I read a statistic in the New York Times last week that Paul Krugman used to emphasize the dire unemployment situation in the United States; on average for every six qualified job applicants there is one available position.
Now sitting in lectures all day I can’t imagine the most pressing thing on students’ minds is the daunting job market, but next time you’re sitting in a lecture hall keep in mind in that class of 60 there may only be 10 positions even available in your desired field.
Unless your uncle is Warren Buffet, setting yourself apart from the crowd is more important than ever. And the best way to do that is through hands on experience. Last Friday I found that out first hand.
I applied late last week for a marketing position at a tech company in Portsmouth just to feel it out and to my surprise I was scheduled for an interview at 1 p.m. on Friday at their headquarters.
I arrived promptly 10 minutes early, well dressed with several examples of work I had done in previous classes that could exemplify my qualifications. The building was immaculate, all glass exterior with a very contemporary layout. Admittedly, having been my first formal interview I didn’t really know what to expect.
The secretary at the front desk instructed me to take the elevator to the fourth floor and at the top I was pleased to meet three very friendly faces greeting me and thanking me for talking with them about the available position. Now, I don’t know if it was casual Friday or their office is really that laid back but they were all wearing jeans and made me felt very comfortable.
Very possibly too comfortable. It was a very predictable and up-front interview, describing the position and why I think I should get the position, but it wasn’t until I was asked what my career goals were that I found myself at a slight loss for words.
I’ve always told myself to take things one step at a time and in this case I was being asked to outline my aspirations for the future, a thought I haven’t given much time for. I was able to stutter through some things I could maybe see myself doing after college, but nothing concrete enough to convince someone of my worth to their company.
I came out of the interview mildly pleased. The interviewers’ friendliness eased my worry, though after careful reflection hindsight most certainly is 20/20.
While my lack of marketing experience was the company’s reasoning for selecting one of the other eight candidates, I felt it was my lack of conviction that made the difference. My casual demeanor in the interview made me lose sight of the ultimate goal.
Not once in my 20 minutes in their executive conference room did I stress how much I wanted the position and how I would do anything they asked of me, or how much I admired the company and that it is the type of company I could see myself at after I graduate. All things that should and would have been said had I taken time to refine my career goals before hand.
Taking as much light of the situation as possible with this experience I now know what to expect and will be able effectively clarify my intentions after college confidently.
Whether you know what you want to do for the rest of your life or not, at least make a convincing argument for yourself. Be assertive and confident or you’ll get lost in the shuffle.
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