We sat down with Christy Herden, who has worked in HR for more than twenty years, and asked for her best advice for high schoolers (and beyond) looking for jobs– bearing in mind that this may be a first job, or a first full-time job. She had great advice for working Germs. Read on!
GERM: Thanks so much for putting us on your calendar today! What advice would you give to our readers who are looking to enter the “real world” these days?
Christy: First thing to keep in mind is that with the economy as it is, they
may be competing for part-time or entry-level jobs with people who have a lot more work and life experience. So the details matter more than ever. If you are submitting any material in writing– including email– be sure that everything is carefully proofread. If I receive an inquiry or resume with grammatical or spelling errors I discard it immediately. Consider the impression your email address and voicemail message will make on potential employers. Not only am I unlikely to respond to [email protected], but even something that might make sense in context like [email protected] for a ballet enthusiast can create an unintended image out of context. Set up a professional email for your job search. It’s easy, free, and can avoid a lot of misunderstandings. Think through your voicemail in a similar fashion. Potential employers are assessing your judgment as well as your qualifications. When meeting in person, dress neatly and tend toward the conservative side for interviews. Interviewers don’t want to see your bra strap peeking out from your tank top. Keep tattoos and piercings covered or minimized. There is time later, when you get the job, to determine how much latitude there is for your look in the workplace.
GERM: You mention resume– what if our readers don’t have one, or don’t have much to put on one?
Christy: That’s not an insurmountable problem. Never “pad” your resume but construct it thoughtfully. First, consider what experience you do have. If this is your first paid position, think of other work you have done for friends, family, school, or community service. Now, here’s the trick: Focus on the transferable skills and character development you gained in that work. So, it’s not just– “Well, I babysit for my neighbors,” but rather, “I have experience babysitting, which has taught me the importance of being on time, clear communication, and balancing entertainment with safety.” Doesn’t take much thought to choose between those two candidates.
GERM: What about letters of reference?
Christy: Again, think about the image you are creating. If you have former employment, be sure and get a letter from a supervisor and not a co-worker. If you don’t, ask a teacher or coach that has worked with you– preferably for more than six months. It’s a great help to that person to provide them with a list of your experience, extracurricular activities, community service, grade point average, and any other information that will allow them to craft as specific a letter as possible. “Katy managed to keep a 3.7 GPA while serving as staff writer for the school newspaper and participating in band” is more impressive than “Katy is a good student who participated in a lot of after school activities.” Don’t be afraid to ask if the person feels they know you well enough to write a positive letter. It’s better to find out up front if they don’t than to get a mediocre reference. It’s courteous to provide them with all the information they need: job for which you are applying, who receives the letter and in what format, email or snail mail address (with stamped envelope is nice) and date by which the letter must be received. Try to give your references two weeks to get the letter done. That shows courtesy and good planning on your part.
GERM: That’s all great! Any insider tricks?
Christy: Information is easy to come by. Use that to your advantage. Research the company. Find out if they have a mission statement and be familiar with it. Research yourself. Google yourself and find out what information comes up about you because your future employers are likely to do the same. Clean up your social media face before you start your job search and be aware that employers now use social media as a screening tool when hiring.
GERM: How can our readers look out for themselves during the process? We want to be sure they get good jobs and good places!
Christy: You are right that you are also assessing whether the work environment is going to be positive and healthy for you. It is fair for an employer to ask about your age if there is the possibility that you are under 18 and may need a work permit. It is fair for them to ask if you have reliable transportation. It is fair for them to ask about your availability for work– for example, can you work on weekends. And, although still somewhat controversial they may ask to see your social media sites. You can decline, but own your reasons why. “I consider that a personal space unrelated to my work life” is a better answer than, “Well, okay, but you know sometimes my friends put things up there that you might not like.”
It’s not okay for employers to ask about your personal living arrangements, particulars about your social life (Do you have a boy/girlfriend?), your religion, or your sexual/gender preference. Most work places have sexual harassment and employee conduct policies, and you should become familiar with the one in your work place and know who to approach if you are ever uncomfortable at work or if you feel your safety is at issue. If you will be closing a retail space, for example, ask how the money is handled and if there is an escort available to your car. Ask if employees are always scheduled in shifts of two or more workers. These are smart questions that will both keep you safe and demonstrate to your employer that you are serious about your well-being and that of your co-workers.
GERM: Thanks, Christy! I think that will get our readers off to a great start.
If you have follow-up questions for Christy related to HR, send them to [email protected] and we will be sure she gets them.
Good hunting!