Last week I spoke at an event for a group of financial industry interns here in the Pittsburgh called PRICE.  It is a great program for students interested in working in finance or banking to get a taste of the real world.  Interestingly enough the students who attended the event all worked at major banks here in the Pittsburgh area; Mellon, PNC, and National City.  Out of the 30 students who attended my seminar only three or four actually liked what they were doing for their internship.  That begs a few questions:

1. If you are working in an internship that you do not like, do you think you will like your job after you graduate if it is in the same industry?
2. If you don’t like your job as an intern what are you going to do when you graduate to make sure you love your job?
3. Working for a company with the biggest name and the most prestige isn’t always the best idea.  Small companies can often provide a great internship experience and set you on the right track after graduation.
4. What can you do at your current internship to turn the tide?  No one wants to hate what they do.  I would suggest speaking with your boss to figure out how you can change your current assignment to one that you would enjoy.
5. An internship is suppose to be a learning experience.  Make sure you learn something.

One of students who came up to me after my talk to get his book signed was Bryan Moore.  Bryan is in college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, but is already blogging about the financial industry and specifically stock research. Recently he started a series of posts about his job search efforts on his blog.  I think it is a fabulous idea and one that all college students should consider.  Here are a few positive aspects about starting a blog in your field of interest.

1. If your blog is done well and looks professional it gives you an instant sense of credibility with your readers.
2. It opens you up to a network of people all over the world who also blog; especially with those who blog in your same field.
3. Your resume can be posted to your blog which can then be found via search engine by recruiters who are using search engines to find candidates.
4. Blogging also forces you to keep up with what is going on in your field of interest which will then give you more to talk about in your job interview and of course on your blog.
5. Blogging also forces you to read and write more often thereby improving your communication skills.

Take a minute and jump over to Bryan’s blog The Financial Whiz and read his post about his job search in the financial industry.  Great job Bryan!

I had lunch yesterday with the owner of a small manufacturing company here in Pittsburgh.  His heat treating facility is in an interesting situation; either change and use technology to stay ahead of their competition and China or fade away into oblivion.  They have a few challenges with this massive change, mainly their workforce.  This company’s workforces is considerably older and not very adapt to change nor very interested in technology.

He told us that a few years ago he installed new machines with touch screens and the place nearly came to a crashing halt.  However, over time and training they learned the system and now think nothing of it.  However, now that he is bringing in a robot that will do the job of several men with much better efficiency and accuracy there is not telling how this will affect this aging workforce.

Now, I say all of that to say this.  He recently had a new employee start working for his company.  This person is 25 years old and very mature for his age because of the choices he made as a teenager that forced him to grow up quickly.  This person found this company on the internet via a job posting and then through the companies web site.  He was so interested in what the company was doing that he sought out the email of the owner of the company and emailed him a very convincing and impressive email which landed him a job within this company.  Here are a few thoughts and tips I learned from this real world example:

1. Traditional HR rules stink - when you are dealing with small companies, especially manufacturing companies the owners are usually very involved.  They do not think and act like HR people who are often the gatekeepers to the jobs you want.  The owner I was having lunch with was EXTREMELY impressed that this person sought him out and was honest with him about why he needed a job.  And you know what; the owner had compassion on him and saw potential in him that would never have come out through traditional HR processes.

2. Don’t Be Typical - A typical person would have simply sent their resume through the traditional means and waited to hear from the company.  I don’t like playing defense and neither should you when it comes to finding a job.  This young man showed a lot of heart and passion by searching out the email address of the owner of the company so that he could convey to him more about himself than his resume ever could.

3. Resumes Aren’t Enough - a resume is fine if that is all you can deliver to your perspective employer but consider a professional web site, blog, electronic portfolio, etc…  Average doesn’t cut it in today’s job market.  You need to convey your worth to your perspective employer in as many ways possible.  A single sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 isn’t a great option but if that is all you have make sure it is the best it can be.

4. Honesty Works - Especially with small companies who are not burdened by HR policies.  If you can talk with someone on the phone or through an email be honest with them about your interest in the company.  Tell them why you want to work there and tell them what has caused you to seek employment in their company.  They won’t be able to assume that from your resume.

In closing, finding a job is like sales.  Sometimes you must cast a wide net to find that nugget.  And as in sales, doors will open in ways that you would have never guessed or could have planned.  Don’t give up it will work out soon.

If you have recently started a new job or internship I would highly recommend reading Seth Godin’s new book The Dip.

I just picked it up last night at Barnes and Noble. It is only 80 pages but of the first 40 I have read, I am extremely impressed. Most of you reading this blog will be familiar with Seth Godin from his extremely influential and popular blog about business and life. His new book is a good reminder for all of us that we need more than desire to be the best in our job and in life; we need focus.

Some of the highlights that I have picked up so far include:

- The Dip is the valley between average and great
- Most of us have too much on our plate to be the best at whatever we have set out to do.
- Focus is better than being well rounded
- Diversification isn’t always good.
- Quitting isn’t always bad

If you have read Seth’s book or are reading it let me know what you think.

Thanks and have a great weekend!