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College to Career: Your Guide to Starting Out

November 2009

At Thanksgiving dinner next week your parents and other relatives are bound to ask, "How's that job search coming along?"

 

While some young people fear this question, I encourage you to embrace it. Why not use your family's interest as an opportunity? If you're comfortable asking your loved ones for help, there are several ways you can enlist their support -- appropriately -- in your job search efforts.

 

Here are three examples of how your mom, dad and other family members can lend a hand in your job hunt. Listen to these and other tips in my new podcast.

 

1. Proofreading. You can never have too many people checking your resume, cover letters, grad school applications, social networking profiles and any other professional content you've created. If your parents have good grammar and spelling abilities, ask them to check some of your career-related writing and to make sure your online image is ready for prime time.

 

2. Rehearsing for interviews. Your parents or relatives (particularly anyone you know who has experience interviewing job seekers) can help you prepare for any upcoming interviews by running through questions, helping to choose an appropriate interview outfit or videotaping your answers.

 

3. Making networking connections. Your family members definitely count as part of your professional network. Ask everyone at the Thanksgiving table if they’d be willing to brainstorm any of their contacts who might be helpful for you. You’d be amazed at how many people come to mind when they really think about it.

 

Some people aren’t comfortable asking their parents for help and connections—it’s fine if you feel this way, and of course there are lots of other connections you can access. But if you are comfortable networking with your family, then I hope you'll spend some time talking about your job search while you're gobbling down your turkey.

2 Comments Permalink Tags: job_search, job, career, generation_y, networking

If you're looking for a job in today's difficult economy, you must be prepared at any moment for an opportunity to arise. Often an interview or job will go to one of the first people to respond, so you have to be ready at all times.

 

Listen to my new podcast to hear more about the following tips for being properly prepared:

 

1. Have every required job search item. This includes such must-haves as a proofread and professionally vetted resume printed out on nice paper and a clean and ironed interview outfit hanging in your closet.

 

2. Have your virtual image cleaned and polished too. These days, your virtual image can be just as important as your real one. Double check to make sure all of your online profiles are professionally appropriate. Remove those crazy Homecoming photos and status updates about skipping class, and set up a professional profile on LinkedIn that promotes your work-related accomplishments.

 

3. Practice your pitch. People will judge you based on how you introduce and talk about yourself, so be prepared for the inevitable moment when you'll be asked to "tell me a bit about yourself." Practice introducing yourself in a positive way and get very clear and concise about what kind of job you're looking for and what you have to offer. Being able to introduce yourself is deceptively difficult. Don't wing it!

 

4. Have business cards. Carrying business cards shows people you meet that you are active in the professional world even if you don’t have a full-time job. All you need on the card are your name, phone number and email address. Bring your business cards everywhere you go -- the gym, Thanksgiving dinner, the nail salon -- you never know when a chance meeting could lead to an opportunity.

 

5. Set up Google alerts. Finally, prepare your brain by reading a major newspaper every day and empowering yourself with daily information about the companies you want to work for. Set up free Google news alerts with the names of employers and industry topics so you can keep up to date on important news and any potential opportunities.

 

Listen to this week's podcast for more on this topic!

0 Comments Permalink Tags: generation_y, job, jobs, career, search

For my first blog post and podcast for MyPath, I wanted to address the biggest career issue facing college students and recent grads today: getting a job in the worst recession in decades.

 

While I wish I could offer some secret playbook that I've been saving for a bad economy, the reality is that you have to use the same job search strategies you've always used to find a job. However, you have to use them in a way that is smarter, faster and better than you've ever done before.

 

  • Being smarter means being more strategic about where you look for job opportunities and what kinds of opportunities you seek. Be sure to cast the widest net possible and think broadly about where you can work and where you'll come across job postings.

 

  • Being faster means jumping at opportunities when they arise. Return all phone calls and emails promptly, show up early to job fairs and networking events and apply immediately when you find a job posting that suits your skills and experience.

 

  • Being better means avoiding common job seeker mistakes. Proofread all documents and email messages, make sure your contact methods are 100 percent professional and check any online profiles for inappropriate content.

 

For more tips on being smarter, faster and better, listen to my recent podcast.

 

Next week I'll be back with more tips for making a successful transition from college to career!

2 Comments Permalink Tags: jobs, college, generation_y, career, job_search

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