kehoe@reed.UUCP (Dave Kehoe) (05/09/85)
I like seeing the recent discussions about jobs
("Hiring non-U.S. citizens") in net.jobs. I hope
that I don't get too many flames for doing this,
but I'm going to post a discussion question:
Why are so few entry-level job openings advertised
in the newspapers and posted in this newsgroup?
I'm job-hunting for an entry-level technical writing
position. I've seen only one such position posted
on net.jobs, and I've never seen one advertised in
the Oregonian (Portland's daily newspaper).
I've been told two possible answers:
-- The electronics industry in general, and in Oregon
in particular, has taken a nosedive and there won't
be any entry-level job openings until interest rates
come down and business picks up.
-- Companies get so many resumes from college graduates
that they don't need to advertise entry-level openings.
I suggest replying directly to me, and I'll summarize
the replies, to keep discussions in net.jobs at a
reasonable level.waltt@tekecs.UUCP (Walt Tucker) (05/09/85)
> > I like seeing the recent discussions about jobs > ("Hiring non-U.S. citizens") in net.jobs. I hope > that I don't get too many flames for doing this, > but I'm going to post a discussion question: > > Why are so few entry-level job openings advertised > in the newspapers and posted in this newsgroup? > > I'm job-hunting for an entry-level technical writing > position. I've seen only one such position posted > on net.jobs, and I've never seen one advertised in > the Oregonian (Portland's daily newspaper). > > I've been told two possible answers: > > -- The electronics industry in general, and in Oregon > in particular, has taken a nosedive and there won't > be any entry-level job openings until interest rates > come down and business picks up. > > -- Companies get so many resumes from college graduates > that they don't need to advertise entry-level openings. > > I suggest replying directly to me, and I'll summarize > the replies, to keep discussions in net.jobs at a > reasonable level. I think both answers are valid. It boils down to basic economics. If the supply exceeds the demand, you don't have to advertise as much. If demand exceeds the supply, you have scarcity. In the latter case, employers must compete for scarace resourses (employees), hence the need to advertise and accept employees with less than ideal qualifications exist. As with many jobs, only a fraction are advertised in a general public medium, such as a newspaper like the Portland Oregonian. I would suspect that an employer that uses the net to look for person is also looking for a person with a special skill set, which is not always a person fresh out of college (college recruiters often handle that market). Many jobs are won and lost through informal channels. It is not always what you know, but who you know. This is sometimes a rather rude awakening for fresh college grads, but it is true. Jobs in a particular field are also often advertised in professional journals and publications relating to that field. As for technical writing, I would suggest that you get involved in your local professional organization, the Society for Technical Communication (STC). The Willamette chapter (Portland) often has half a dozen to a dozen jobs advertised in each monthly newsletter. The national monthly publication has many more positions offered throughout the United States. Besides, the people you meet at the monthly meeting can just be the "who" that you know that gets you a job. The free-lance technical writing market seems to be booming. There are a number of free-lance technical writing companies (some of them sub-contract for us). I know of people that hire into these companies as entry-level writers, then gain experience in a number of different companies as subcontractors. Good experience, but I don't know how they found out about those openings. I just recieved a new copy of the EDN Career news, one of the commercial technical rags. I counted about a half dozen companies in that issue advertising for technical writing positions. You might consider subscribing to similar technical publications (or check the library) to get a possible lead. Our local library here at Tek handles about 50 or so of these magazines, and many of them contain extensive advertising by companies looking for people. Last, you may have to leave the area to get experience, or consider taking a lower-level position to break into the field (such as a paste-up position in a manuals production department). The SF bay area is not that far from Portland (less than a thousand miles). Lots of opportunity down there, and you can always come back once you have gained a little experience. Check out the local library and pick up the Sunday copy of the San Jose Mecury-News. I'll bet there are many entry level positions available in many positions. Write to them. Or, take your sleeping bag up to a camp ground in the Santa Cruz mountains and use it for a base station (low-budget approach). Don't lock yourself into a corner by setting your sights too narrow, both geographically or professionally. I almost made that mistake when I was in college. I thought I only wanted to live in a certain area, so I passed up the opportunity to interview with a number of companies because the job was in the wrong location, the wrong position, etc. Then, I took a few days off from college and traveled to the silicon valley area. It was not as dismal or negative as everyone led me to believe. In fact, I liked it. Fortunately, there were a few on-campus interviews left. The few interviews I had a chance to go to gave me a broader geographical and professional perspective, besides helping me to gain valuable interview experience. Remember, it doesn't hurt to get a job offer. Then, if you decide it's not what you really want, you can always turn it down. I just wish I would have had my eye-opening experience a little earlier. There is a big world out there, full of opportunities. Don't create any artificial cages that prevent you from getting what you want. Well, now I'm drifting into career planning. That's a subject in itself. I've already spent to much time on this. Time to get off my soapbox, Walt Tucker (Technical writer) Tektronix, Inc.