The following is a guest post by Come Recommended member Alan Evans.
Inspiration for this post comes from a great post by Rachel M. Esterline, a highly successful young woman and recent graduate of Central Michigan University. She expressed some of the same ideas and views that I have been pondering for some time now.
Of course, as we all know, it is said that we should pursue higher education in order to secure a fulfilling career. That’s’ true. But when it comes down to those individuals desiring to secure an entry-level position in a field they really enjoy but may not necessarily be educated in (i.e., a musician seeking to become a social media coordinator for an advertising agency or marketing firm), securing a position is ten times as hard than attaining a position you were educated to fulfill. It’s a result of the age old theory implying employers should select candidates who have pursued a formal education in the profession they desire to become a part of. Pish posh…
Now don’t get me wrong, there are professions in which a specific degree is an absolute necessity (i.e., medicine, law, etc.). There are also professions that don’t require you to have a specific degree (i.e., sports, entertainment, etc.). In order for individuals to succeed in a career in which they received no formal education, they must possess certain skills… Beyonce didn’t pursue a degree in music, but she is a talented singer. She possesses the skills that allowed her to become a successful entertainer.
The moral: A college degree is just a piece of paper.
It takes certain skills to succeed in a career. Here are some of the skills required to get your foot in the door of an entry-level career:
1. Hands-on experience: (This is a no-brainer.) To be considered for an entry-level position, you have to prove that you possess what it takes to succeed in the position you’re applying for. If you have some type of previous experience, great! If you don’t, inform the employer of the skills you’ve gained from other opportunities that you feel would benefit you in this position. Go out and gain some type of experience. Whether you volunteer for a nonprofit organization or provide assistance to an expert in the field, gain some type of experience for the job.
2. Be proactive: Being proactive simply means creating a situation by causing it to happen rather than responding to it after it has already happened (or simply waiting for it to happen). Plan before you act. Learn as much as you can about a particular industry or profession beforehand. Conduct research, ask for advice from industry experts, etc. Get creative. This would improve your marketability for the position.
3. Market your product (product = self): Share with an employer why you are the perfect candidate for the job. Jump on the desk and say that the company needs you (not literally)! But you should definitely market yourself. You should consider utilizing social media techniques to do this.
4. Network: Network with professionals in the industry you’re desiring to be a part of. What better way to learn about a profession (and career opportunities) than from the experts of a particular profession themselves? Utilize social media techniques (i.e., social networking sites, blogging, etc.) to connect with these professionals. Most of them, if not all, are eager to share their knowledge with individuals of like mind.
5. Research the company: Before going into an interview, even before you apply, you should research the company. Most companies have websites, which makes this process much easier. You have insight into their organization right at your fingertips. Why wouldn’t you want to learn more about the company? This would allow you to discover if you would enjoy working there. Learn about the company’s achievements. Mention the successes that really impressed you in the interview. Employers admire candidates who truly know about their company.
6. Ask questions: Prepare a few questions beforehand. When a candidate shows up for an interview lacking a few questions, an employer takes that as you portraying a lack of interest in the company and the job you’re applying for. Ask questions such as: Do you feel my qualities would allow me to successfully uphold this position? Could you describe a few of the tasks I would be responsible for that aren’t listed in the job description? When you come to an interview with questions, an employer becomes more interested in you.
7. Personality: (I believe this to be a no-brainer also.) I shouldn’t have to explain this quality. Don’t go into an interview with the personality of a teaspoon… Employers are eager to hire interesting people. Even if you were in the top 5% of Harvard University’s graduating class of 2010, if you possess the personality of a door knob, I’m 80% sure you WON’T get that dream job… Lighten up!
As I’ve said, a college degree is merely a formal piece of paper that cost you thousands of dollars to attain. Possessing a degree should not be a set-in-stone requirement to get a job. However, you need the qualities and skills that would allow you to perform the job successfully. Think about it. Would you hire someone with no skills and a degree from another field? Or would you hire someone with a degree from another field and a plethora of beneficial skills they could cater to the job at hand?
I have only listed a few of the skills you need to develop in order to get your foot in the door of an entry-level career. Be sure to know which skills you need to possess in order to get that dream job.
Are you in this situation? Please leave your story in the comments below.
Alan Evans is currently residing in Dallas, Texas where he works as a private piano instructor. He graduated from Jackson State University in May 2007 with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. Additionally, he pursued graduate study at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and received a Master of Music in Music Education degree in May 2009.
Alan is also a Public Relations and Social Media Enthusiast seeking work that would allow him to utilize his computer and social media skills professionally. Although he did not pursue a formal education in business or communications, he feels that the intrinsic qualities developed as a result of serious music study would allow him to succeed and prosper in any career.