Dear Dorothy,I've been working at an entry level position for about two years. For the last 6 months, I feel as if I have outgrown my job and don't see any room for growth. I enjoy my job and the people I work with, but I feel like I need to make the next move in my career. How should I move forward?
Career Advice: How Can I Get Work Related to My Degree Program?
Dear Dorothy, I am currently enrolled in college completing a degree in psychology. I have been searching for employment in my related field of study where a company might hire me to assist and learn as I attempt to
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complete my degree. Do you have any suggestions how I might go about seeking that particular job? –A-
Hi A,there are a few tactics you could take. Essentially what I think I’m hearing is- you want a job to earn money and related work experience while you are going to school.
1- Do the work to identify the places you would target to work for after you graduate. This means you have done enough research to know that there is the kind of work you plan to do and where that is. Try to find 30-40.
2- Once you have this list, see if you know anyone connected to those companies so you can get a referral. If you get one, great- follow each one of them, do informational interviews and network your way to a decision maker in the area you want to work. You will get much further with direct, personal contact.
3- Get on Linked In to find people to connect with at your target companies, network in this way.
4- In absence of any connection, make your own. Call these companies up (this is a cold call), ask for the position in charge of the area you would work in. You may get diverted but at least you’re in the door. You may end up in HR, which is ok because you can lay out your agenda and the person you want to be in contact with. As with all cold calling, you will get rejected. Oh well. But this is the same technique some recruiters use, so use it for yourself.
5- Be willing to do low level, clerical or “go-fer” type of work. If it puts you in the right area, then you will learn things even if it’s not the exact work you would hope to do. You can also eventually turn that into a post school career.
6- Look for internships – there are plenty of intern posting sites online these days, so approach this from that vantage point.
7- You may have already done this, but talk to your professors about this. They always seem to be well connected so you might get a referral through them.
8- Is there someone in the local psych universe you know, follow, admire? Let them know you do and hook up with them – they could hire you or they could refer you. If you don’t, you need to.
Do you have a career question that Dorothy could help you with? Simply email her your question and she will return a response to you within 48 hours. Email her at: dorothy@nextchapternewlife.com Some questions and answers are periodically selected for publication. All personal information is kept confidential to ensure privacy.
Dorothy Tannahill Moran is a Career Change Agent. She brings a wealth of deep knowledge to the role based on her 4 years as a vocational coordinator and 21 years in management at Intel. Her mission is to help all professionals to love their work. Her saying is “It’s not just a job, it’s half your life”.
Posted: February 15th, 2012 under career advice.