How to get a job (or not)

[Birdjaguar]

One thing that complicates the issue is that if salaries are themselves opaque, then benefits are even harder to find real metrics on. Sure, sites like glassdoor and salary.com can help compare, but at best you only get a range of salaries at a company/career field to look at and nothing/next to nothing on benefits. So it can be really hard to tell if the benefits a company is offering are good as compared to other companies in your field.


And from what I've been told, most benefits packages are non-negotiable for new grads like myself anyways.

Even if they are non negotiable, it is good to know what their value is. Company websites often provide some details. Also, you can ask.

What is your policy on PTO?
What percent of the health insurance premium is paid by the company?
How long until I am vested in the 401K match?

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I don't think I would get very far if I asked companies that I am not interviewing with their PTO policies.


Maybe I am wrong.

Or maybe we are misunderstanding each other? When I get offers, they give me all the details on benefits even if they are not negotiable. But what I am saying is that I cannot easily compare the benefits to the benefits of other companies unless I happen to get simultaneous, rival offers.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I don't think I would get very far if I asked companies that I am not interviewing with their PTO policies.


Maybe I am wrong.

Or maybe we are misunderstanding each other? When I get offers, they give me all the details on benefits even if they are not negotiable. But what I am saying is that I cannot easily compare the benefits to the benefits of other companies unless I happen to get simultaneous, rival offers.

You are probably right about the difficulty of getting details prior to an interview, but asking at that stage gives you a better understanding of the true value of an offer that can be compared to a current job or what you are willing to take. It is just another tool to help you make a good decision. While the money side of the offer can be important, in the long run, your fit within the company culture/expectations is probably more important to success than the pay.

A great place to work will hone your skills, build your capability for bigger and better things, and help you establish valuable relationships. More money is just more money.

 

[madviking]

so, uh, how the hell do i get people to want to interview me? i've applied for like 75 positions* over the last four months or so and i haven't heard one bit of positive feedback. it's beginning to make me really bummed out.

*entry level and entryish level chemical engineering-type positions

 

[sophie]

so, uh, how the hell do i get people to want to interview me? i've applied for like 75 positions* over the last four months or so and i haven't heard one bit of positive feedback. it's beginning to make me really bummed out.

*entry level and entryish level chemical engineering-type positions

How's your cover letter game?

 

[madviking]

i have one that i repurpose for every job. it's probably not the best (i followed some guidelines online) but i can't imagine it's terribly offputting either.

 

[Hygro]

are you communicating a burning desire to work? Because your competition is. It can't just be the content of your writing, it also has to be the word choice (use positive words with positive associations. A good example is "treasure", if you were writing a college app).

 

[hobbsyoyo]

so, uh, how the hell do i get people to want to interview me? i've applied for like 75 positions* over the last four months or so and i haven't heard one bit of positive feedback. it's beginning to make me really bummed out.

*entry level and entryish level chemical engineering-type positions

Have you had your resume checked by your university's employment office?

Do you feel pretty confident in the format of it?

Have you been to career fairs at your college?

Is your linkedin up to date and looking spiffy?

Have all of your applications been filed online or have you actually talked to recruiters?

 

[madviking]

are you communicating a burning desire to work? Because your competition is. It can't just be the content of your writing, it also has to be the word choice (use positive words with positive associations. A good example is "treasure", if you were writing a college app).

sure.

Have you had your resume checked by your university's employment office?

Do you feel pretty confident in the format of it?

Have you been to career fairs at your college?

Is your linkedin up to date and looking spiffy?

Have all of your applications been filed online or have you actually talked to recruiters?

yes

yes

yes

sure

former

 

[Hygro]

sure.

hahah that's a "no".

 

[Zelig]

I've found LinkedIn and recruiters to both be pretty useless, and online applications to be black holes. Best is to avoid HR entirely and find people who'd be your direct co-workers to hassle.

 

[madviking]

hahah that's a "no".

i mean, pardon me for maybe being naive, but i don't think there's a real way to communicate passion through an online application through anything other than histrionics.

I've found LinkedIn and recruiters to both be pretty useless, and online applications to be black holes. Best is to avoid HR entirely and find people who'd be your direct co-workers to hassle.

i'd figure as much, but other than friends of mine in my major who just started working, i don't really know anyone who works in the field to bother.

 

[Hygro]

i mean, pardon me for maybe being naive, but i don't think there's a real way to communicate passion through an online application through anything other than histrionics.

Well, that's saying you don't believe that your word choice affects how much passion you convey other than a sane-insane divide.

 

[madviking]

Well, that's saying you don't believe that your word choice affects how much passion you convey other than a sane-insane divide.

i'm not saying it doesn't, but it's not like there's a box wherein i can communicate my super duper interest without sounding like histrionics.

 

[Hygro]

i'm not saying it doesn't, but it's not like there's a box wherein i can communicate my super duper interest without sounding like histrionics.

Let's play a game:

Hobbsyoyo started a firm building rockets for a new generation of small, cheap communication satellites. He is past the point of needing co-founders; he just needs a salaried engineer. Specifically, he needs a chemical engineer to tackle some fuel innovations that are needed keeps costs down. Give me your non-histrionic, most enthusiastic 8 words that explain why you're the fit for the job.

 

[madviking]

i'm a keen learner and think outside the box

 

[Hygro]

That's good, but could you reword it so you are the fit for that job, and have passion for that work?

 

[madviking]

i could but i'm already at 9 words.

 

[Hygro]

so cut some

 

[madviking]

uhhhhh

"hobbs wants a keen learner and a free-thinker: me."