Comments for Lindsey Pollak: Generation Y Career Expert, LinkedIn Spokesperson, Millennial Expert, Career Trends http://www.lindseypollak.com Next Generation Career Expert Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:09:26 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Career Q&A: How to get a job when you have a low GPA by Lindsey Pollak http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/career-qa-how-to-get-a-job-when-you-have-a-low-gpa#comment-11308 Lindsey Pollak Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:09:26 +0000 http://lindseypollak.com/?p=522#comment-11308 @Michael - thank you for sharing your experience. I'm sure it will be helpful for people in a similar situation. Lindsey @Michael – thank you for sharing your experience. I’m sure it will be helpful for people in a similar situation.
Lindsey

]]> Comment on Career Q&A: How to get a job when you have a low GPA by Michael http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/career-qa-how-to-get-a-job-when-you-have-a-low-gpa#comment-11304 Michael Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:30:14 +0000 http://lindseypollak.com/?p=522#comment-11304 I graduated with a 2.44 in 7 years with a B.S in chemistry. Yeah that sucks. However, a few things I had going for me: I received well over a 3.0 my last two years and finished with a 4.0 my final semester. It also took me longer to graduate because I suffered a personal injury which held me back 2 years. These were talking points in my interview if asked. I have been asked in about 70% of my interviews about my gpa. The higher paying jobs with better companies do ask, while the jobs that don't pay so well or are "awkward" jobs that they have hard times filling positions for don't ask. My first job was for 24K a year. I only did that for 3 months, but once I had that under my belt,combined with a very well written resume that did not show my gpa but highlighted other things like research projects I did in school and made my 3 months experience as a lab tech sound like I was a prodigal chemist, I was able to get an interview with a fortune 500 company for a chemist I position. This is a 48k a year job. I got the job because I give a really really good interview, I wont lie. I give an awesome interview. They did ask my GPA, but I gave them a good answer. Now Ive been there one year. So I would say with only one year experience making just under 50K with a bad GPA and terrible academic history(minus the last 2 years) I am doing pretty good. But its only a contract position, which sucks. I'm currently interviewing with two companies for permanent positions. But with over one year experience at the Chemist 1 level, gpa should be less important. One of jobs im currently waiting for a response from (have had a 2nd interview) did not even ask for my gpa. Basically, in summation, if you have a bad gpa your going to have to work a low paying possibly third shift job or dirty job for a year or two max. Once you have that experience you can get a better job and gpa shouldn't. YOU MUST GET RELEVANT EXPERIENCE, that is the most important part. However, now being in the field I am in, I see you need at least a masters (for the most part) in order to get a really good paying job. Thats just science though. I am actually probably going to go back to school for a second B.S in bioengineering, mainly because I truly desire to be involved in regenerative medicine especially wound healing and cardiac tissue healing. And engineering is one of the few B.S degress that are worth getting. What I have noticed is that Engineering and account/finance degrees pay well on the B.S level while other las degrees are almost worth less. The science degrees (phys, biochem,chem,bio) are a little better but you really need a m.s or better for a good job. I graduated with a 2.44 in 7 years with a B.S in chemistry. Yeah that sucks. However, a few things I had going for me: I received well over a 3.0 my last two years and finished with a 4.0 my final semester. It also took me longer to graduate because I suffered a personal injury which held me back 2 years. These were talking points in my interview if asked. I have been asked in about 70% of my interviews about my gpa. The higher paying jobs with better companies do ask, while the jobs that don’t pay so well or are “awkward” jobs that they have hard times filling positions for don’t ask. My first job was for 24K a year. I only did that for 3 months, but once I had that under my belt,combined with a very well written resume that did not show my gpa but highlighted other things like research projects I did in school and made my 3 months experience as a lab tech sound like I was a prodigal chemist, I was able to get an interview with a fortune 500 company for a chemist I position. This is a 48k a year job. I got the job because I give a really really good interview, I wont lie. I give an awesome interview. They did ask my GPA, but I gave them a good answer. Now Ive been there one year. So I would say with only one year experience making just under 50K with a bad GPA and terrible academic history(minus the last 2 years) I am doing pretty good. But its only a contract position, which sucks. I’m currently interviewing with two companies for permanent positions. But with over one year experience at the Chemist 1 level, gpa should be less important. One of jobs im currently waiting for a response from (have had a 2nd interview) did not even ask for my gpa.

Basically, in summation, if you have a bad gpa your going to have to work a low paying possibly third shift job or dirty job for a year or two max. Once you have that experience you can get a better job and gpa shouldn’t. YOU MUST GET RELEVANT EXPERIENCE, that is the most important part. However, now being in the field I am in, I see you need at least a masters (for the most part) in order to get a really good paying job. Thats just science though. I am actually probably going to go back to school for a second B.S in bioengineering, mainly because I truly desire to be involved in regenerative medicine especially wound healing and cardiac tissue healing. And engineering is one of the few B.S degress that are worth getting. What I have noticed is that Engineering and account/finance degrees pay well on the B.S level while other las degrees are almost worth less. The science degrees (phys, biochem,chem,bio) are a little better but you really need a m.s or better for a good job.

