| Girl Power |
[мар. 27, 2007|03:01 pm]
Sunshine
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So I'm graduating this semester, and although I am pretty sure that I'll end up back at the lab that I worked in over the summer (for a number of reasons, this is likely the best choice), Y said he would not take me back until I could tell him about 3 other interviews I had (for a number of reasons, because he's smart). So, basically I am doing the job-hunt thing now.
I had sent out a few resumes via human resources-type sites; I am looking for a position as a research assistant in a lab, and hospitals post some of these on their "careers" website. But it's very impersonal--you don't know what lab you're applying to or who the people are or what they really do, they just give a description of the required experience and some duties you'd be performing. These sites hardly ever result in anyone actually calling you for an interview--they have a lot of candidates applying, and they all look the same, and usually someone's friend's daughter's babysitter will get the position anyway (this field is big on networking).
I don't like applying to a nameless, faceless site. So I did something a little bold and went to the hospital research websites (the place where labs put what they do and who works there, etc.) and found ones whose research I was interested in. Then, I emailed the researchers directly. I told them that I was graduating, that I am specifically interested in what they do, and asked them if they had an research assistant openings. Also, I told them to feel free to forward my resume to colleagues in the same research field that might be looking for people.
This was Sunday (and Monday). I sent out 16 emails, and got replies from all but 5. Some of course were not looking for help, but several said they would forward my info. I now have secured 3 interviews, and possibly a 4th (not bad considering it's been 2 days and I only emailed 2 of the 5 hospitals I'm interested in working at!). Of these, 2 are not people I emailed--they received my forwarded resume from the ones I did contact!
This teaches me several things. One, nothing is too bold. If you want something, ask for it! Two, my resume is pretty solid--good enough that people who don't have a space for me are willing to recommend me to others. Three, this is how you do things! If you contact them, it shows a high level of self-confidence, and it also sets you apart from the crowd (they read your resume just out of curiosity!).
Anyway, I guess I mean this to be an inspiration to myself (later on) and to others that might be looking for jobs. It doesn't do me any good to be shy, because if you go looking for something, it'll find you. I'm excited about working in Y's lab, because I know he takes care of me (career-wise), we work well together, and the lab overall encourages a high level of independence. It's very possible that I'll find this somewhere else, but you don't know it until you start, and I don't have a lot of time to waste. Besides, working with him would be enormously fun! :) But, it is very likely that I will need to do the job hunt again in my life :P so it's fantastic that I have this experience (which was part of Y's reasoning for making me do this). |
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