitious woman, a good job may be one in a company employing women managers in key positions. It is very important, however, for job seekers to have their individual requirements and career goals clearly in mind prior to launching the job search.
Locating Jobs
The task of finding a good job is twofold in that seekers must identify both companies with existing openings and companies for whom they would like to work. The fact that a company does not have an advertised opening does not mean that the company would not create an opening for an outstanding applicant. This makes the job search more complicated, but it also offers the seeker considerably more opportunities. Students should build a network of family, friends, and associates who can refer them to others who might be able to help with their careers.
Many maintain that the way to find excellent jobs is through direct contact with the person who has the authority to hire. One of the best and most widely used books on the subject of job finding is What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles. Although this book is not specifically for those seeking business careers, the strategies for conducting the job search are universal. This book helps the job seeker organize his or her time and energy and avoid tactics that rarely, if ever, pay off.
Various avenues for locating job opportunities include college placement offices, published job openings, recruiting firms, and computerized search services. These are discussed below.
The college placement office: Prospective college graduates should take advantage of the on-campus interviews arranged by the college placement office. Surveys of companies indicate that roughly 42 percent of their new college hires come from these interviews. They provide an opportunity for a first contact with major company representatives while still on campus. Since these companies are recruiting for current job openings and are willing to hire beginners, young job seekers should definitely take advantage of these opportunities. It is best to sign up early because the company representatives have time for only a limited number of interviews. To prepare for these interviews, individuals should review the information on file in the college placement office. This information, provided by the interviewing companies, often includes annual reports and recruitment materials from which students can glean facts about a particular company and the career opportunities it offers.
Published job openings: A number of sources of listed job openings in business include Peterson's Job Opportunities for Business and Liberal Arts Graduates, Career Employment Opportunities Directory, The Career Guide, Career Visions, and NACE'S Job Choices series. These books can usually be found in the career planning and placement office of most colleges and universities. They contain a tremendous amount of information, including listings of career opportunities, locations of employment, special training programs available with the companies, benefits, employer profiles, and addresses to write for further information. Peterson's also contains information on the job market as well as numerous job-seeking hints.
Professional journals provide another source of published job openings. Many journals devote a section near the end to advertising job openings. The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and other big-city and local newspapers advertise openings, but responding to newspaper advertisements is rarely the way to obtain good jobs.
Recruiting firms: Some job opportunities are listed with recruiting firms. These firms provide needed services to both organizations and applicants. Although it is unusual for a beginner to find a highly desirable job through a recruiting firm and often a sizable chunk of the first month's salary must be paid, these firms do offer some entry-level jobs that enable beginners to get much-needed experience. Some organizations seeking employees assume the charges for the service.
Computerized search services: Computerized search services are gaining in popularity across college campuses. The services vary from school to school, but may include some of the following. Students may call up a list of job openings in their chosen field. Some systems place student resumes on-line for companies to review. Other systems allow students to sign up for on-campus interviews by computer. Computer service firms offer these services as well. Restrac Inc. has linked with The Monster Board, one of the largest World Wide Web career centers, to bring recruiters and job seekers together. Other on-line services include America's Job Bank (the Department of Labor service), Career Path, Online Career Center, Career Mosaic, Help Wanted USA, E-Span, Career Magazine Database, Career City, and Nation Job Network. Job postings for the top fifteen services total about a half-million on any given day.
New job seekers can find entry-level job listings and career guidance for improving resumes, cover letters, and interviewing skills on the World Wide Web. Job Direct (http://www.jobdirect.com) is free to student-job hunters who enter resume information and interest areas into the database. The service matches resumes to job postings and the student may be e-mailed by the service or a prospective employer. Job Web (http://www.jobweb.org) is maintained by the National Association of Colleges and Employers and contains thousands of postings, but does not allow users to enter their resumes. Jobtrak (http://www. jobtrak.com) is restricted to about 500 specific universities and colleges. A password may be obtained from the institution's career center. Resume listings and searches for full-time, part-time, or summer jobs as well as internships are offered. The College Grad Job Hunter (http://www.collegegrad.com) is yet another service for new graduates.
