I was going to talk about this particular topic on the next General Business conference call. I'll drop some jewels....
VOLUNTEER - this will go very far and if you do, be sure to get in touch with the head supervisor and ask if you can use them as a reference. In addition, if you can, get a volunteer number. When you have to do a background check they will see if it matches. It's about generating experience and volunteering is the best way to do that in your down time. Most employers want to know if you have good people skills. The key to volunteering is to find one main place to volunteer with for an extended period of time (typically 3 months). Most employers aren't expecting students to have direct experience that's why for entry level positions the experience requested is always vague. I've know people who worked at coffee shops with no experience of finance get entry level - good paying jobs as bankers. They got their foot in the door is what I'm trying to tell you. Volunteering goes a long way.
Visit A Job Counsellor - My homegirl works as one and one of the most common things she sees is most young people don't know how to conduct themselves in an interview. Employers purposely throw questions out to test you i.e. "speak on a time you had to bend the rules to get something done" - that's a question about ethics, the correct answer is "never" but a lot of people fall for stuff like this. A job counsellor can tell you EXACTLY what an employer is looking for, questions they will ask, how to structure a resume, how to conduct yourself in an interview and how to prepare for the process. In some cases they can even suggest valuable resources to actually get your resume seen and heard. I strongly suggest you check with one to make sure you're shit is set up properly. If you not getting interviews you should definitely sit down with one.
Structure Your Resume Properly - The longer you've been at a job the better. Try to put yourself in the employer's shoes, they want to see you've been somewhere for a period of time - it shows consistency. If you've jumped from place to place, a job counsellor will show you how to take the best of your working experience to tailor it to your employer's tastes. It doesn't matter if the role isn't relevant to the position you're applying for - while it DOES HELP A LOT if you don't have the experience you need to learn how to take the past positions you had and tailor certain aspects of it to the job description.
Background checks - some employers are different and have a set criteria. For many entry level positions, they want to make sure at least ONE of your references is consistent. An employer cannot ask why a person was laid off or anything like that. They can probe with certain types of questions. Be sure to be upfront about anything and transparent especially about criminal background checks. Things like a failed drug test can be overlooked.
Dress Properly For An Interview - You'd be surprised to know it's niggas still against rocking a suit and tie. No one cares if you despise corporate, they're the ones doing you the favour, they're the ones giving you the opportunity. The trade off is simple, they will pay you to do the work and represent their brand, the least you could do is dress appropriately. You can complain all you but what you won't do the next guy will and it's really not asking for much. A well dressed man is a sign of good manners. Wear a suit and tie, sit upright, dress shoes, dress socks, haircut, all that. You dress your best on that day and go in to kill it. You dress to impress there should be no exceptions. Leave the Jordans and fitted caps at home (just because Russell Simmons do it don't mean you can, Uncle Russ is worth $500 million and is self-employed he can do that - you fools can't yet), iron your clothes, if you're over the age of 25 invest in shirts and ties, belts, etc. Invest in a tailor, really it's not expensive at all. DRESS THE PART TO GET THE PART.
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) - if you don't have much of a formal education you can learn about your industry by taking these. Many of them allow you to obtain diplomas, certificates, nano degrees, and other professional designations for a far cheaper cost and in some cases for free. You can also attach them to a LinkedIn profile for prospective employers can see. They help you not only get a job, but also educate yourself in whatever you're interested in. MOOCs are offered by virtually every type of school in the world. You can go here for more information and links:
http://community.allhiphop.com/disc...ation-moocs-from-yale-duke-berkley-ect#latest
Certificates & Professional Designations - In a lot of industries they will take you a lot further than a formal education/bachelor's degree. Especially in the IT field. If an employer can see that you've completed designations that can aid with the licensing process of something or show you have an understanding of the technology or whatever it is they will be more likely to call your resume versus others. You're an investment and as I say, you get what you put in. If you invest in yourself you will bring out the best in yourself.
Look For Entry Level Positions - the hardest part for most young people is paying dues, because in all their youth you feel entitled to having the success quickly and in abundance. Sometimes it happens quickly, sometimes it takes a long time. Either way if you're a student or don't have much experience apply for entry level positions first and work your way up. If you have experience skip this part.
For Entrepreneurs - If you worked for yourself put it on your resume and be confident about it even if you didn't make a lot of money as long as you can show for it or have filed taxes you're fine. One more a job counsellor can help you tailor even self-employment to an employer. I know I know, everyone is a boss these days but hey who knows, there's nothing wrong with working for a company while you build your business on the side. Depending on what it is tho, some employers will hire you and ask you to not do it anymore citing conflict of interest but that's rare. If you still have issues, there are ways online you can teach courses about your industry and what you know to make money.
Apply for Small & Mid-sized Businesses - Get to know who the players are in your field, you can find free trade publications online and get a general idea of the who's who in your industry. If you're interested in say retail or pharmaceuticals you can go to NASDAQ and screen for companies with market caps of less than $500 million (these are small businesses) and many of them are hiring. Not everyone needs to be working for the 5 star, big name company, the best opportunities often reside with small and mid sized companies who want to train you, educate you and grow with you - especially if you're a good employee. A lot of these companies are looking for interns, temps, part timers and young, hungry students. Change your perspective and heed perceptions, it's competitive trying to get with the big name companies but a lot easier to go for small and mid-sized companies because not many people know who they are just yet until they get big. Understand btw, these companies may not have benefits trickled all the way down the way a bigger employer might but that's not everyone, there are some who do (for example Atwood Oceanics is a small oil driller that will even pay for an employee's education inside and outside the company and tries to position them for future roles within the company).
