New Year, New Rules
* DECEMBER 20, 2009
By JONNELLE MARTE
This year probably didn't turn out as planned.
Finding a new job -- or landing your first one -- is taking longer than you expected. Maybe you thought you'd be making a lot more money by now. Or you spent the last few years working toward a profession that's no longer in high demand.
The economic meltdown upended career plans and expectations for many twentysomethings. Here's a look at how some of the rules changed in 2009 -- and how you can adapt in the year ahead.
Who You Know
The unemployment rate among recent college graduates hit 10.6% in the third quarter, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That means companies have room to be more selective.
Forget wading through three or four interviews for one position. More employers are holding as many as nine or 10 interviews, says D.A. Hayden, a career counselor at Boston-based counseling firm Hayden-Wilder.
Some applicants are being asked to prepare oral presentations, so it's more important than ever to be well versed in the company and what it expects in an employee.
And while a strong résumé and education still carry weight, a large portion of people hired recently have personal connections to a company, Ms. Hayden says. "For years, people have been saying networking, networking, networking. If there ever was a time that was true, it's now."
To meet people in your field, consider taking on a volunteer or intern position. If you can't afford to work for free, pair the internship or volunteer work with a side job that pays the bills. Connections you make could be more effective than sending out mass job applications online, some career experts say.
Many twentysomethings have spent the past few years working toward a career in an industry that isn't as lucrative or in demand as it used to be. To make the most of their skills and education, they'll need to rework goals and market themselves differently. For instance, a finance major may want to emphasize a proficiency in math that can be applied to data analysis for a research firm or for a small business, Ms. Hayden says.
Less Now, More Later
Salary freezes, pay cuts and lower starting pay became the norm in 2009. Starting salaries for recent college graduates are down 1.2% from 2008, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
While companies might ease into pay raises next year, they probably won't make up for past reductions, says Ed Rataj, a compensation consultant at CBIZ Human Capital Services, a human-resources consulting firm.
These days, "you're not going to be making $60,000 to $70,000 when you graduate from college," says Ms. Hayden.
And using a competing job offer -- if you can get one -- to negotiate a higher salary is unlikely to work. With fewer jobs around today, younger workers should focus more on future, instead of immediate, earnings, some compensation experts say.
You can prepare yourself to catch up in salary after the economy picks up by taking on new responsibilities and emphasizing the value you bring to the company, says Mr. Rataj.
Whether you're already employed or just got an offer, ask about setting a date -- six months or a year from now -- to re-evaluate your salary. "We can fight for scraps this year," Mr. Rataj says, "or we can position ourselves to fight for a bigger piece of a larger pie next year."
source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126126678578398901.html
see also: http://cn.wsj.com/gb/20091224/eoe090255.asp
references:
meltdown: a rapid or disastrous decline or collapse
upend: to turn something over so that it is upside down
twentysomething: someone who is between the ages of 20 and 29
Bureau of Labor Statistics: 美国劳动部下属的劳工统计局
have room to be more selective: （美国）公司有挑选（毕业生求职者）的余地
wading through: pave the way with a required effort, advance in an awkward manner. 费力的进行（选择）
well versed in: skilled, proficient, knowledgeable in
side job: secondary occupation
make the most of: accomplish all that one can with what one has; to use to the best advantage; get the maximum out of it
ease into: move or pass slowly. 渐渐地进行
Questions:
1. what are considered important, according to the reporter of this passage, for job hunters to pay attention to when preparing their interviews?
2. how do you interprete the italicised sentence saying that connections are more effective than applications submitted online?
3. can you summarize some useful tips suggested by employment/career consultants?