The current National Job Hotline Directory offers information organized by state and including some Canada listings that enables job seekers to access more than 3,000 employment hotlines 24 hours a day. Search for jobs and career information via the Internet. Those with a full Internet connection and a browser can access the Interactive Employment Network or the Internet Business Directory. Most resume databases charge for their services. Some of these are Career Net Online, Job Bank USA, National Employee Database, and Hispanic Data, designed for Hispanic professionals. An excellent guide to job searching on the Internet is The Guide to Internet Job Searching, published by VGM Career Horizons, NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group, Illinois 60646-1975. This comprehensive guide gives clear directions on how to find and use on-line bulletin boards, job listings, resume-posting services, and cooperative education and internship opportunities. The Job-Seeker's Guide to On-Line Resources is a 64-page paperback listing resume databases, job-posting services, and other on-line resources. It may be found in college libraries or can be purchased by writing to Kennedy Publications Fitzwilliam, NH 03447
Professional association placement services: Many professional associations have placement services. The job seeker should become affiliated at the outset with one or more of the professional organizations for individuals in his or her area of expertise.
Even if associations have no placement service, many provide directories of their members free or at a minimal cost on request. They can often recommend or supply sources of information to help research and contact companies.
Job fairs or career days: Job fairs are held in large cities around the country. At these job fairs, company representatives talk to professionals about opportunities within their companies. In addition, seminars in job-seeking skills are offered. There is no charge to job seekers for either participation in the seminars or placement in jobs. To learn more about job fairs, interested individuals may call 1-800-JOB-SHOW toll free.
Temporary employment services: If the job search becomes discouraging, consider gaining experience and access to companies by signing up with a temporary employment service. No longer just placement for clerical and lower-level positions, temps are catering more and more to companies who are outsourcing segments of their operations. White-collar technical and professional workers are being hired for special projects and long-term assignments. According to the National Association of Temporary and Staffing Services, by 1995 companies had doubled the amount of fees they paid to temps over the four preceding years for a total of $4.9 billion. In addition, the association estimates that 40 percent of those sent out on temporary assignments are offered full-time positions. Once inside a company as a temp, an employee's abilities may be noticed and rewarded.
Gaining Company Information
It is very important for an individual to have knowledge about the specific companies in which he or she will be interviewing.
Published Information Industry information is extremely valuable to the job seeker. Numerous sources of industry information are available. The current U.S. Industrial Outlook analyzes two hundred industries with projections into the future. It is published by the Bureau of Industrial Economics of the U.S. Department of Commerce and can be found in the government documents section of the library. Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys include current and basic analyses for the major domestic industries. The current analysis includes latest industry developments; industry, market, and company statistics; and appraisals of investment outlook. The basic analysis includes prospects for the particular industry, an analysis of trends, and problems; spotlights on major segments of the industry; growth in sales and earnings of leading companies in the industry; and other information over a ten-year span. Another excellent source of up-to-date industry information is The Value Line Investment Survey.
Many sources focus on specific companies. The Dun & Bradstreet Directories, Moody's Manuals, and Thomas's Register all provide specific company in-formation, such as the address and phone number of the company, what the business produces, its annual sales, and the names of officers and directors. If an individual is interested in the backgrounds of those who make it to the top in a particular company, Standard & Poor's Register of Corporations, Directors, and Executives and Dun & Bradstreet's Reference Book of Corporate Managements both provide this type of information. These resources are found in public and college libraries in the reference section. Annual and quarterly corporate reports are usually housed in the college career placement offices.
Computerized Information If gathering information quickly is necessary, use the computer. With a few dollars and a little help from the college librarian, a student can research companies using the computer by searching Disclosure, a database of all U.S.-headquartered companies that trade stock publicly. Within seconds, annual and quarterly reports will appear. Other databases include Dun & Bradstreet's Million Dollar Directory, Dun's Market Identifiers, Trinet U.S. Business, Standard & Poor's Corporate Register, Moody's Corporate Profiles, and Moody's Corporate News.
The following on-line directories offer limited access to information at no cost and expanded information for a cost: Thomas Register (www.thomasregister.com) and Hoover's (www.hoovers.com).
Information on companies can be used by the job seeker to prepare a list of employers to contact, to eliminate companies with low growth potential, to identify a job target for the resume, and to compile a list of intelligent questions that will impress any interviewer.
Other Information
A useful guide to researching prospective employers is the book Help! My Job Interview Is Tomorrow! by Mary Ellen Templeton, Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc., 23 Leonard Street, New York, New York 10013. Another way to gain information about what is happening in companies is by reading professional journals. Along with advertised openings, these journals provide a wealth of information to help the job seeker ask timely and well-informed questions during the interview and to make a final decision on what company would be the best employer.
