Still looking for work
I am a college graduate, and now unemployed. I graduated 8 months ago, and am still looking for a job. I realized that I was looking for the wrong type of job. The big thing I am unsure of is how to answer the question "Where do you want to be in five years?" It's a tough question because I don't really know. I have a solid educational background, but as yet have only worked summer jobs. Furthermore, the skills that I developed in those summer jobs were only meant in my mind to complement what I felt were my strengths, and what I like to do (read and write critically, problem-solve and put my ideas in writing). I am finding it exceedingly difficult to figure out what I want to do. Note, I know what area I want to get into. I want to get into the law advocacy field. My problem is figuring out how I can do something worthwhile to get my foot in the door. Anywho, please help if you can.
Employers like ambitious, but not too ambitious, candidates. Whatever the industry or occupation you will fill, tailor your answer to fit it. Just don't say you want your hiring manager's job. I've been in many interviews and have never been asked that one. I read somewhere that employers that use that question need to update their questions. Doesn't mean that they won't use it. I just haven't been asked that one. They usually want to know what you can do now. The more common question is: What are your future goals? The future is unpredictable, no one knows where they will be in 5 years. If someone would have asked me that question back in 2000, I would never have guessed I would end up getting laid off, going back to school and end up working for a certain company (long story-not so good). No one can predict the future, it can lead to crazy things sometimes. I was asked a question very similar to that once. It was "What would I like my future to look like?" I thought to myself, what the he!! does that have to do with this job. The question took me by surprise because I really hadn't thought about it. At all. So, I said, "Well, it depends on how far into the future you would like me to go. For tomorrow's future I would like to be working here. I really don't like to think too far ahead because life and future changes can happen at a drop of a hat." Okay, so what does that mean? Apparently, the human resource person knew because she hired me. I feel for you workingman, I' ve been out of work 7 months but am mid-career and trying to change careers at that! You need to realize you do have skills and it' s not necessary to know exactly what field you want to move into. When I had an interview in a certain field, I would say I was interested in the field because I find blah blah interesting and would like to become involved in it. At this point you could go into finance, market research, advertising. And if you find out it' s not your thing, you now have more experience. For law advocacy, try any law firms or if possible, government jobs in the social services sector. As for the 5 year question, depends on the interview. If it' s a hardcore go-get-em business, say you want to be manager level and handling many accounts. Or you want to be in a stable yet challenging position for a great company. The smarty pants in me always wants to say "On my own island in the Mediterranean." By the way, it took me until 32 years of age to figure out what I wanted to do. I would look for any decent job that would expand your skill set. Until you are out there, you won' t know what you want to do. | |
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