RE: Further education required?

[eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com]

This thread has been showing up on the list a lot lately hasn't it. The schools
must really be busy. ;-)

Looks to me that real-world experience is required now. Experience and
demonstrable skills outweigh a diploma in these circumstances I believe. Without
experience, the only way to win a job over those with experience is to show
enthusiasm and demonstrate skills so that the employer believes that you are
worth the risk. Any education you take is only valuable in the work place if you
can demonstrate concrete skills and knowledge.

If you take classes to update or gain needed skills do not lock yourself into
another diploma or other full time studies. Take evening or weekend courses.
Treat you job hunt as your primary full-time job. Get up every morning and 'go
to work'. Schedule and organise as if you had a boss that was expecting results.
Set realisable daily/weekly goals. And 'Get a Job' is NOT a goal. Make # of new
contacts, follow up contacts, finish portfolio piece, setup interview, etc, are
the type of goals I mean.

Create a portfolio and document how long it takes you to perform various tasks
involved in its creation. Then head out and sell yourself to perspective
employers.
- use the "informational interview" recommended
- network
- join an industry organisation (not STC but something for the industry you'd
like to work in)
- stay away from "formula" resumes and cover letters (make yourself standout)
- do 'postmortems' of all your unsuccessful job interviews (with the original
interviewer if possible)
- if unqualified for a position, ask about other positions in the company
- troll the newspaper for 'related' job openings (hiring in marketing or sales
may mean a need for web designers, hiring of engineers means possible need for
techwriters)

Good Luck to all.

Eric L. Dunn



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