The Resume
The first contact that most individuals have with a company is the resume, that has to be good or a job applicant may never gain an interview. Every statement should show how an applicant is qualified for the position he or she seeks. As a reflection of one's skill in written communication, it is a perfect way to bias the interviewer on an applicant's behalf before he or she walks through the door. A resume is basically a sales device. It should do three things. First, it should emphasize the most positive features in an individual's background, such as maintaining an A average in college. Second, it should stress work experience and positive contributions to former employers. Third, it should describe positive personal attributes and abilities. The best resumes are written by individuals themselves rather than professional resume-preparation services. Only individuals can present themselves in their best light and sound truthful doing it. It is wise, however, to get some editorial help from a career counselor or other skilled individual since the resume should make the best possible impression.
The following are some basic hints for writing a good resume:
- People usually skim resumes. Too many numbers, too much verbiage, poor spacing, and unclear headings all make a resume difficult to skim. The strongest positive points should be made first.
- No matter how terrific a person is or how much experience he or she has had, a resume for a new college graduate should not exceed one page. Applicants should only use two pages if their experience is sufficient to qualify them for a management position and/or after excluding information such as volunteer activities, sports, and hobbies. Although unnecessary, these items may be included on a scanty resume but should never be the reason for an additional page. One should stick to the facts and save philosophy for the interview, if asked about it. Unnecessary words such as /, he, or she should be eliminated. Resumes are usually written in phrases-not complete sentences.
- Action words such as coordinated, supervised, and developed should be used. A resume should be oriented toward results and accomplishments rather than duties. The tone should be as positive as the content.
- The resume should be free of spelling or grammatical errors and neatly typed or professionally printed on white or ivory rag paper. No fancy type-setting or binders should be used.
- Salaries, reasons for termination, supervisors' names, politics, religion, race, ethnic background, sex, height, weight, health, age, marital status, children, and photos should be excluded. References should not be included, but a line on the resume should state that references are avail-able upon request.
- An individually typed cover letter should be used each time a resume is sent to a prospective employer. The letter should be addressed to a specific person rather than "Personnel Director" whenever possible. In it, the applicant introduces himself or herself, explains the reason for writing, describes potential contributions to the company, and requests an inter-view. A job target should be identified in the cover letter if a target resume is not used. Copies of all letters sent should be kept in one file folder; responses requiring action by the applicant should be kept in a second; and rejection letters should be kept in a third.
Resume Formats
Different formats may be used in developing a resume. The type of format used depends on the background of the individual.
Chronological resumes: A commonly used format is a chronological arrangement of educational and work experiences, each listed separately with the most recent experience first. If an applicant is seeking a job that is a natural progression from former jobs and has a good work history with growth and development, this is a good format to use. However, if an applicant's former work history consists of part-time jobs while in college, there is a better format-the functional arrangement.
Functional resumes: A resume organized around functional or topical headings stresses competencies. Such headings as "Research" and "Marketing" enable an individual to include course work, special projects, and work experience in these areas. These headings are geared to the type of position the applicant is seeking. Actual work experience is included at the bottom of the resume. Both functional and chronological resumes can be used for broad career objectives.
Targeted resumes: A type of resume used widely today is the targeted resume. Jobs have become more specific and highly defined than they used to be. Beginners who are aware of the job market will have developed some special areas of expertise in order to make them viable applicants for some of the best positions. The job target is clearly stated along with specific areas of expertise related to the applicant's ability to do the job.
Which resume format is best is a function of the applicant's experience and career objectives. A good resume increases the likelihood that an individual will be contacted for an interview. This contact is often by phone, so the job seeker should keep a pad and pen beside the phone to record any information from such calls. The more organized and in control an applicant appears, the more impressed prospective employers will be.
An excellent book for information on resume writing is Resumes for College Students and Recent Graduates, published by VGM Career Horizons, NTC/Con-temporary Publishing Group, 4255 West Touhy Avenue, Lincolnwood, Illinois 60646-1975. There are also other books available in the Resumes for. . . series that are geared toward specific business careers, such as Resumes for Sales and Marketing Careers, Resumes for Banking and Financial Careers, and Resumes for Computer Careers, and others.
Preparing for the Interview
Preparing for a job interview involves a lot more than putting on proper clothes. An earlier section described sources of information on specific companies. It is sometimes possible for an individual to obtain a schedule of his or her visit to the company in advance, including the names and titles of the interviewers. If any are senior managers, their backgrounds could be researched in an industry Who's Who or one of the earlier sources mentioned, and some aspect of this background could be casually referred to during the interview. A job candidate could also request a sample copy of the company's employee newsletter, relevant company publications, or the company's annual report to stockholders.
