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How NOT To Get A Job After Graduation

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Remember when I wrote the post “Cringeworthy Antics of Some Job Seekers?” Well, I took that rant to an audience last night at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where I serve as their PRSSA chapter’s professional advisor. See my presentation I gave to the students on how NOT to get a job…and how social media can help them along the way.

Comments

  1. The Simple Life of a Country Man's Wife says

    Great tips. Many of us learn this but it can slip over time, especially if you don’t think it makes a difference. But like you said, staying polite and remember your “thank-you’s” could lead to something in the future. You never know. Good post!

  2. Hunter says

    Ms. Ferrari crushes this presentation. Well done! Putting presentation points to practice, alliteration aside, I’d be interested to see if job inquiries come from posting alone.
    Keep it coming!
    -Hunter
    hbeaton.wordpress.com

  5. ms.virgough says

    These are definitely many of the tips that I do daily and it was very informative to refresh my memory about some areas. I am currently searching for a job in South Carolina, but the job market here seems to have gotten very competitive. I graduated last december with a B.A. in Psychology so my skills can be transferred into several different facets of careers; however, I am not sure I am getting that point across too well! Thanks for the tips and tricks!
    – Toya
    virgough.wordpress.com

  6. notesfromrumbleycottage says

    Nice job. It’s funny to think that there are so many nicities we forget when looking for a job. These are all good reminders beside making sure there are absolutely no typos on your resume.

  7. adamodwyer1 says

    Great post I’m trying and failing to find a job but I think I’m kind of guilty of just applying then leaving it ages before I apply somewhere else rather than constantly apply, on the plus side I’m always polite to replies

  8. Nick Morris says

    Hi Deanna I really enjoyed this post. Thank you for the tips on how to get a job after college. I am junior at Oklahoma State University and just recently switched my major to Strategic Communication. It is a new program that just started this year here at this university. I am just now starting to get involved with my major and am looking for internships but not exactly sure on how I should go about it. Your presentation said you got a job as a PR apprentice. What kind of work do individuals do when they first begin as a PR apprentice?

    • Deanna says

      An apprentice is basically an intern, but you already graduated. In PR as an apprentice, I made media lists, did monitoring and reports, social media and research. Hope you like your new major!

  12. Catherine says

    Great tips. I’m in public relations as well, and I would also suggest that people straight out of college be careful about calling themselves “experts” on anything (even social media). They should make it clear that they did well in their studies, completed X internships, but at that age and at that level of experience, it’s impossible to be an expert. Sometimes this comes off as cocky on the applicants part.
    Thanks for sharing!
    http://simplysolo.wordpress.com

  13. courtingyourcareer says

    Great tips. You also have to be ready to let potential networking contacts know “how” they can help you. Unless you know them really well, it’s unlikely they’ll spend a ton of time mining job leads on your behalf so don’t ask them to let you know if they hear of anything. Instead ask if it would be okay for you to follow up in 1-2 weeks to see if they’ve heard of anything. That puts the onus back on you…where it should be.

  14. Rafael says

    I found your blog in the “Freshly Pressed”, the title of your post “How NOT To Get A Job After Graduation” caught my attention and I started to read your whole blog. Very nice! Just started following you on twitter.

  15. 28 and a PhD says

    Great tips. Super handy no matter what stage of your job search/career you are. These are especially useful for me now that I’m looking to switch careers in science. Thanks!

  16. Contemporary Personnel Staffing says

    Let us know if you ever want to work in recruiting… your powerpoint is absolutely wonderful and should be read by ALL job seekers out there! Thank you for sharing.
    – Tracy of Contemporary Personnel Staffing, Syracuse, NY

  23. kehwan says

    Useful and all, but the fact that this would be necessary, seriously, isn’t it a cause for a revolution, a general strike, or somethingof the sort? Life shouldn’t be about work, qualifying for it, or finding it; work should allow you to live.

  25. drivingmsmiranda says

    Awesome advice Deanna. PR and media is a profession many look at as being “easy:” easy to do, easy to get into, easy to maintain. But it’s not and that presentation proves why!
    Congrats on being Freshly Pressed (just another knotch in your social media belt I suppose?).
    Drive on,
    – M.
    PS: You have the best last name, ever. 🙂

  26. leaving303 says

    Great post. I found this very informative and fun to read! The only thing I would disagree with you on is the part: “Never say ‘To Whom It May Concern:'” I understand where you are coming from and if it all possible always use the person’s name, but some job postings I’ve seen are just generic or ask you to send your resume and cover letter to resumes@company’sname.com. If you try doing a search and can’t find the contact information or the company won’t provide it, I don’t see any harm in using the standard opening line.

  28. thegeeman says

    Great post. I’m a Philly Kid. Go Eagles. The Bums stunk the joint out against Tennessee. I graduated from Lycoming College in Williamsport PA.

  29. mrdanbaird says

    Oh dear. I must admit I was once that “intern from hell.” I found out about a job I really really wanted from my university careers service. The way the service worked was that a person from my university acted as a contact between myself and the employer.
    Unfortunately I found out about the job on a Friday, and the deadline was Monday, 9am. The job application was quite time consuming and it just so happened that had decided to spend the whole weekend climbing a mountain (leaving no time to do the job application.)
    On the Monday my university contact asked why I hadn’t emailed her with my application, I said I never had the time to do it. She relayed this information to the company’s HR lady, and the HR lady replied with a sarcastic email, carbon copied to myself, basically saying “I’ll let him apply for the job, but since he couldn’t be bothered to fill out the application in the first place, I doubt he’ll get the job.”
    I couldn’t control myself. It wasn’t a case that I couldn’t be bothered. It was simply that I literally didn’t have the time. My anger got the better of me and I sent an email to the HR lady, politely telling her to go fuck herself because “I wouldn’t want to work at a company that makes assumptions about my character based on nothing.”
    Bad move in retrospect…lesson learnt.

