I want the IDEAL job

Being a prospective graduate this May, I have been diligently scouring the internet for potential employment opportunities. This experience has taught me a few lessons, but definitely a couple that stick out the most for me (and many of my fellow peers) are determining which jobs I’m qualified for and secondly, what type of position I ultimately want. 

All too often, many people, myself included, have constructed this idealistic job in their minds. Not only does this position pay considerably well, but it’s also located in the perfect region and aligns considerably well with previous professional experiences. Now I’m not saying this position doesn’t exist, but the truth is many entry-level jobs out of college aren’t necessarily going to meet all your expectations and maybe a bit of stretch given your current qualifications.

Although it is important never to be reckless when applying to jobs you may not be qualified for, there is some credibility in pursing positions that might be a bit of a reach. In this case, it is important to take into careful consideration “required” and “preferred” qualifications. Review the job description closely, and take some time to reflect. Think about your classes, volunteer experiences, internships, work experiences and campus involvement. Ask yourself, “have I done this before?"  If the answer is “yes,” fantastic! However, if the answer is “no,” ask yourself if there is a way for you to change that “no” into a “yes?” This might mean a little extra work on your part, whether it’s some extra reading/ research or asking to take initiative on a project from a professor or a supervisor. In the end it will be worth it, because you will be able to expand your knowledge and skill set, and ultimately utilize these experiences to build your resume, enhance your cover letter and discuss during an interview. 

Another suggestion is to carefully review your “wish list.” While it would be great to land that perfect public relations job in NYC and live on the Upper East Side, Gossip Girl style, it is important to carefully consider what is most important to you. Do you really need to work for a high-profile company right out of college? Although it is great to have goals and aspirations, it is important to realize that working for a smaller company might mean more opportunity to grow and take on a diverse number of responsibilities. My suggestion is to be open to the unexpected. Just because a position does not fulfill all the criteria on your “wish list” does not mean that it won’t be a good fit for you! 

Lastly, be persistent and hopeful! The job search process can be challenging. Just remember The Career Center is always here to help. Whether you need to figure out where to start or need help with resume, cover letter and/ interviews, we want to help! Stop by or give us a call at (516) 463-6060.

 ~Alison Charlebois, Graduate Assistant

Expect the Unexpected: Unusual Interview Questions

Many people have dreamed about the opportunity to work for a major companies, such as Google, Apple, Facebook, etc. I’ve heard the rumors about the amazing work environment, where people get to travel to remarkable destinations and have the ability to combine work and fun regularly (not to mention great perks, like free food!!). Well, according to the reports, all are true! Many of these creative companies strive to provide the best for their employees.

Don’t believe me? Just take it from Larry Page, Google Co-Founder, “We don't just want you to have a great job. We want you to have a great life. We provide you with everything you need to be productive and happy on and off the clock.”

Sounds like a dream come true, right?! So, how does one land a job at one of these high-profile companies? Well recently, I read an article by William Poundstone in the Wall Street Journal entitled, How to Ace a Google Interview. Here he discussed, the rigorous candidate review process (out of the million job application Google receives a year, only 1 in 130 applications results in a job!) and Google's unusual approach to interviewing. Let’s just say, hauling through old notes and textbooks, trying to educate yourself on the most relevant topics you've covered in your previous coursework may not help much…

Question 1: You are shrunk to the height of a nickel and thrown into a blender. Your mass is reduced so that your density is the same as usual. The blades start moving in 60 seconds. What do you do?

Before you jump to first answer that pops into your head, consider all options. Google interviewers are looking for the most unique and innovative responses. So, what is the right answer? Well, since the question is hypothetical, technically there is no right or wrong answer. However, some of the most common (and least desirable) answers include lying below the blades or pinning oneself between the blades.

A great answer usually stems from hints given in the question. Here the interviewer mentioned that although your size was reduced significantly, your density would remain the same. One the best answers reported from Google interviewers, was to simply “Jump out of the jar.” Sound too good to be true, but in-fact quite genius!

“In short, if you were shrunk to 1/10 your present height, your muscles would be only 1/100 as powerful- but you’d weigh a mere 1/1,000 as much. All else being equal, small creatures are “stronger” in lifting their bodies against gravity. Were you shrunk to nickel size, you’d be strong enough to leap like Superman, right out of the blender. Think of the feats performed by fleas in a flea circus” (Poundstone, Wall Street Journal, December 24/25 2011).

Question 2: What’s the next number in this sequence: 10, 9, 60, 90, 70, 66...?

Spell the numbers out:
Ten
Nine
Sixty
Ninety
Seventy
Sixty-six

The sequence has no mathematical value, the numbers are organized by ascending order based on the number of letters in the spelled out number. The next correct number would contain nine letters i.e. 96= ninety-six ((Poundstone, Wall Street Journal, December 24/25 2011).

Question 3: Using only a four-minute hourglass and a seven-minute hour glass, measure exactly nine minutes without the process taking longer than nine minutes.

“Start with both hourglasses at 0 minutes. Flip over the four-minute hourglass when it runs out (at 4:00); ditto for the seven minute glass (at 7:00). When the 4:00 minute glass runs out for the second time (at 8:00), the seven minute glass will then have one minute of sand in its lower bulb. Flip the seven-minute glass over again and let the minute of sand run back. When the last grain falls, that will be nine minutes” (Poundstone, Wall Street Journal, December 24/25 2011).

As you can tell, questions tend to be very unique and rely heavily on problem solving ability! You can hear more about the interview process from the video below!

~ Alison Charlebois, Graduate Assistant at The Career Center