METRO Career Day 2010, Part I

"The View from the Inside"

METRO’s 2010 Career Day was again a big success, bringing out students, graduates and practitioners eager to learn and network.  The morning session was a discussion with internal consultants from various industries including media, technology, transportation, and finance. The tone for this session was geared toward providing attendees with essential information that will help job seekers begin successful careers. Since the economy is slowly beginning to turn and more opportunities are becoming available, the panelists helped to provide the attendees with some tips for starting out their careers and entering into the job market. The essential tools highlighted include flexibility, seeking out opportunities, and distinguishing yourself from others.

Getting Your Foot In The Door – Any Start Is A Good Start – Be Flexible

Once you are secure in the skill base you have built and are aware of your strengths and capabilities it is time to start looking for a job. While it is good to have goals of where you want to be in the next five to ten years, it is important to be flexible and to accept opportunities that present themselves. When doing this, one can take either a traditional or non-traditional path toward their goals.

In the current economy, it is important get your foot in the door. Because the number of available jobs is limited, companies prefer to hire from within. If you choose the more traditional career path, try to start as a generalist in Human Resources. This will help you to learn more about how the HR department functions and how they impact other parts of the organization. By starting as a generalist you can become well rounded and able to fit into various other functions as you advance.  You can start as a temp or part-time employee working on projects to show how you can help the organization in various areas. Your ability to demonstrate your internal mobility is essential.

If you prefer to take a more non-traditional approach spend less time looking for a specific I-O job and search for companies that you are excited about and would like to work for. Make sure you are passionate about the company’s product if you are working in-house before you choose the company. These companies, for example, may have a product you really love or a culture that you believe you would fit well in. It is also okay to move a few circles away from your target career in order to get your foot in the door. Once you feel comfortable, begin to vocalize ideas for using I-O psychology in that area.

Networking – Seeking Out Opportunities

Before you can even get your foot in the door you need to seek out opportunities. The three key ways to getting any job are networking, networking, and networking. This means if you are going to be in the market for an opportunity soon, you should be attending as many conferences and industry functions as possible. You should be regularly attending METRO meetings, SIOP conferences, web sites (e.g. linkedin.com and twitter.com) and any other gatherings where you may be able to meeting people of interest.  If you are interested in a specific company you should also attend trade meetings for that industry. You need to cast a wide net and talk to as many people as you can.  When you first meet people, talk to them without actually asking for a job. You should show interest in their work and company but try to get them interested in your interests. Ask them how you could help them at their organization.  You should focus on what is important to you and communicate it clearly.

Interviewing – Distinguishing Yourself From Others

When you are asked to come for an interview, do your homework. You should know the company well. Research the specific company and what issues they are currently facing. When researching a company, read what industry analysts say about the company and work backward to try to apply your I-O skills to bring a solution to your level within the organization. You can then discuss those ideas in the interview. Prior to the interview, try to speak with current employees within the organization to find out about current issues in the company and its culture by using the internet (e.g. linkedin.com or vault.com). Make sure you read articles on the company and Google them before interviewing.

When you are in the interview ask the manager about the company and its visions and then apply your skills to specific issues that the company is facing. Position yourself as a problem solver. By asking what challenges the company is facing and then demonstrating how you can help them, you will distinguish yourself from other candidates. You should know and be able to speak to all the bullet points on your resume. Highlight your skills, where you worked, what you accomplished, what skills you have learned, what managerial responsibilities you had, and what sets you apart. Make sure you tailor your message to whoever is interviewing you. You should not use idiosyncratic language when talking to people who do not have the expertise that you do. You should be able to talk about your competencies in a non-I-O way. This skill will also serve you well once you get into an organization. Make sure that you are genuine and honest.

Many thanks to our esteemed panelists:

• Michael N. Bazigos, Ph.D., IBM
• Willem Schelling, M.A., MTV
• David Landman, Ph.D., Goldman Sachs
• Audrey Ormsten Graber, M.A., JetBlue Airways

Reported by: Michael J. Kern