Chapter 11 - Facilitating the Global Job Search

I guess I didn't quite understand what chapters to combine and what chapter gets its own blog post so here's chapter 11.

I found this chapter, in particular, to remind me of the overall grad school application process. Brown (2012) discusses the three steps usually done in the search for a job, and I can clearly remember going through the same steps, to some extent. During my senior year at my undergraduate university, I had one professor for a course make it mandatory that we go through a mock interview before visiting a graduate school that invited us for an interview. The whole situation was highly realistic as my professor had us come to her office instead of the classroom, knock on the door, and act as if she was a possible faculty member we had the intention of working with at the school. The experience was extraordinarily helpful in preparing me for graduate school interviews as my professor and I then went over my strengths and weaknesses during the mock interview session. Although most of my interviews were conducted in the same office environment, just having the opportunity to practice was helpful. This was evident when one of my graduate school interviews took place while walking on a beach with no shoes on because we were that close to the water and concluded with a talk I gave in front of about 300 people at a conference while my potential advisor sat in the front row.

The topics covered in the beginning of the chapter regarding the job search to creating a resume were topics that I was familiar with but the information provided about job placement services was something a bit unfamiliar to me. Throughout my education up until this point, placement services were not something that was thoroughly provided at the schools I attended. The only experience that even comes close is a work study job bank that was provided by my undergraduate school. I luckily found a job in an entomology lab at a nearby science museum in which the description of the job stated they were looking for students majoring in the sciences including psychology. Somehow I was able to attain the position even though I had no experience with the responsibilities except for a bug collection I made in high school for an AP biology course.

Although I only had experiences similar to career placement services, the skills I have learned are able to be applied to interviews for potential jobs. Providing these services to individuals actually preparing to enter the job market whether a high school or college graduate or an individual who has lost their previous job allows for the opportunity to lessen anxiety and gain confidence in the job search.

Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development. (10th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.