Suggestions for a Recent Grad

[mring42]

I'm a recent college grad, a BA in CompSci, currently working seasonally for the Feds. Seasonal = Job ends in a month. My big problem is, from what I can tell, a catch-22. To get hired, I need experience. To get experience, i need to get hired. I have minimal experience and no certs, just a BA. (Note Bachelor of Arts, implying a Liberal Arts education, not conducive to certs or practical experience)

What I am finding is very little in the way of entry-level or temp-type work, so that I could get experience and land something better.
So the question, after all of that background is: how do I best market myself to emphasize the skills that I do have, while not getting myself in over my head. I may not be the best programmer or administrator (simply from lack of experience), but there is nowhere on a resume that you say "learns fast." I am finding that I get discounted before I get to a stage where I can show what skills I might have that could make up for my lack of technical experience. Any suggestions would be very helpful.

 

[SQLSister]

First, what part of IT do you want to work in? Programming, network Admin, database admin? You need to develop a focus concerning what you want to do. Then focus your resume towards that. Surely you had to do some projects as part of your college training. Bring code samples with you to interviews.

I know it's a little late to be telling you this, but maybe someone who has not yet graduated will read it. If at all possible get some real world experience while you are in school. Get an internship, volunteer for a charity giving them some programming or whatever for free.

That said, what can you do now that you didn't get that experience. First keep pursuing the temp jobs as well as looking for a permanent position. Take any temp job offered in the area you want to work in even if it doesn't meet your desired salary level.

Look for opportunities to do some volunteer work for you church or other organizations who might need some help but can't afford to pay for it. If you are going to be unemployed anyway, might as well get some experience even if you aren't being paid for it. But if you make a commitment to do something for an organization, be committed to get it done even if you get a full-time job in the meantime.

Consider help Desk jobs. Often people get their foot inthe door with these. They are usually entry level.

Revise your salary requirements downward drastically. Entry level jobs for people with no experience do NOT pay well. Accept that and you will find a job sooner. Many people come out of college with an exagerrated idea of their worth to a company.

Doesn't your college have a placement office? Get their help.

Talk to your parent's friends and your friends' parents about job possibilities.

If you must, take a job not in your field and then work towards moving over to the IT Department. It can be easier to get in once you are already an employee. This pre-supposes though that you do an excellent job at whatever position you have. People who complain they are too good for their job and blow off the work, do not get internal promotions.

Look for large companies which have training propgrams.

Consider relocating - jobs may be more plentiful elsewhere.

If you are in the US, consider, civil service jobs. They usually have a training progression and will hire at the entry level. Many older civil servants inthe filed are reiting, now might be a good time to get in the door.





Questions about posting. See faq183-874

 

[mring42]

Well, my actual title is either Office Automaton Clerk or Wildlife Biology Technician. I'm not doing too much IT right now, just some database stuff and helping out when our IT branch can't figure out what's going on (kind of a common problem).
Yeah, now I'm just kicking myself for not pursuing internships more when I was in school.
As to salary, as long as it pays for rent, food, college loans and utilities, I'm ok with it. I don't need that much money. Hell, I'm working for the government right now, which isn't exactly known for huge salaries.
The government is so ridiculously short of money right now that positions are few and far between. There may be something opening up after the fiscal year ends (Sept. 30) but until then, there are a lot of positions out there that are being listed but never hired because of budget cuts. It's a mess.
Thanks for your advice. I think that I'm just seeing looming school loan payments and am worried about being unemployed for even a short time.

 

[philote]

I think that I'm just seeing looming school loan payments and am worried about being unemployed for even a short time.

I've been there before. I graduated in 2001 with a BS in Comp Sci just as the tech market was plunging. I too was kicking myself for not having gotten more experience while in school. When I graduated I was out of work until the next spring, though I did have a few temp jobs in the meantime. I attribute this period of unemployment to the job market and 9/11, my lack of experience, and my lack of looking elsewhere geographically for work. It was a tough time and very depressing to have a college degree but only able to find work doing filing or other relatively unskilled tasks.

