Need advice for a job application; c'mon in!

In My Humble Opinion
1

As you can see by my location, I live in Michigan, either then 49th or 50th worst economy in the country (depending on the day). The job market has been absolutely abysmal and though I graduated May 05 with a BS in Computer Science and a BS in Humanities, I’m a (part time :: sigh :: ) Member Service Representative at a credit union. I’ve also been caught in the cycle of “need to go out of state to get a job. Need money to move out of state. Need a job to get money. Repeat”.

I don’t want to do hardcore programming (I don’t really think I’m all that great at it anyway and that makes it tough to sell yourself in an interview). There’s a smallish software company in the area that has an opening and I want to apply. Here’s the description:

*Project Manager / Business Manager
COMPANY is looking for bright enthusiastic people to help run its websites, skinning projects, and more. Must be fairly technical. Must be able to do web editing (HTML) and use common graphics applications (Photoshop or Corel or other common packages).

Include salary requirements in email.*

Okay:

1 - I meet all those requirements, BUT

2 - that doesn’t sound like any “project manager” position I’ve heard of; what’s up with that? Also, it’s frustrating because it’s specific enough to kind of have an idea of what they want, but still far too vague. So what, do you think, does this job really entail?

3 - What the hell kind of salary requirements would be reasonable for this job? Keep in mind this is not a huge corporation, we are in a horrible economy right now and I’m practically still entry level (especially with regards to this type of job). Honestly, getting A full time job like this is more important to me than getting the best kind of wage possible (again, because of the job market). I don’t want to oversell or undersell myself.

4 - What kinds of things to stress in the cover letter? That description, again, is vague enough to be frustrating.
This is a legitimate company, don’t get me wrong. This is just a touch unusual for me and I’m not sure how to go forward with my cover letter and resume. Please help!

2

I just saw an article on job hunting in today’s paper & according to their “experts”, the best way to get your foot in the door is to go to the door! Literally, go to the place. And see if you can network online, too. Here’s a link to the article. Good luck!

3

I’d look up the company on the web, see what they’re doing, see if it suits you and tailor your cover letter to their company. That’s what got me my current job. You’re right about the description being vague. There could be a good reason for that in that it includes a certain amount of routine work which is as much clerical as it is IT. Still, it sounds like a good way to get your foot in the door.

Good luck and check your e-mail!

4

One of the most common complaints by techies re their managers is “that guy doesn’t understand my job”. An even worse one: “not only doesn’t my boss understand my boss, he’s got no interest in understanding it!”

Some of the items listed aren’t very “managerial”, but they’re required if you’re to understand the work you’re supposed to be managing. Also, sometimes “project manager” may mean “you’re doing this project all on your lonesome so you better be able to self-manage”.

5

What company are you applying to, out of morbid curiousity.

6

My take is it may be somewhat like an Account Manager position, but one that does actual work, not just sales. I could see this being managing multiple small projects without oversight by another project manager.

Jobs with poorly described requirements can often be a red flag in terms of your sanity. Someone will think everything is your job and someone will think you’re stepping all over their territory when you try to do your job.

Regards to the salary requirements, I would suggest taking what you make now and converting it to what it would be if were full time. You might be lowballing yourself to begin with, but you wouldn’t be taking yourself out of the running. And once you have some actual experience w/ that type of work, they would most likely give you a raise for internal equity reasons or you could move to another company.

What to stress in the cover letter? Your specific experience with web editing and graphics packages. Quantify anything you can. In general employers are looking for people who have already successfully done what they need you to do.

Good luck!

7

Some actual advice from me this time: look at their website. Find what THEY consider to be a virtue and what they think is positive. Spend time talking about that and how you reflect the company’s vision in your work. That shows the interviewer that you did your homework, you care, and you tell them how you’re a good fit, making their job easier.

8

Hi all, sorry I haven’t replied in a bit; things have been hectic the past couple of days.

Harriet the Spry, sorry, but I really can’t take that advice about converting what I make to full time. My job doesn’t pay well at all and it’s in a completely different field (not to mention basically white collar retail). It’s kind of the equivalent of saying “convert your salary as a part time worker at Borders to full time when you’re going to apply to an accounting job”. I definitely like your suggestions for the cover letter, though. :slight_smile:

I’m familiar with the company and have used a couple of their software packages, actually. That’ll help things a bit. :wink: I knew someone very very slightly about 4 years ago who worked there, but not enough to remember her name (she graduated from my uni when I was in my second year).

Least Original User Name Ever, I wasn’t specifying because, well I dunno. Partially because I didn’t want anyone else pouncing on it. :wink: I’ll say they make Object Dock and Window Blinds, though (if anyone cares enough they can find it, but the lazy won’t bother, heh heh).

9

I bet it’s Taylor Door. It’s Taylor Door, isn’t it?

If it isn’t, then I’ll shut up. In any case, good luck. I’ve got a new job starting up in a couple weeks muh-self.

10

Well, just letting y’all have an update. I sent a cover letter and resume two days ago. Got an email this afternoon.

*Dear [zwei]:

Thank you for applying for the position of project manager. We have reviewed your resume, and we regret that we will not be requesting an interview with you at this time. However, we will keep your resume on file and contact you if a position opens for your qualifications.

Thank you for the interest you have shown in [company], and we wish you all the best for the future.

Regards,*

:frowning:

God I just want to barf. I’m never going to get a real job, ever.

11

Send me a resume, eh? We have openings here in our Personal Service Center (not what you’re thinking, heh, it’s mroe like tech support) and other areas. As long as Southfield isn’t too far for you.

The job market really sucks for grads right now because you’re competing with all the recently laid-off folks.

Also, if you want, I can suggest a recruiter who will happily take your name and put it in their database, and possibly come up with a match somewhere.

Hour magazine didn’t work out? Or was that an unpaid internship sort of thing?

You might also want to look into a little bit of freelance writing, if you have any interviewing skills, etc. My wife has picked up a lot of odd jobs via creativemoonlighter.com, and will probably pick up more now that she has her own website with an online portfolio.

Good luck!

12

Wow! :slight_smile: Email sent to you!

13

Does the name of the company sound like thje first part of an expensive coffee chain and what a ship pulls up to?

14

Why yes, yes it does. Not that it matters since I didn’t get an interview, but do you have any experience with them?

15

Michigan? This wasn’t Stardock Systems, was it? I used to be on the same newsgroups as their CEO, Brad Wardell, back when he was a one man developer for OS/2, and had various discussions with him. I know of some of the other people there and they are seriously good at what they do.

Ah, I see zweisamkeit has beaten me to it.

16

Bah, I meant MannyL.