Job Search Resources

Job Search Advice

There are as many job search experiences as there are job seekers. Below is an interesting account of one recent BME graduate's job search. Resources to supplement the personal experience have been added.

NETWORKING

"Follow every lead, and don't be afraid to exploit every potential contact . . . you may find help where you least expect it. For instance, I got my job when my grandmother's stock broker put me in contact with a friend of his who used to be a J&J exec, who then put me in contact with an associate of his at the FDA, who then put me in contact with a professional recruiter he worked with sometimes. The recruiter then set me up with a few interviews, none of which I got an offer from, but through which I found out about another job, which I then applied to through the company's website, and ended up landing. This kind of chain of contacts is especially important if you want to work for a smaller company."

Networking Resources

RESUME

"Get your resume and cover letter reviewed as often and by as many people as you can. I probably had mine reviewed a dozen times before I was done, and was able to improve something every time. Remember that you want to follow the STAR format (situation, task, action, result) on your resume . . . ."

Also, include a paragraph in your resume describing any design experience (ENG 100, BME 458, BME 450, any lab/research work). The description should include the "customer" for which the project was completed, the project description, deliverables, and a conclusion.

Resume Resources

INTERVIEWING

"Take every opportunity to interview even if you do not want the job you would be interviewing for. You will improve your interviewing skills and be able to better answer the typical questions asked every time you go through one. You would rather make mistakes at unimportant interviews than at important ones. It also helps to look up lists of typical behavioral interview questions and think about answers you might give to them. Try and follow the STAR format (situation, task, action, result). Have a store of good teamwork examples from situations where you showed leadership, where you worked well within a team, and at least one where you had a problem teammate, and how you dealt with that situation."

"When you do not get an offer after an interview, if you can, ask the interviewer if s/he can give you any advice on what you could have done better. For instance, at one of my first interviews, I was told I did not land the job because my posture and mannerisms were 'too relaxed' and I seemed 'too confident' which apparently to some people indicates 'a questionable work ethic and sense of entitlement.' If I had not asked, I would have never thought this could have been a problem. Ask the engineers you speak to, and not the HR rep, as HR is often not allowed to tell you this information."

Interviewing Resources
Information on behavioral interviewing and STAR is available at:

SALARY NEGOTIATION

"Once you do get an offer, don't be afraid to try and negotiate a bit. However, try and make any request reasonable, and based on typical salary and cost of living indexes for the area and job description. You don't want to create any bad blood between you and your future employer. You can also negotiate other things besides salary, such as vacation or stock options. These are often easier to negotiate for."

BE PATIENT AND PERSEVERE

"Realize that your search may take a long time. Even with good grades, good projects, and previous work experience, it took me 6 months and 9 on-site interviews to land a position. I've heard some general rules to follow are to allow 1 month for every $10k in salary you are seeking, and that the average person goes through 7 interviews before getting an offer. Try not to be too disappointed with a rejection, and attempt to learn from it."