[Human Resources] Tips For New Entomology Graduates

Do you remember when "Tell me why I should hire you" was a common interview question? Career counselors advised prospective candidates to sell themselves and, in turn, the employer had the option to buy or decline. That old "sales pitch" model has largely given way to the new "first date" paradigm, in which new graduates can stand out from among the candidate pool by asking interviewers intelligent questions.

The new "first date" model holds that both parties share power and are attempting to discover if they are compatible. Of course, offering thoughtful responses and listening are indispensable, but do not forget to interview your interviewer. Here are some suggested questions for graduates looking for jobs in entomology and related fields, as well as general advice for job seekers in virtually any discipline:

• Does your company employ any other entomologists and what are their job responsibilities? Many entomology graduates are ultimately looking for a position in research or training. However, most pest management firms do not have labs or do much of their own research. You will probably have more success finding a strictly research job with a manufacturer. Likewise, the chances of landing a training position without a stint in the field solving real problems are slim. Find out what the prospective employer’s current entomologists are doing and determine what it takes to earn the type of position you ultimately want within that organization.

• Are there any entomologists in sales, management or supervisory positions? How will your company decide if I am management material? Although some firms may promote entomologists into sales, management or supervisory roles, this may not be the case with all companies. In fact, not all technical personnel are well suited to these kinds of positions. One of the ways many companies assess your suitability for a specific job is via personality profiles. Find out if the company you are interviewing with attempts to match personality types with specific jobs. If it does, ask if you are a good fit for the jobs that are available now and for the jobs you think you might want in the future. It might behoove you to do some self-assessment and take one of these tests before you interview. Some are relatively inexpensive or can be found for free online. For example, see http://jobs.collegerecruiter.com/JS/CareerResources/Assessment.

• Does your company have a career path or promotion opportunities for entomologists? Can I be promoted into technical positions that do not require me to be a manager? Does your company offer other services besides pest management that might offer career opportunities? What are you going to do if you do not want to go into management or if the interviewer feels you are not management material? Ask if there are promotion opportunities in technical support or training into which you can grow. You should ask how long it would typically take before you would be qualified for those jobs and where the company sees you in two, five and 10 years in the organization. Some larger companies are branching out into other related services. Ask if any entomologists have made the switch to a related business unit.

• What types of products do you use? How do you solve pest problems? Different pest management firms have different philosophies about solving pest problems. Many talk about Integrated Pest Management (IPM) but their actual service practices may not reflect a true commitment. By asking specific questions about their service practices, you can determine if a company’s philosophy fits your priorities. If you prefer an employer that is environmentally sensitive, make sure the company’s solutions reflect non-pesticide alternatives.

Here are some additional questions:

• What is the company’s turnover rate?

• What is the turnover rate among technical people?

• What is the average employee tenure?

• What does your company look for when it promotes technical people?

Finally, ask specific questions related to the prospective employer’s Web site. Many applicants will reference that they have visited a company’s site. But the candidates who stand out are the ones who ask intelligent questions about information they saw there.

GENERAL QUESTIONS. "The questions you ask reveal a lot about your enthusiasm for the position, personal drive and other elements of your character that will be important on the job," says Steven Rothberg, the president and founder of www.College
Recruiter.com, a popular career site used by job hunting students, recent graduates and employers.

"Some important ones include, ‘Do you have any reservations about my qualifications for this job?’ ‘When do you expect to make a decision?’ and ‘If I’m a finalist for the position, what’s the next step in the process?’ But, after you get a job offer, you can ask lots of other important questions that you should never ask before the offer," Rothberg added.

Following are further insights from Rothberg, which can benefit budding entomologists and non-scientists alike.

DANGER, DANGER. Rothberg also recommends asking to speak with some of the company’s vendors and customers. Making sure to tell the hiring manager what you plan to do is a critical step. You do not want to start keeping secrets or take the risk that the company finds out through the grapevine. Explain to your potential new employer that you would like to learn more about the business and the industry, to lessen the intimidation factor. If the interviewer refuses, a red flag should go up. It could mean there is something to hide.

"It is amazing what people will tell you when you ask them," says Rothberg.

Seeing a pattern of unhappy customers or former employees who resigned after only 10 months should send up another red flag. That does not mean you will not be happy at that company, but make sure you investigate further if necessary.

YOU’RE MY IDOL. Ask if you will be assigned a designated mentor. Most companies do not have formal programs but will happily support an informal mentoring relationship. Once you have found a prospective mentor, express how you would like to emulate his or her success.

"Ask to go to lunch perhaps once per month and talk about what has been done personally and professionally that has led the person to be a success. You definitely want to spend more time listening here and less time talking."

CONCLUSION. A seasoned industry veteran once told a joke, "What is an entomologist?" He answered, "An entomologist is someone who can tell you how many hairs are on a cockroach’s rump but can’t tell you how to kill one." It takes more than just "book knowledge" to succeed in pest management — a truth common to many industries. True, academic degrees are important and indicate a number of things about you including your intellectual aptitude, capacity to set and achieve a goal, social skills and a certain level of overall maturity. However, in our industry, success means one main thing: solving pest issues.

It is clichéd but true: You are our future. So go out there and show the industry your stuff! Best of luck in your job search!

The author is human resources director for The Steritech Group, Charlotte, N.C. The pioneer of EcoSensitive® Pest Prevention Programs, the company was the first structural pest management firm to be awarded the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program’s Excellence Award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for reducing the risks associated with pesticide usage. For more information, visitwww.steritecj.com.