The Gen Y Perspective: Finding the Right Employer
I want to thank Josh Morris, a recent public relations graduate, for his insightful answers about finding the right fit in an employer. He understands part of the job search for Gen Y is discovering if a company is right for you.
As a public relations job candidate, what are a few characteristics you look for in an employer?
Credibility, client list and culture are the three top factors I hope to satisfy when searching for an entry-level position. If the employer has a good history of success and good business practices, I know I will be respected and can be proud of who I work for. A strong client list proves the capabilities of the employer and is also another identifier of achievements and potential. The work environment may be the most important factor I consider when applying for a position because if I’m not going to enjoy the culture and people around me, whether or not I enjoy the responsibilities of my position, I will not enjoy my job and that can have limitless adverse effects on myself and those around.
What are questions you ask an employer at the end of the interview? How do you get a better sense of a company being the right fit for you?
At the end of an interview, I try to engage in more personal conversation, figuring out how the interviewer got to where they are and establish a sense of why that employee is working there still. Allowing the interviewer the opportunity to toot their own horn and tell their story of success within the company can give me an insight into my potential and possible future within the same company. It is also nice to leave the interviewer with a good feeling, and talking about one’s self typically leaves someone with a good feeling.
Do you think Gen Y graduates should be selective when job searching? Or because of their inexperienced should they “take what they can get”?
Absolutely! I don’t think job searchers should be too selective, but if someone settles and accepts the first position offered to them without shopping the market, they may be setting themselves up for a long, grueling daily routine of regretting the position they’ve put themselves in. We–recent graduates–went to college, studied our fields for four years and invested countless amounts of money to be able to work for a company and in a position that we want to be in. I understand that something is better than nothing when it comes to earning an income and starting a career, or even just “life after college,” but some things truly aren’t better than nothing at all. It’s not wrong to ask for time to consider an offer either, and during that period of consideration look for competitive opportunities to also consider.
Josh Morris graduated from the University of Alabama in May 2010 and is currently a job candidate. You can connect with him on twitter @PRJoshMorris.
Weekly Poll
Last week’s results: What is your preferred method of communication when networking?
- Informal social networking sites (i.e., Twitter) – 38%
- Face-to-face – 31%
- Email – 23%
- Professional social networking sites (i.e., LinkedIn) – 8%
- Phone – 0%
About the Author
Gina Bericchia is a student of life and social media. She is a writer and Generation Y blogger. She graduates from Otterbein College in June 2010 with degrees in Public Relations and English.
