So, I'm graduating in 2 months and I'm getting my job search into high gear. I'll have a BBA in accounting. I've been doing an internship since last summer, so I have some relevant experience from that. Right now I'm in Nashville, and I'm planning to move to Portland, OR. So far, I've registered with every recruiting agency I could find online that has an office in Portland, and I've applied to several jobs that were along the lines of what I've been doing at my internship. Anyone have any advice as to anything else I should be doing?
You could send your c.v to companies that you're interested in working for. I got my current job that way.
Eh. Given that I left Portland because I couldn't find work there I hesitate to offer advice, but there are some things you can do--mostly networking. 1) Join whatever local chapter of accounting organization there is. Project Managers have PMI, Marketing and ad types have AMA. Entrepreneurs and venture capitalists are active in the OEF (Oregon Entrepreneurs Foundation(?)). I'd be tempted to say hold off until you get out there, but if you can find a professional association to join right now, you can probably join for your first year at a substantially reduced rate. 2) Toastmasters doesn't hurt. It's always good to develop your public speaking skills, and if you pick the right chapter you can make valuable contacts for job hunting. 3) It is unfortunate that you aren't job hunting in the town where you are graduating from. That is the biggest advantage to going to school in some regards--they have a career counselor and connections to the local businesses. Maybe you could find some one credit course you could take or a class you could audit to take advantage of say, Portland State University. 4) You probably won't have a terrible time. Accounting is more quantifiable (no pun intended) and less subjective. It is also something everyone doesn't know how to do (or want to do), so the job hunt shouldn't be too painful. But if push comes to shove, you may have to put on your suit, load up a portfolio full of resumes, and head downtown to show up at offices, shake hands, and try to get your foot in the door. A hand-delivered paper resume by a professional looking person that happens to be in the right place at the right time is a lot harder to ignore than an electronic one, delivered by a faceless e-mail. (Just be sure to follow up with an e-mail of an electronic copy.) Oh, a final suggestion: Get a PDF converter and send your resumes and cover letters as PDFs whenever you can. That way you don't have to worry about their version of Word (or whatever they use) doing something hinky that makes your resume look like crap.
Looking around on craigslist, it seems that I can get into a living situation similar to what I'm in now for just about $50 more per month, and this would even put me within 1/4 mile of the light rail line, so I'd have an easy commute to downtown. I checked my rent checking account, and it seems I've got enough to keep my taken care for a few months without a job, so I don't think I'll have too much trouble moving and then looking around more when I get there.
I've talked to a couple of employers and recruiters. The common thread seems to be, "Good luck on moving. Call us back when you're in town." I'm not giving up yet, but I might end up staying in Nashville (which I really don't want to do) until I get some more experience, then trying again later.
It's a pain in the ass. Really one of the advantages of going to school in the town you're going to work in is that it gives you some connections. Your career counselor can help you out, more of the HR people and managers are likely to be alumni, and some of the firms may sponsor the school. It gives you a leg up. I did the same thing you're trying to do, back in 2002. I came to Portland without anything lined up. Even with some fallback positions--working as a Reservist and going back to school on the GI Bill--I wound up moving eventually. And I think the economy is slowing down again. Still, June isn't a terrible time to be looking for work. Places know schools are getting out, so they plan for that. Otherwise December/January is a good time. It's a new year, so budgets are new to hire people. In accounting, March is probably a good time anyhow because push comes to shove, you could probably land temporary work through at least April 15 with someone. And hopefully by then you'd have the connections to find something permanent.
Another opportunity has come to my attention: Working for the Air Force as a civilian in Japan, doing accounting. There are job postings for accounting positions at Yokota airbase, approximately a 30 minute train ride from downtown Tokyo. I'm need to do some more research on it, but it's something I'm definitely going to consider.