]]> Comment on What I Wish I’d Known in College by Lindsey Pollak http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/what-i-wish-id-known-in-college#comment-11297 Lindsey Pollak Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:09:40 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=1515#comment-11297 @Kilks - I completely agree. You'll be interested in this response on the Atlantic blog: http://bit.ly/aOeTOX Thanks for the comments, Lindsey @Kilks – I completely agree. You’ll be interested in this response on the Atlantic blog: http://bit.ly/aOeTOX
Thanks for the comments,
Lindsey

]]> Comment on What I Wish I’d Known in College by Kilks http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/what-i-wish-id-known-in-college#comment-11296 Kilks Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:14:34 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=1515#comment-11296 The NYT magazine article is pretty good, but it downplays the recession way too much. The article mentions the recession twice in an off-hand way, but as a minor reason, not the major reason 20-somethings are moving home. It also focuses more on 20-somethings who've graduated from college, when the majority have not. The NYT magazine article is pretty good, but it downplays the recession way too much. The article mentions the recession twice in an off-hand way, but as a minor reason, not the major reason 20-somethings are moving home. It also focuses more on 20-somethings who’ve graduated from college, when the majority have not.

]]> Comment on What I Wish I’d Known in College by Finance Jobs http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/what-i-wish-id-known-in-college#comment-11286 Finance Jobs Wed, 25 Aug 2010 07:50:03 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=1515#comment-11286 Nice post, and i feel that there are many student out there who dun really realise that the learning process is also as important then getting the end degree. and i guess this is also the reason some companies prefer to recruit ppl with working experience. Even job search website (ie. headhunt.com.sg) are also leaning to recruit only middle to senior executives. thanks for the insights. cheers. Nice post, and i feel that there are many student out there who dun really realise that the learning process is also as important then getting the end degree. and i guess this is also the reason some companies prefer to recruit ppl with working experience. Even job search website (ie. headhunt.com.sg) are also leaning to recruit only middle to senior executives.

thanks for the insights. cheers.

]]> Comment on How to get a good job in a bad economy: 7 recession strategies by Brandon http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/how-to-get-a-good-job-in-a-bad-economy-7-recession-strategies#comment-11283 Brandon Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:33:09 +0000 http://lindseypollak.com/?p=495#comment-11283 Great article. I think some of the obvious things like relocate are really scary even though some people know there are more opportunities out there. I know a lot of people that settle with jobs they hate and they make so little for what they do, just because the won't relocate. Great article. I think some of the obvious things like relocate are really scary even though some people know there are more opportunities out there. I know a lot of people that settle with jobs they hate and they make so little for what they do, just because the won’t relocate.

]]> Comment on What I Wish I’d Known in College by DC Jobs http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/what-i-wish-id-known-in-college#comment-11282 DC Jobs Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:02:09 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=1515#comment-11282 Regarding your point #1, your right, passion is contagious. That habit of seeking out people with passion is something we can apply the rest of our careers. Regarding your point #1, your right, passion is contagious. That habit of seeking out people with passion is something we can apply the rest of our careers.

]]> Comment on 5 Steps to a Fantastic LinkedIn Profile by Ursula @ Umkhonto http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/how-to-have-a-fantastic-linkedin-profile#comment-11281 Ursula @ Umkhonto Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:22:28 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=835#comment-11281 Facebook is what it is, but it is not the be-all and end-all of social media, and for the professional person LinkedIn is the definitive social media network. Recruitment agencies and headhunters are increasingly using LinkedIn to source candidates, so there is no better time than the now to get your career experience out there. Who knows what may come your way! Facebook is what it is, but it is not the be-all and end-all of social media, and for the professional person LinkedIn is the definitive social media network. Recruitment agencies and headhunters are increasingly using LinkedIn to source candidates, so there is no better time than the now to get your career experience out there. Who knows what may come your way!

]]> Comment on How to communicate in the workplace by Ursula @ Umkhonto http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/how-to-communicate-in-the-workplace#comment-11280 Ursula @ Umkhonto Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:15:46 +0000 http://lindseypollak.com/?p=556#comment-11280 I think calling the office phone is the best bet, as using the receptionist as a buffer and conveyor of the bad news makes life a bit simpler. Now we know why the old saying of "Don't shoot the messenger" is soooo apt! Modern office etiquette is actually a very interesting topic, and I would love to see the definitive blog post on the subject! I think calling the office phone is the best bet, as using the receptionist as a buffer and conveyor of the bad news makes life a bit simpler. Now we know why the old saying of “Don’t shoot the messenger” is soooo apt! Modern office etiquette is actually a very interesting topic, and I would love to see the definitive blog post on the subject!

]]> Comment on Guest Post: 3 Job Hunting Tips for College Athletes by Eileen Wisnewski http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/guest-post-3-job-hunting-tips-for-college-athletes#comment-11274 Eileen Wisnewski Sat, 21 Aug 2010 20:19:35 +0000 http://www.lindseypollak.com/?p=1504#comment-11274 Thank you so much Fred! Thank you so much Fred!

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