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• Reputation: 51 Q&A: 2 0 0 11 0 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Expert: 3 topics Un/Employment Jobs & Education Job Hunting Follow Following 0 Maria Escobar-Bordyn

  0 0 It is absolutely appropriate work search behavior to go directly to the source. In fact, especially during tight markets, your ability to contact the people most interested in your background (the hiring managers) directly. As already mentioned, if they're good, they are always on the lookout for good talent, whether or not there is a posted opening. Although an HR person can be helpful when they're is an actual opening, it is rare they will take the time to talk to someone if there is no known opening. (They're busy!) Rather than just calling to find out about openings, consider contacting people who do the work you are interested in and find out from them what it's like, how they found their job, what works, and other questions that will give you more insigth into the field. In addition, try and set up informational interviews with people who actually hire people like you (not HR), to find out what they look for, what additional insight into the field. Do this even if they don't have a current opening. It's a great way to learn more, get visibility and, who knows? It could lead to a position! In any economy, and especially tight ones, it is always valuable to go direct---do it appropriately, but go directly to your best source: your future boss. Maria Escobar-Bordyn answered in Un/Employment about 1 year ago | Report 3 comments by MyrnaMinkoff, Reutte, and Maria Escobar-Bordyn… 0 0 The suggestion to call people who are working in your area is a good one. This is standard business practice at most tech companies when you begin looking for roles outside of your current team. These types of interviews (where you're not interviewing for a specific team, but to find out more about the team and what they do) are called informationals. It's a great way to practice interviewing and to network without the pressure of there being an actual job on the line. MyrnaMinkoff commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 Can informational interviews be done over the phone? Or is it smarter then to wait until I get back to Seattle so I can go in person? Reutte commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 Informational interviews are better conducted in person when possible. They have a chance to see you and get to know you differently (and almost 70% of communication is visual, which you won't get by phone). They will remember you for a longer period of time if they've met you in person. You'll also tend to get better information in person. If you can wait, that may be best. However, if you need to get something going now, can you start with some easy ones. Or, if you know you'll be in town during a certain week, get the meetings set up now. "....I'll be in Seattle the week of February 14th and would like to set up a meeting that week at your convenience." That way you have some things already scheduled. This also prevents the 'well, when you get in town, call me' response. Maria Escobar-Bordyn commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

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• Reputation: 2173 Q&A: 44 0 19 988 85 2 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 2

  0 0 Are you on LinkedIn? If not, set up a profile. (It's like Facebook for professionals.) You can set up your work history and interests -- it's basically a place for you to put up a resume and network with other folks. Start by connecting to people you already know (former employers, friends, profs, etc.). Then, use the search tools in LinkedIn to find out who the people are in the companies you're wanting to join. You can message people directly, or, what I've done, is to find out if I know someone who knows someone there. I once got an interview using this trick. It was great! MyrnaMinkoff answered in Un/Employment about 1 year ago | Report 2 comments by Reutte and Maria Escobar-Bordyn… 0 0 I do have a linkedIn profile but it's not current. I should probably update it. Reutte commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 Great suggestion, Myrna! More and more people are being found by recruiters this way. Yes, Reutte, update your profile and make sure it highlights what you want to be doing, not just what you've done. Read through other people's profiles for ideas. Maria Escobar-Bordyn commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

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• Reputation: 0 Q&A: 0 0 0 1 1 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 0

  0 0 Nah... I see no downside to going the eager, knock-down-the-door approach. Just be courteous and friendly about it. Also, be slightly ambituous about which places you apply to. Co's know that enthusiastic applicants, if inexpeience, bring energy and productivity that may not come from technically more qualified applicants. Also, don't forget, fresh outta college, you are cheap cheap cheap to hire. If you can do the same job, for cheaper than the competition, they should want you. Don't take job 'requirements' too literally. My first job outta school was not related to my major at all. They claimed that they wanted someone w/ a 'minimum of 2 years experience'. Still, somehow, I got the job. ToyYodaEcho answered in Un/Employment about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by Reutte… 0 0 Thanks for the advice! Yeah, I've heard the same thing about job requirements so I'm trying not to worry too much. Reutte commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

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• Reputation: 650 Q&A: 14 0 3 360 50 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 0 Bauhaus

  0 0 I was a medical technologist for 24 years. It never hurts to submit a resume to either HR or the lab director or both. Either one almost always keeps good-looking resumes on file (for about 6 months) for when they do have an opening. Some HR departments won't accept a resume unless there is actually a posting, so mail it c/o the department supervisor. Include a brilliant cover letter. I've seen supervisors pull resumes out of their files for openings that were never posted because they had enough resumes on file. Sometimes an opening has to be posted internally first, and if no one internally wants the position or doesn't apply or isn't qualified, then they go looking outside. Sadly, I've also seen this (and it should be illegal): Sometimes they'll post an opening that doesn't even exist just to "see what's out there." I think that's pretty fucking cruel because no one looks for a job who doesn't (sometimes desperately) need the work. Even if some of your resumes wind up in a trash can, it is never a bad idea to try and get one on file somewhere within the organization (IMHO). If there's a posted opening, then certainly apply for it, but don't let them scare you off because there isn't an opening listed. And when there is an opening, visit HR. Congrats on graduating and good luck! Bauhaus answered in Un/Employment about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by Reutte… 0 0 That's awesome that you worked as an MT for so long! I guess I should work on getting my resume on file then for some places. And yes, that is horrible to put out a job opening with no intent to hire. Reutte commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

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