I spent my time trying to keep my skills from deteriorating and learning new skills. I don't know if that helped, but I put it in my resume to show that I wasn't wasting my time and that I like learning and keeping up with the field. I finally got a programming job that wasn't very challenging but (mostly) paid the bills. After a year I got my current position as an IT Admin for a small company. I'm still not getting paid quite what I want and the benefits stink, but at least I can pay the bills and am racking up experience.

I know that doesn't help answer your questions, but I thought it may help to know that others have the same problem. SQLSister gave some great advice and I'm not sure there's much to add to it. Definitely keep busy with whatever it is interests you in this field. If you can't get a temp job doing it, or even find any relevant volunteer work, do something on your own. Develop a web site or program or find some old computers to tear apart, install Linux on, or experiment with a version of Windows Server on(you may be able to find an evaluation copy).

You'll eventually find a company willing to hiring you and it probably won't be a great job. But if you keep your spirits up and your skills sharp you'll get better positions down the road.

Good luck!

 

[SQLSister]

I believe you can get your scholl loan payments put off while you are unemployed. I would investigate this.

Questions about posting. See faq183-874

 

[DoubleD]

I think that I'm just seeing looming school loan payments and am worried about being unemployed for even a short time.

Most US based student loan companies also offer deferments if you are in a dire financial situation. Don't be afraid to preemptively discuss this with your student loan provider. They deal with enough students to understand your situation.

SQLSister and philote both offer good suggestions. One of the best things you can do is to get your foot in the door at a company. There are plenty of positions that will pay your bills and still allow you the free time necessary to develop your skills. I started in a data entry position, automated some of their processes, and applied for an IT position once it opened.

Pain is stress leaving the body.

DoubleD

 

[LFI]

Go to this website and start reading:

http://www.asktheheadhunter.com/articles.htm

I subscribe to his newsletter (even though I haven't been searching for a job in a while) and get a lot out of it. When I do need to start hunting again, I will turn here for the very best advice.

Good luck!

--Dave

 

[screwloose]

That would be a forebearance not a deferment (a legal entitlement).

 

[kcongdon]

A few thoughts from a person with a Bachelor of Arts in nothing (liberal arts college didn't grant B.A. in subject)

1. Someone who majored in Computer Science and works as a "Wildlife Biology Technician" must be able to learn fast. On the surface computer science and wildlife biology don't seem to be related to one another. Your ability to work in a field completely unrelated to your major demonstrates flexibility and the ability to learn.

2. It's not what you've studied or what your job title says you do that matters. It's how well you explain what you can do and what you've done. Read the book Brag!:How to Toot Your Own Horn without Blowing It by Peggy Klaus. A decent size library should carry it.

3. Check out your school's alumni network. My school publishes a quarterly magazine where my fellow alums can share their new job titles and locations. Maybe some fellow grad from 5, 10, 15 years (or last year) knows of a job opening at his or her workplace. Try to keep in touch with your fellow seasonal workers; they might have (or get)leads on jobs too.

 

[mring42]

Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions and advice. I'm now looking at many more avenues than I had thought of. I have faith that something will work out...

 

[willir]

mring42

To gain experience, consider volunteering for a non-profit organization. These organizations need talent, but can not pay for it.

In you come. You gain experience and references, and they get a task done that they did not have the skill set for. Now your resume / reference can depict that you are a quick study.

A bonus may be that the non-profit organization may get a grant requiring computer skills and guess whose name is at the top of the list of candidates...

Some people don't like to do volunteer work. I understand, but have volunteered 1000's of hours myself, I can say that volunteering can be very rewarding.

 

[mring42]

I don't mind doing volunteer work, but my current problem with it is that I have no idea what state I may be living in within the next month, so I can't commit to anything remotely large, or anything that may have a maintainence component.