  30. Zoe says

    this is very useful,thank you so much!now i know it’s time for me to start planning my future ^^
    x

  32. rinnyf says

    Awesome advice! Those would definitely work for any and all fields of employment.
    Thanks for posting!

  33. Slamdunk says

    Great presentation.
    I have been on both ends of this one–the hiring agency and the applicant. It always surprised me how arrogant some of the young applicants we had were–easy to understand why they were looking for a job. Attitude makes a world of difference.

  35. y3 flash says

    Nice job. It’s funny to think that there are so many nicities we forget when looking for a job. These are all good reminders beside making sure there are absolutely no typos on your resume.

  40. R says

    Good article. I like how you are helpful. I’m often very helpful to others too. It bothers me when others are not.
    So many of these articles are directed to the job seeker.
    But we need more articles like this directed at recruiters and HR.
    One pet peeve, I take a lot of time to write a thoughtful cover letter, and resume, and they don’t even read it! Illiterates!
    Or, the recruiter makes an idiot “judgement” and strips out the most important parts I put into the resume. Some don’t even forward the cover letter!
    So many have such poor communication skills.
    One sign is refusing to take phone calls. For whatever reason.
    What are they doing in a job concerned with people?
    Etc.

  42. Oscar Belmont says

    Very practical and smart. I like the presentation. Your smiley face is making a good combination with it. Otherwise only with the presentation nobody would recognize that you are so friendly.

  43. Brian Jacobson says

    Nicely done, Deanna. I have Tweeted a link to your blog through my Sirius Search Group account and will RT thru my other accounts.
    From the look of your blog and other activites, you are doing a great job of getting yourself “out there” to be seen and your skills appreciated.
    Some of the additional tips you are attracting from your blog visitors add value to your post.
    Good luck.
    Brian

  45. Walter says

    While Hulu may be a decent video site, I’m guessing at this. Hulu doesn’t stream some things, like the Betty White video above, outside the US. I think people outside the US would probably like to see it, and would be able to if it were on YouTube and other such sites.
    Not ranting, condemning, or other such stuff. Just a suggestion.

  48. Brigid says

    Deanna,
    This is such a great presentation, what wonderful advice! Thank you so much for sharing. I am graduating in the spring and this was extremely helpful. I just started expanding my network through professors and guest speakers on campus and I am currently working on a list of places I would love to work. I am starting to get worried that maybe it is too late though, what do you think?

    • Deanna says

      It’s never too late! I didn’t start hitting the pavement hard until AFTER graduation. I got a late start but I worked hard and it paid off.

  51. beinglizbreen says

    Thanks for this entry! I’m graduating college in a year, and so, obviously, I’m already sweating bullets about going into the “real world.” It’s reassuring to know that those who take the initiative and work hard do see the rewards!

  52. Erin Lindsay says

    Really useful information. Thanks for posting. I should have read this awhile ago, but I do have a job now so it’s ok 🙂

  53. Steve says

    Employers don’t use Facebook to employ, it is used to find out what people do in their spare time as an indicator of work habits.
    That’s a valuable tip.

  54. mct88 says

    This is awesome. I’ve just signed up for LinkedIn and just starting the Thank You card correspondence.
    Networking has been somewhat slow but I’ve really enjoyed who I’ve been able to meet and connect with.
    Great ppt.

  59. Katalog Stron says

    To everyone the above commentors. Weblogs will be much better to read if You can keep Your comments brief and to the point. No-one likes to read giant comments when the content can be conveyed using a not as long comment.

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  70. Fatima says

    Hi there friends, good post and fastidious arguments commented at this place, I am truly enjoying by these.

Trackbacks

  3. […] Remember when I wrote the post "Cringeworthy Antics of Some Job Seekers?" Well, I took that rant to an audience last night at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where I serve as their PRSSA chapter's professional advisor. Below, see my presentation I gave to the students on how NOT to get a job…and how social media can help them along the way. Also, check me out on the radio! Eat your heart out, Delicious Dish.         [sli … Read More […]

  4. […] Check it out! Remember when I wrote the post “Cringeworthy Antics of Some Job Seekers?” Well, I took that rant to an audience last night at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where I serve as their PRSSA chapter’s professional advisor. Below, see my presentation I gave to the students on how NOT to get a job…and how social media can help them along the way. Also, check me out on the radio! Eat your heart out, Delicious Dish.         [sli … Read More […]

  6. […] Still want to keep my options open and land that dream job. Remember when I wrote the post "Cringeworthy Antics of Some Job Seekers?" Well, I took that rant to an audience last night at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where I serve as their PRSSA chapter's professional advisor. Below, see my presentation I gave to the students on how NOT to get a job…and how social media can help them along the way. Also, check me out on the radio! Eat your heart out, Delicious Dish.         [sli … Read More […]

  9. […] Remember when I wrote the post "Cringeworthy Antics of Some Job Seekers?" Well, I took that rant to an audience last night at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where I serve as their PRSSA chapter's professional advisor. Below, see my presentation I gave to the students on how NOT to get a job…and how social media can help them along the way. Also, check me out on the radio! Eat your heart out, Delicious Dish.         [sli … Read More […]

  10. […] Check it out! Remember when I wrote the post “Cringeworthy Antics of Some Job Seekers?” Well, I took that rant to an audience last night at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where I serve as their PRSSA chapter’s professional advisor. Below, see my presentation I gave to the students on how NOT to get a job…and how social media can help them along the way. Also, check me out on the radio! Eat your heart out, Delicious Dish.         [sli … Read More […]

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