pete@umbc3.UMBC.EDU (Pete Hsi ) (04/30/89)
This is my first posting to this newsgroup and I'm not entirely sure if the subject is appropriate. But here goes: I'm just about to graduate from college and, like zillions of other soon-to-be-graduates, am looking for job. I've so far send out dozens of resumes and I'm using all of resources available to me. This includes full page ads in IEEE publications (_Potentials_ to be exact). Which brings me to my question: Am I being really naive to respond to one of those general recruitment ads that do not specifically solicit to fill a particular position? I don't really expect to be offered a position but if I was, I'm wondering what kind of job it will be. I've already been burnt once by a big-time high-tech firm while I was a co-op student so you can figure I'm a bit apprehensive about responding. (The company I was working at put out a similiar ad and the full-time employees ridiculed it when I showed it to them.) On the other hand, these ads may be legitimate in their search for qualified candiates so I don't want to cheat myself out of an opportunity. Any thoughts, comments, or insight on recruitment ads like those? Thanks --Pete Hsi Univ of Maryland Baltimore County Internet: pete@umbc3.umbc.edu -or- pete@umbc2.umbc.edu Bitnet: pete@umbc UMBC = "U Must Be Crazee"
bph@buengc.BU.EDU (Blair P. Houghton) (04/30/89)
In article <1967@umbc3.UMBC.EDU> pete@umbc3.UMBC.EDU (Pete Hsi ) writes: >Am I being really naive to respond to one of those general recruitment ads that >do not specifically solicit to fill a particular position? If they're advertising, they'll look, and you're naive to think that they won't buy, if you're a good product. There are a lot of caompanies that advertise, and a lot that don't. I guess most of the really big, glossy, frequently-run ads (GE, HP, GM, IBM, etc...) are something of an image- builder and status symbol for those companies, since you'd probably call up the personnel department whether you'd seen the ad or not, but would you ever think to offer your services to Tektronix, the NSA, or your local Utilities if you didn't see their we-can't-really-afford-this advertisements? >I don't really expect to be offered a position but if I was, LOSE THAT ATTITUDE!!!!!!!!! Not only will it cost you your best interview points, but it will let the sharks scrape salary and benefits from your package as they negotiate with you. Humble is fine for your friends, and arrogant is a bit too much, but if you aren't confident that a job-mill like GE will hire you, then either they won't or you'll get screwed if they do. >...I'm wondering what kind of job it will be. If the ad doesn't list the job description, then they're fishing to fill whatever is open. Big companies always have lots of openings (even if they refuse to fill them for budgetary reasons). You'll find out before you get hired exactly what they want to do with you. >I've already been burnt once by a big-time high-tech firm while I was >a co-op student so you can figure I'm a bit apprehensive about >responding. (The company I was working at put out a similiar ad and >the full-time employees ridiculed it when I showed it to them.) Yeah. Personnel weasels aren't exactly in the mainstream of company operations, no matter what they pretend in the interview, ads, phonecalls, etc. Everything they do comes off as unrealistic to the employees. >On the other hand, these ads may be legitimate in their search for qualified >candiates so I don't want to cheat myself out of an opportunity. I don't know if you can sue for false advertising if they don't even have positions open and the ad indicates they're hiring. I don't expect any company that rich would lose a legal fight with a college kid, anyway. Well, cynical is protective, but you'll get nowhere if you don't paper their desks with your resume. Make them just sick of you and your qualifications. Considering that the interviewer is probably not qualified to give a realistic assessment of your abilities and potential, your best bet is not to neglect the enthusiasm-and-desire factor. --Blair "UMCP, '87. I'm not CEO yet, either..."