Since the applicant has some time during the interview process to ask questions, it is best to have developed a list of critical questions, some based on the preinterview research. Examples of such questions include the following: What type of performance appraisal system is used? How is the company's career development system set up, and what are some common career paths within the company? How are new workers trained and developed? How long has the prospective supervisor held that position? What is the management style of the company? In what direction is future growth anticipated? In short, any information that the applicant has been unable to gain in advance that might heavily affect his or her career development should be learned in the interview, if possible.
Conservative dress-without looking uniformed-is usually safe attire for a job interview. Women might wear a simply tailored suit, a neat hairstyle, plain jewelry, and moderate makeup and perfume. Men might wear a conservative suit, shirt, and tie. Polished shoes, trimmed and styled hair, and clean fingernails are all important.
Posture is significant, as are all types of body language. A firm handshake, eye contact, poise, ease, and manners all contribute to a positive interview. The novice job applicant might even improve his or her overall performance at a job interview by practicing beforehand in front of a mirror.
A portfolio of college experiences might be useful to show to a prospective employer at the job interview. This portfolio might include best class papers; descriptions of projects completed for class, internships, or jobs; and fliers from events a student participated in or helped organize such as seminars or club fund-raising events. Anything related to the job sought should be put in the portfolio.
The Interview
Each corporation has a culture of its own. An applicant's ability to fit into this culture is often the key to being hired. Sizing up the corporate culture is something an applicant can do by walking into a lobby. Is there elaborate security or a club-like atmosphere? Is the coffee served in fine china or plastic cups? Do the executives sometimes pick up their own phones? Are only degrees and certificates displayed in the offices or family photos as well? The applicant's ability to pick up on the degree of formality or informality and modify interview behavior accordingly might make the difference between a job offer or disappointment. The fact is that managers are looking not only for levels of experience but also for types of individuals who would fit comfortably into the organization. In other words, chemistry between candidate and interviewer is critical. Both need to determine whether or not they would like to work together daily. This is a highly subjective factor.
The applicants most likely to be hired are effective communicators both on professional and personal levels. Business graduates have an edge because most of them know how to sell things-including themselves. They are warm, outgoing, enthusiastic, self-confident, and have many other good qualities. Both the applicant and interviewer are under stress. The more relaxed both manage to be during the interview, the better the interview will be and the more information will be exchanged. The interviewer is looking at both substance, which is basically a person's past performance, and style, which includes communication skills, poise, self-confidence, and motivation. Broad questions such as "How would you describe yourself as a person?" and "How can you contribute to our organization?" reveal the applicant's values and personality and how the applicant organizes his or her thoughts. How a person fields questions also shows performance under pressure, quickness, energy, and sense of humor.
In general, employers regard specific skills and experience as more important qualifications than educational background. Such skills as written and verbal communications, related work experience, and knowledge of the functions of the company are. very important. This is not to say that grade point average and course work are not scrutinized also. The point is that most employers care more about what you can do for their company than what you have learned in college, so in both the resume and the interview, job seekers should focus on the skills they possess and the value of these skills to the company.
Often a preliminary interview is conducted by a member of the personnel department who is skilled in interview techniques. This interview determines whether or not a candidate will fit into the corporate culture. If this interview goes well for the candidate, a second interview is conducted by the manager of the department in which the applicant would work. An applicant should work in questions as the interview progresses or, if the interviewer shows a high need for structure, should wait until asked if there are any questions. The applicant's questions should emphasize professional growth and work-related activities. Such topics as salary and benefits should be discussed after the job is offered. Some bargaining may then occur, particularly if the applicant has another offer in hand.
Ironically enough, most applicants forget to ask for the job. An applicant should both ask for the job and thank the interviewer. Some indication of when the applicant will hear from the company should be given. The interest that an interviewer shows in an applicant does not mean that a job will be offered. It is standard operating procedure; the interviewer is building goodwill and keeping the applicant interested. Applicants should go on as many interviews as possible and carefully compare companies and offers, no matter how well a first interview goes or how certain an applicant is that a job will be offered. Additional otters not only provide an individual with choices but give some leverage to the applicant, who can then bargain for salary and benefits.
The Best Resource
A person is his or her own best resource. An individual can increase chances of success in finding a good job and beginning a wonderful business career by using good judgment in choosing and planning a career, by gaining information from a variety of sources, by relying on well-formulated questions as well as intuition in accepting a job.
