<p>As I apply for jobs, I am struck by how similar the process is to applying for college. The resume or CV is like a transcript and a documentation of your stats. The cover letter is the essay. You have to have the stats to get in, but the cover letter has to be crafted to set you apart from all the rest of the applicants. Employment sites and online applications are like the Common App - it’s now easy to apply to a lot of schools, oops, I mean companies, but you’ve got THOUSANDS of others also applying. The acceptance rate is even smaller than the highest rated college, since they are typically looking at admitting ONE person for the opening. And we are all looking for that “hook” that will get us in the door (legacy, knowing someone already there, whatever…).</p>
<p>A major difference, though: When the college rejects you, you get notified of that. For applications in today’s employment world, you just never hear anything back…</p>
<p>No kidding, and it is demoralizing. I decided it was mom’s turn to re-enter the work place and found myself doing the online applications, CV, and cover letters (essays). Unlike a college application, there was no date where I could know for sure if I was in or not. Eventually I got to some interviews, and then waited, and waited and waited… until I assumed that I wasn’t hired. I wanted closure, so I e mailed and was told that I didn’t get the job. I am glad that the colleges notify students one way or the other, because as hard as it is to not be accepted, it acknowledges their effort, and I think they deserve that. Even at my age it still hurts to be turned down, but a courteous and timely reply would have softened the sting. </p>
<p>I think that college admission and job application are absolutely different.</p>
<p>College is looking for … god knows what. SAT (although, college says it is not important), class rank (but it is OK if you don’t have one), EC, leadership (blah-blah-blah), diversity, alumni, special circumstances … </p>
<p>Employer is simple. They are looking for a person capable and willing to perform the job. Period. They are not interested in your special circumstances, or hobbies, or club membership, or leadership skills (nobody hires fresh college graduates for executive position, not even Starbucks). </p>
<p>@digmedia,
Did you get a job offer? BTW, I’ll suggest to apply directly, without online services with lengthy applications.</p>
<p>I am a foreigner and I feel weird to give you an advice about US job market. However, my strategy is very simple (and it works). Approximately 100 applications (direct) = 10 job interviews = 1 job offer. I just send an application, if I don’t get a response, I don’t care. </p>
<p>That’s silly, californiaa. As an employer I am looking for qualitative smarts that aren’t evident in measures such as transcripts or colleges attended, and I am looking for qualities of team and personal leadership, creativity, dedication / interest / passion in our profession, strategic thinking skills, the ability to be “presentable” in front of a client, and perceived fit with the rest of our team. Of course these things are evaluated through the interview in a holistic manner. </p>
<p>Resumes are there for reference, but those are just starting points for a discussion, and all a good college does is give you a ready-made “smart stamp.” </p>
<p>It’s VERY similar in spirit if you just thought conceptually about it.</p>
<p>The hs transcript / SAT’s are equivalent to resumes - they are the credentials that get you to the table.
The evaluation is then done with a host of subjective factors - the essays are equivalent to the interviews, that’s how you get to know what makes someone tick. And I absolutely want to know what makes someone tick before I hire them, so I can assess fit and ensure that we’re a good place for them to practice / improve their skills.</p>
<p>Another major difference…some institutions could be so disorganized it could be a long while before a response even if they want an interview.</p>
<p>One elite university with whom I applied for a job right out of college took more than six months to get back to me.<br>
When it did, it was a request for an interview within a week. At that point, I had to write back to politely decline as I had already been gainfully employed at a better higher paying job for several months. </p>
<p>As a potential employee, I never try to impress anyone with my qualitative smarts, personal leadership, creativity, dedication / interest / passion in our profession, strategic thinking skills, the ability to be “presentable” in front of a client, and perceived fit with the rest of our team … .and whatever else.</p>
<p>I am asking about the project. I am asking about my potential role in the project. Next, I tell what can I do for the project and for the team. Again, my success rate is approximately 10%. It works for me. </p>
<p>“One elite university with whom I applied for a job right out of college took more than six months to get back to me.”</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Funding was on hold. For example, Happens with the Univ. of California during fiscal crisis. Another example - NIH funding when federal budget is not approved. </p></li>
<li><p>They hired another person, and either lost him or got another position, similar to the position that you very initially applying for. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I’m not near 100 yet, so I can keep going. The similarity to college is that the market is competitive, with many applicants vying for the one spot. </p>
<p>On the bright side, one difference is that we don’t have to pay an application fee. </p>
Hahaha… So true.<br>
Except for my first job (teaching high school) and one other job (research), everything else has been through networking and personal contacts.</p>
<p>Yeah, but for jobs, the best hook seems to be knowing somebody who tells you about the job before it’s “posted”. Maybe that part depends on the industry. Most of my jobs have been word of mouth. I once applied for a job online, many months passed, maybe even a year, without hearing anything. Finally I was offered the job, and took it, and than months after starting got a letter saying someone had mentioned me, and asking if I was interested in the job.</p>
<p>I said…“I already accepted a position…I’ve been working “here” for months.”</p>
<p>Applying for jobs is not that much like applying for college.</p>
<p>Selection for jobs is usually much more opaque and potentially corrupt, while being much less standardized. In most cases, for jobs, you sell yourself in person (after initial screening based on a written application or resume), while for college, you sell yourself in writing.</p>
<p>H had an employee retire in July. Trying to replace him was an ordeal. Several postings, rewriting matrices for grading the replacement. Countless rewrites, countless power struggles with his boss. HR getting involved. HR’s boss getting involved. Change of VP. Finally got approval on a Friday at 3pm to interview the next week. Which had to be done the next week as H was going on medical leave. </p>
<p>I think this is what the state of corporate America is becoming. </p>
<p>Both kids in large corporations have had downsizing and layoffs already. Thankfully both projects kids are in did not have layoffs. But D has already changed departments to avoid this. </p>
<p>^ ^ ^ ^ ^
A lot of employers in the public sector.</p>
<p>ucbalumnus nailed it when he wrote the difference is selling yourself face to face in a job interview vs selling yourself by writing a great essay to get into a college.</p>
<p>Years ago it was standard procedure for a prospective employer to send you a written rejection letter, and I recall a few of mine seemed harsh or insulting like the rejection letters from colleges today. </p>
<p>It was so much easier back then to find a job. One day a friend told me the post office was hiring (good pay and excellent benefits) so I called them and took the test a few days later. I got a letter within days(they delivered much faster back then) telling me if I wanted a job to report on Monday for orientation for the night shift. NO JOB INTERVIEW!! </p>
<p>One of the jokes I’ll never forget is about a new employee hired by a large corporation who was a little bit touched and not normal. Somebody remarked that her two men in white coats must have been hiding behind the door while she was being interviewed.</p>
<p>Yes, it has been an eye opener, returning after being on the mommy track. I don’t mean to seem pessimistic, but either it has made it harder, or that’s the way things are. The competition is significant, even for entry level jobs.</p>
<p>This was DEFINITELY true at my last job, and as someone who will be job hunting soon (in a new career field, no less), this is what worries me now. What if the process isn’t obvious? What if there are hooks or shortcuts or “secrets” that I don’t know, and I can’t/won’t even get an interview because I don’t know the secret code?</p>