Expert: Glenn Brigaldino - 2/23/2004

Question
Hey Mr.Glenn

My name is Lucas. I recently graduate from Eastern Washington University. I got a master in Urban & Regional Planning and a second master in Public Administration. I speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese. I have 27 years old and pretty much I always have been in school. I have some relevant experience since I have been working since I was 18. My experience is part time with some relevant internships and some good international volunteer experience in community development and NGO's. However, I have been applying to get a job; I have sent already 300 resumes to international developmental organizations, UN, and other and so far “nothing” I still unemployed. It is a little frustrating that most organizations look for 10 years experience and ask for some requirements that are, in some cases, quiet impossible. I think I have a good resume CV. I will like to volunteer one or two years in order to get the experience employers are looking for. However, I need to make some money and start paying my student loan. How can I break that circle: I don't get a job because I don't have experience, I can't get the experience because companies don't want entry level professionals. What can I do?

I appreciate your expertise in human resources.

Lucas  
lucascp@yahoo.com

Answer
Dear Lucas, hello adn thaks for your question.
And congratulations to your 2 Masters degrees, a fine achievemment. Landing a first job can indeed be very hard and it can be hard not to despair. Of course experience is important and a serious employer will recognise that a good candidate may not always have practice, in particular when he or she has been academically active.
300 resumes sent is howeer a very high figure and I sense you are doing something wrong (inparticualr if you have not had any interviews).
As a job search adviosr I specialise on identifying current internaitonal jobs, especially with orgnaizations active in development cooperation. I generally screen opportunities that are in a candidates field according to the Cv and any special preferences. This servce I privde on a paid for basis (depedning on the scope of work, a first assignemnt is usually conducted for less than $100).

Let me know if this is of intertest to you and we can discuss next steps.
Thank you and best regards,

G.Brigaldino