If you have sent out a hundred and fifty resumes since your graduation and have recieved nothing in return then you have some strategic behavior to employ.
Just recently with graduates flooding the market place employers have recieved an exceptional amount of applications. Whether they asked for them or not they are now busy sorting through this flood and eventually will reply to most of the applicants.
Waiting is annoying and frustrating. So here's a Planet College tip. Since most job applications are now accomplished on line it is likely that you sent your resume and cover letter attached to the company through your e-mail account. Your information contained your e-mail, phone number, address and other contact information and right now there you sit, or lie, waiting. Frustrated.
Try this.
Go back through your applications list and find the most desirable employers to which you applied. There may be two or three or as many as ten. You probably saw if you responded to a job announcement they requested that you mail, e-mail or FAX your letter and resume. Here is your opportunity. Apply again only this time use FAX. Mail is slow and e-mail is indistinct but a FAX must be recognized and handeled. If you have done any time in office work you know the procedure. Some one has to tear off and sort through the incoming FAXes and then distribute them to the intended reciepient, just like basic inter-office mail.
Thus, your FAX follow up must be handeled by someone at the business at which you are applying. This is an opportunity to, once again, put your name in front of someone at the company where you wish to be hired. Also consider that the FAX cover sheet is an opportunity to place a concise message of interest along with the resume. So write in large letters on the FAX cover something to the point like, " LET'S TALK, I THINK I CAN HELP."
This kind of attention getting, a little beyond standard applicants, communicates to the company your continuing enthusiasm and interest.
So, no calls, no call back, send 'em a FAX. Give it a try. And good luck from Planet College.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Moving Out? Get Pictures
When you are finishing up your time in the close-to-campus-rental you have been occupying for the previous term there is one wise practice to employ with your final move.
That practice is get pictures, photographs of the interior of your rental. The purpose of these photos is to establish the condition of the dwelling you are exiting. You may need these photos to prove the condition of your soon-to-be-former residence in order to obtain a full refund of your deposit. Some rental companies, owners or managers are fairly perfunctory about the exiting process for their tenants, drop the key off and the deposit is mailed. Others, in fact, many require a 'walk-through'. That is, a representative of the owner comes to your unit and they walk through for a final inspection often with a list against which to check the condition of the property.
Which ever way it is done, it is always wise to have taken your own set of photos of the rental you are vacating. You may choose to do this during the final 'walk through' or any time, near when you vacate, that is convinent. Digital cameras usually provide a date and time stamp on each photo. These photos can be invaluable if there is some 'contention' about the actual condition of the property upon the tenants vacating. The kind of 'contention' which can be particularly aggravating is the kind that affects the amount of the actual deposit refunded to the former tenants.
Should your former landlord choose to with hold some or even all of your deposit money due to alleged 'damages' your photographs can materially help your claim to a full refund.
So, Planet College tip: Before you move, get pictures.
That practice is get pictures, photographs of the interior of your rental. The purpose of these photos is to establish the condition of the dwelling you are exiting. You may need these photos to prove the condition of your soon-to-be-former residence in order to obtain a full refund of your deposit. Some rental companies, owners or managers are fairly perfunctory about the exiting process for their tenants, drop the key off and the deposit is mailed. Others, in fact, many require a 'walk-through'. That is, a representative of the owner comes to your unit and they walk through for a final inspection often with a list against which to check the condition of the property.
Which ever way it is done, it is always wise to have taken your own set of photos of the rental you are vacating. You may choose to do this during the final 'walk through' or any time, near when you vacate, that is convinent. Digital cameras usually provide a date and time stamp on each photo. These photos can be invaluable if there is some 'contention' about the actual condition of the property upon the tenants vacating. The kind of 'contention' which can be particularly aggravating is the kind that affects the amount of the actual deposit refunded to the former tenants.
Should your former landlord choose to with hold some or even all of your deposit money due to alleged 'damages' your photographs can materially help your claim to a full refund.
So, Planet College tip: Before you move, get pictures.
Moving In? Get It In Writing
If you are moving off campus or intend to live off campus next term here is a Planet College basic advisory.
Daily living in a rental is much different than daily living in a dorm room, residence hall or Greek house. This difference may not be evident within the general spirit of camaraderie that pervades an initial move off campus. Much friction can be avoided through the simple act of sorting out and writing down who is supposed to do what.
Figure out among you and your room mates who is responsible for what and write that down. That is it. Write down a simple list of the basics, share of rent and utilities, chores and other maintenance responsibilities and who or which roommate is responsible for what and when that responsibility occurs.
If you are moving in with just one room mate this can be fairly simple. If you are assembling a group or small crowd then defining responsibilities becomes very necessary.
The reason for this is simple. The 'carefree' aspects of college life create an atmosphere of tolerance and good natured acceptance for a wide variety of people and their behaviors, which is fine as far as it goes. Carrying it over into a daily living situation can result in misunderstandings and lead to damaging disagreements.
Human memory is faulty. The purpose of writing down the 'house list' and posting it where everyone can see it is to solidify the basic ground rules of your housing situation. A falling out among friends over who's turn it was to pay the cable bill is a high price to pay and entirely avoidable.
It may seem anal but get it in writing. And enjoy your new place!
Daily living in a rental is much different than daily living in a dorm room, residence hall or Greek house. This difference may not be evident within the general spirit of camaraderie that pervades an initial move off campus. Much friction can be avoided through the simple act of sorting out and writing down who is supposed to do what.
