Finding a (good) job

Graduation is little more than a week away, and for many IU seniors, it's time to find a job. \nIn January, Fortune magazine released its "100 best companies to work for" based on employee ratings. Several IU alumni have found their way to a company on the magazine's list and offered some tips on finding a fun and rewarding career after college. \nIU alumnus Kara Scrougham is a 1993 telecommunications graduate who now works for No.1-ranked Genentech, a biotechnology company that manufactures pharmaceuticals. She said she believes the cost of recruiting and relocating quality employees encourages companies to keep their workers happy.\n"In order to truly flourish, you have to be comfortable and happy where you're working," she said. "Feeling satisfied and appreciated is going to make you that much better of a performer."\nScrougham said she made a point to do her homework on Genentech before she made the move from Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Company, where she had worked for eight years. She said job hunters can often find industry blogs where professionals share opinions of their respective companies and advise each other on career moves. She found insight from other pharmaceutical marketing professionals at www.cafepharma.com.\nAlong with job descriptions, blogs are also an excellent way to prepare for an interview, Scrougham said.\n"The more you know about the company and your own capabilities, the better," she said. "Be able to take your strengths and sell them toward a job that you know inward and outward. An interview is not just the company interviewing you, you are interviewing the company. It's got to be a good fit for both of you."\nIU alumnus Steve Barnard, who earned his MBA in marketing and design from the Kelley School of Business in 2002, now works as a market segment manager for 97th-ranked Intel. He tracks down new business for the company's new healthcare information technology division. The products he sells "streamline processes and integrate digital information to improve patient safety, reduce operational costs and increase efficiency," according to Intel's Web site.\nBarnard advises graduates to take a "multi-channel approach" toward their job search. He suggests they use a combination of personal networking and online job searches on Web sites like Monster.com. And of course, be persistent.\n"Number one, focus your search," he said. "Treat your job like a marketing or business plan. Look at your market, look at your core assets and focus your search on what you really think you can achieve and be of value to a company. Don't just blindly send out your resumes."\nBarnard cautions job hunters not to become enticed by a company's big name or high salary. He said location, company culture and flexibility in the job description are all aspects he enjoys in his work.\nAs for finding the perfect company, he said new grads should get the inside scoop from the people who already work there.\n"You just have to talk to people," he said. "And don't talk to just one person. Talk to as many people as you can to learn about the company you're looking at. If it's a big enough company, you can seek out new grads that are just recently hired. Talk to them about how they got in, how they like it."\nFor some, autonomy and challenge characterize the perfect job. Alumnus Greg Baker spent 11 years working on the IU physical plant's information systems before becoming one of 13th-ranked Quicken Loans' 2,951 U.S. employees.\n"It's probably one of the most challenging jobs I've ever had, which is exactly why I like it," Baker said. "It's very, very fast-paced, and the environment and the culture are very good. We have a great culture there for IT people to work in. It's very flat -- there's not a lot of hierarchy. Everybody is expected to be empowered to get jobs done. Also, our leaders in the company are strong, active and developed individuals that provide a lot of motivation. Plus, they provide popcorn and slushees and coffee in the break room."\nTo have a shot at landing a job at a place like Quicken, Baker said applicants should prove they are looking for more than just a 9-to-5. His company looks for people willing to work hard for a hefty \ncompensation.\n"Come in and say, 'This is my plan for the future, and this is why I think I'm going to fit there,'" he said. "They want to see driven, motivated people."\nHe also recommends checking out a company's Web site and talking to career fair representatives to gain a better understanding of its company culture. Job hunters can also call the human relations department and ask what kind of qualities and experience a company looks for in its applicants.\nOf course, if students want a professional opinion, they can always ask their major's career services center. Mark Brostoff with the Kelley School of Business Undergraduate Career Services office also urged students to look at "the whole package" -- not just salary -- when investigating career \nopportunities. \n"You have to do your company research," he said. "Understand what's motivating the company to seek out IU students. You have to review the history of the company and look at the trend of the \nindustry."\nBrostoff recommended students look to a company's vision statement to see if its "core values are in alignment with their values." He said students should examine company culture, corporate responsibility and the strength of an industry before sending out their resumes.\n"Find a company that's going to be able to use their skills and their accomplishments in the most effective manner," he said. "Look at the company's job description and make sure the skill set matches what the applicant has to offer."\nIf students use Web sites like Hot Jobs or Monster.com, Brostoff said they should make sure they stand out from the hundreds or thousands of resumes that companies might receive.\n"Be sure to differentiate yourself not only on the resume, but in the interview so the employer really understands what sets you apart," he said. \nAs daunting as the uncertainty of unemployment can be, graduates should avoid jumping at the first job they're offered, Scrougham said.\n"It's an exciting time, but don't rush," she said. "Know what you want and go for that. I don't think you should ever settle"