IN SUMMARY. "Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?" takes readers safely past search land mines found in all fields, industries and sectors at a time when there are now almost five people out of work for every available job. But, in the longest recession since the 1930s, whether your goal is the profit or nonprofit workplace, being a newbie isn't necessarily a disadvantage in a down market where money is king.
Reeves contends that entry-level jobs are the least affected today, as employers try to shrink salary budgets and yet get the most bang for their Benjamins. Your trick is to show prospective employers that while inexperienced, you can work independently, take initiative and not blow up the place, and that you also know how to take direction.
Beyond.com, a large network of niche career communities, agrees that Reeves is on to something. The online service reports that its tally of first-quarter 2009 hiring action favored candidates with one year of experience in health-care fields where most seekers had one to three years of experience. The same preference for one year's experience was shown in the sales function, where the majority of job seekers had more than 21 years' experience. The majority of job seekers in the information technology function had five to 10 years' experience, but candidates with three to five years' experience were in highest demand.
Try to pry loose a job by combining student work and internships to make a reasonable claim that you have the equivalent of one year's experience. That's a good start.