You're Not Going Out Looking Like That or .....

. from Dressy Messy Slobdom to Business Casual.

It is now time to think carefully about your appearance. The term is ending and if your career on Planet College is winding down then it is time to get a real job. Covered elsewhere is the fact that graduation announcements make useful self-promotional mailers for your real job back on Planet Earth.

Well. You send them out and what happens. You may get called for an interview. The do's and don'ts, ins and outs, ups and downs and whys and wherefores of The Real Full Time Job Interview are covered in many other elsewheres. If you need some further pointers your schools career center may have counselors who can bring you up to date.

This post is dedicated to what may be called Mom 101, remember? You were going somewhere. Somewhere a little more important than the mall or soccer practice. As you hit it to the front door that all too familiar and irritating voice split the air,"You're not going out looking like that are you?" Mom, of course, and, of course, you weren't. (Going out looking like that.)

Now the demand for air guitarists and frisebee coaches is diminishing and the job hunt is getting serious.

So. When you prepare for that first interview or that next interview or any interview. Stop. Take a look in the mirror. Seriously. Are you going to the interview looking like that? Would you hire you? Think about it. Then do something. Upgrade your look to look like someone you wouldn't mind working with. It could definitely help your chances.

I really want that job.

But I haven't graduated yet.
This is the time of year when potential graduates start thinking seriously about their first "real" job back on Planet Earth. Those who aren't hooked up with a worthwhile employer begin earnestly searching for potential employers, sending out resumes and hoping to schedule interviews for a real career position.
The promise of finally working in some position other than part-time campus parking control associate presents a genuine stimulus for students to get on the stick about finally getting serious about their job search.
Simultaneous with this is a dilemma faced often by potential graduates. They haven't finished every course necessary for their degree. Many students walk through Commencement with some requirements pending. Some even walk through with many requirements yet to be met. Still, it can seem slightly unethical to put BA on your resume when you actually haven't got it yet.
This calls for a Planet College suggestion.
On your resume where your School, College and Degree are listed you can put either the year you will finish or you can put Pending. This means, for example, you will be 'walking' in May of this year. But you may not finish every course until Winter 2010. You can put BA 2010 or BA Pending. Of course, if you are finishing this year, only not till fall, you can legitimately put BA Fall 2009. This is candid, fair and ethical. It also puts your position clearly in front of any evaluator or potential interviewer at the companies where you are applying for work. Just a thought. Hope it helps.

The Suckiest Job On The Planet

“It’s the suckiest job on the planet Mr. Morris.” Heather was an Ed Major from upstate. During her first two years at our school she had lived on campus in the residence halls. Because she would be at school for at least two more years she decided to become an RA, a Residence Assistant in the campus residence halls. The promise of free rent and meals was appealing so she applied and was accepted for the position. Shortly before the semester began Heather attended training for her position. She was now about half way through her first semester in her job. She was sitting in my office looking particularly bedraggled. She complained that she could rarely sleep, her building was noisy and rowdy and her efforts to maintain some kind of order were laughed off. Heather was particularly discouraged that the Housing Office, the administration of the Residence Halls, gave her no support when she attempted to restore order in her hall. She said it was too late in the term to back out now and she was stuck for the rest of the year. If she had known it was going to be like this, she told me, she would never have applied for the position. So be cautious. Not all jobs on campus are for everyone. Being an RA takes a particular temperament. Expect roommate squabbles, late night knocking, primitive hygiene practices, heartbreaking tales of love affairs gone wrong and not entirely legal substance use. Especially if you are managing a building full of people who have never been a way from home for any appreciable amount of time before. Elsewhere these people may be referred to as irresponsible, uncaring and inhumane. On a college campus they are known as freshmen.