Work

I have never been a fan of talking about work online. Previously, when I worked at VEGAS.com, I specifically stayed away from chatting about the musing of day-to-day things, primarily because when you work for an internet company, everybody tends to know what you say online. It was just part of the culture.

Now that I work for the county and am a Public Employee, I am even more cautious as to not write about day-to-day things. I have nothing bad or slanderous or juicy to say, but since I have always heard of people being fired due to exposing some company secret that got out onto a personal blog, I figure it is best practice to mind one's p's and q's about work online.

I say all this because I have friends wishing to work for the county and tend to struggle in following through with the application (it is quite lengthy) or think they shouldn’t apply because they might not qualify or think they will never get in because they have no connections.

From personal experience, I offer the following bits of advice and encouragement.

It is true, as in all of life, it helps to know some one. Knowing someone, however, doesn't necessarily mean to have 'juice'. Rather, do you know someone? Really, anyone, for that matter will do. If you know someone, even if briefly, and you strike upon them that you are a good, hardworking person, who is cordial and willing to bust your hump when called to do so, then you have a foot in the door. And the more people 'you know' and the more people who 'know you', all the better.

Now, do understand that you must be qualified for which ever position you apply for. But that should not limit you in applying for positions that you are partially qualified for. Even if you have even the smallest experience with a position, apply for it.

In regards to the online application, here are things to keep in mind:

* The key is to provide as much relevant data to pass the first round which is the scrutiny of HR. After that, your application would go to the actual department that is hiring.

* There are two parts to all county applications: the application itself and then the supplemental questions (most positions have supplementals).

* For the application and the supplemental questions, look at the job description and break it apart into quantifiable sections/categories.

* Regarding each section/category, write down all experiences you have from classes and/or other working positions. There is no need to down-grade your experience by annotating that your experience comes from classes. You need to ‘up-yourself’ by adding that you have taken such classes. In other words, don't think or say, "I only have classroom experience." If there is something that you did in class that matches the section/category, you say so on the app or the supplemental questions.

* Use appropriate profession-jargon under the appropriate areas. Where jargon is not needed, don't put it.

* Pay close attention to the language that is used in describing the position you are applying for. Be sure to mirror the same language in your application appropriately.

* Finally, above all else, be honest! Lying will not help you get and maintain a job. what is said as a blatant falsehood is “open scandal in heaven”. And because of that, the truth will come out.

I’m sure there are a lot of other pointers out there on how to successfully apply for a county job, but this all I can think of at the moment.