Figure out among you and your room mates who is responsible for what and write that down. That is it. Write down a simple list of the basics, share of rent and utilities, chores and other maintenance responsibilities and who or which roommate is responsible for what and when that responsibility occurs.
If you are moving in with just one room mate this can be fairly simple. If you are assembling a group or small crowd then defining responsibilities becomes very necessary.
The reason for this is simple. The 'carefree' aspects of college life create an atmosphere of tolerance and good natured acceptance for a wide variety of people and their behaviors, which is fine as far as it goes. Carrying it over into a daily living situation can result in misunderstandings and lead to damaging disagreements.
Human memory is faulty. The purpose of writing down the 'house list' and posting it where everyone can see it is to solidify the basic ground rules of your housing situation. A falling out among friends over who's turn it was to pay the cable bill is a high price to pay and entirely avoidable.
It may seem anal but get it in writing. And enjoy your new place!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Internships Update
Planet College has had an Internship Overview posted here for some time.
Planet College has since that post observed that the term "Internship" has become more common and more loosely applied. Lately it has come to mean unpaid labor. Work for free. No money. Nada.
This practice, offering 'internships' which are simply a means for a business to get free labor is wrong. College Students eager for experience in their chosen field and now hungry for any position which could lead to paying work might respond to such an 'internship' offer. Therefore Planet College reminds all students seeking 'internships' that it is wrong, and possibly illegal, to solicit and hire workers and not pay them, no matter what the term for this non-paying work is.
Legitimate 'internships' have very specific guidelines. Most colleges that sponsor, along with some local businesses or industries, internships for students have theses guidelines available for students to examine.
Where it can get tricky is, many companies, particularly small firms, expect that the intern will happily accomplish additional duties, tasks or chores along with the work of the internship. Refilling the copier, making a coffee run, cleaning up the break room, stuff like that. For the most part such chores are legitimate. It is an opportunity for the intern to demonstrate their willingness to fit in, help out and get along and gain some exposure in their chosen industry.
The tricky part now has become that many companies offer nothing much more than grunt work, little actual industry experience, and, because it is an " internship", just don't pay.
As a means to combine work experience with college credit internships are thoroughly worthwhile. The key is, for most students, that the internship provides them with credit just like a regular course. This course credit has to have been arranged between the business and the college and usually the department as well. Art departments have a list of internships and sponsoring businesses, Business Departments same deal and so on. Thus it is likely that your major department retains a list of local businesses which offer internships. If you are looking for an internship check with them soon.
If you have not yet accepted an internship but are considering responding to the many Internship Available offers, first be wise. Find out if the company has an actual legitimate Internship agreement with your college and very importantly your department. If you can verify this arrangement then, go ahead and apply. If not, carefully consider what this might mean for you. Your work, no pay and no college credit. What is that worth to you? Really?
If you have accepted such an offer and are now working, take some time to, as we are emphasizing, find out if your internship is recognized and credited by your school. If yes, well, then, clearly, continue.
If not you have some serious thinking to do. As Planet College emphasizes you are an educated person and your work is worth something. Providing free labor which benefits a business and returns nothing to you is inadvisable. If you find yourself in this situation carefully consider accomplishing a courteous exit from the situation as soon as possible.
You deserve to be paid for your work.
Planet College has since that post observed that the term "Internship" has become more common and more loosely applied. Lately it has come to mean unpaid labor. Work for free. No money. Nada.
This practice, offering 'internships' which are simply a means for a business to get free labor is wrong. College Students eager for experience in their chosen field and now hungry for any position which could lead to paying work might respond to such an 'internship' offer. Therefore Planet College reminds all students seeking 'internships' that it is wrong, and possibly illegal, to solicit and hire workers and not pay them, no matter what the term for this non-paying work is.
Legitimate 'internships' have very specific guidelines. Most colleges that sponsor, along with some local businesses or industries, internships for students have theses guidelines available for students to examine.
Where it can get tricky is, many companies, particularly small firms, expect that the intern will happily accomplish additional duties, tasks or chores along with the work of the internship. Refilling the copier, making a coffee run, cleaning up the break room, stuff like that. For the most part such chores are legitimate. It is an opportunity for the intern to demonstrate their willingness to fit in, help out and get along and gain some exposure in their chosen industry.
The tricky part now has become that many companies offer nothing much more than grunt work, little actual industry experience, and, because it is an " internship", just don't pay.
As a means to combine work experience with college credit internships are thoroughly worthwhile. The key is, for most students, that the internship provides them with credit just like a regular course. This course credit has to have been arranged between the business and the college and usually the department as well. Art departments have a list of internships and sponsoring businesses, Business Departments same deal and so on. Thus it is likely that your major department retains a list of local businesses which offer internships. If you are looking for an internship check with them soon.
If you have not yet accepted an internship but are considering responding to the many Internship Available offers, first be wise. Find out if the company has an actual legitimate Internship agreement with your college and very importantly your department. If you can verify this arrangement then, go ahead and apply. If not, carefully consider what this might mean for you. Your work, no pay and no college credit. What is that worth to you? Really?
If you have accepted such an offer and are now working, take some time to, as we are emphasizing, find out if your internship is recognized and credited by your school. If yes, well, then, clearly, continue.
If not you have some serious thinking to do. As Planet College emphasizes you are an educated person and your work is worth something. Providing free labor which benefits a business and returns nothing to you is inadvisable. If you find yourself in this situation carefully consider accomplishing a courteous exit from the situation as soon as possible.
You deserve to be paid for your work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)