Career Treking

College Seniors: What to do BEFORE you graduate

career.treking — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:29:09 +0000

College seniors everywhere are busy completing graduation requirements and (hopefully) formulating post-graduation plans. Here are a few things you can- and should- do before you graduate.

If you have’t already done so, make an appointment with Career Services. Have your resume reviewed and conduct a mock interview. Most Career Centers will continue to support students beyond graduation, but you’re sure to get a better response if they can place a name with a face when you call.
Likewise, make an appointment with the Alumni Office. Ask what services they provide for alums: do they periodically host networking events in your area? Can you get access to the alumni database? Are there specific alums in your area or field of study they can connect you to? Alums are a great source for informational interviews and connections and are often overlooked.
Get together with friends and host a LinkedIn party. Invite your closest (and not so closest) friends to an event where you can all create your linkedin accounts and link to one another. Be sure to let everyone know ahead of time so they can ask their parents if friends can link to them. Present an award to the person with the most connections.
Ask for a copy of your transcript. When employers ask for it, you will be prepared.
Create your list of references. Meet with professors, employers and others on-campus whom you hope to use as a reference. Ask if they can provide a reference for you and whether it’s easier to provide one via email or phone call.
Meet with your advisor and faculty members. In addition to serving as a potential reference, your advisor most likely knows you best and can be a great resource for career guidance. It is also likely your advisor has worked with others who have similar career interests and can steer you in the direction of good alumni contacts. Faculty are often asked by potential employers when they are looking to hire.
Attend any and all remaining recruiting events. Companies coming to campus to find summer interns are still good contacts for you to make. Consider applying for a summer internship: it’s a good option in this economy, will further develop your skills and resume, and could turn into a full-time job in the fall.
If possible, volunteer for reunion weekend. With thousands of alumni returning to campus for reunion weekend, most colleges would be happy to have a few extra people on hand to help out. It may be wise to stay in town a few days longer after getting your diploma. Volunteering at cocktail receptions, picnics and workshops may offer opportunities to practice networking skills, perfect your elevator pitch and make solid connections to individuals with whom you already share a common bond. And who doesn’t want the party to last just a few more days?

What can the class of 2012 expect this year?

career.treking — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:39:45 +0000

College students and parents everywhere are asking the question: will I (or my son/daughter) be able to find a job when I (he/she) graduate? A legitimate question as the national unemployment rate hovers at 8.6% and has been reported as high as 16% for those between the ages of 16 and 24.

For college graduates, the expectations for 2102 are more positive then we’ve seen since 2007: targeted hiring of those with a BA/BS is expected to increase by 7% in 2012. At first glance, these numbers are most welcome but there are some caveats to this information: almost as many employers surveyed reported a significant increase in hiring this year as those who reported a significant decrease in hiring (the numbers ranged from an increase of 45% to a decrease of 46%). In addition, there are simply fewer jobs than college graduates. Thus, it behooves those students who are getting ready to enter the job market to research those employers who are hiring and prepare themselves to be the most qualified.

Where will the jobs be this year for those brand new graduates?

First, company size. Companies who have between 9 and 100 employees show the biggest increase in hiring college graduates this year: 19%. Organizations with 101-500 employees report no change in hiring, companies that have between 500 and 3,999 employees report a 3% decrease in hiring and large companies with over 4,000 employees expect to hire 9% more college graduates this year than last.

Next, industry sector. The retail industry expects to hire 25% more college graduates this year over last. Similar increases were reported for information services (23%), healthcare (23%) and transportation (20%). Manufacturing and utilities are projecting negative trends in college graduate hiring. Finance and insurance expect to increase hiring this year by 6%.

Finally, by region. The southwest region tops the list with a projected 14% hiring increase, followed by the southeast at 12% and the Great Lakes region at 10%. The Northwest region reported a 4% decrease in hiring. The northeast reported a 3% increase.

What are the employers who are hiring looking for in a college graduate?

Fit. Will the candidate fit in with the culture of the organization?
Flexibility. Will the candidate do whatever is asked of them?
The ability to “cross boundaries”, or mix technical skills with people skills.

College graduates must be able to articulate how their experiences have helped them develop these skills and how they will bring those skills to a professional setting.

Does GPA Really Matter?

career.treking — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:58:53 +0000

Your GPA, or grade point average, is a strong indicator of testing success in a controlled environment; it is not an accurate predictor of success in the working world. In a recent survey conducted by Career Builder, 55% of employers reported no interest in using GPA as a recruiting tool for college graduates. Instead, they are more interested in how you will contribute to the organization on a daily basis. 25% of the remaining respondents required a 3.0 or better.

As a former recruiter and business manager, I can report that although I certainly looked at GPA on resumes, I never used it to assess a candidate’s viability. I have always been more interested in the way a candidate would perform on the job. Could they demonstrate a work ethic? Would they do what was asked? Would they fit into the culture?

With that said, GPA does matter in some instances:

Many large, sought-after organizations do use GPA as a tool to screen applicants. Proctor and Gamble comes to mind. Smaller, more progressive companies will look at other factors when assessing job candidates.
Technical occupations such as consultants, nursing and actuarial science, depend on GPA to predict success.
Finally, GPA does matter when applying to graduate school. But the, so does work experience.

If your GPA is not as high as you would like…

Be sure to demonstrate your marketable skills on your resume, in your cover letter and in an interview. Employers want to know you can do the job as quickly as possible and your past experience may point to that.
Network, network, network. Networking is the most effective way to find a job, especially in a challenging job market. Getting people to vouch for you in the best way to find a job, regardless of GPA.
Become more business-savvy. Read business newspapers and journals. Keep current with the industries and companies you are interested in.
Deliver results. The further along you go in your career, the less importance is placed on academics; the ability to get things done is much more important. Thus, be able to articulate how you have been able to deliver results, whether in an internship, part time job or extracurricular activity.
Finally, if your GPA was not high, there may be good reasons for that. Many college students have to maintain a job while in school or they may have family obligations, things that can take away from study time. You probably developed marketable skills in whatever you did so be sure to articulate that.

Job Search Tips for the Holidays

career.treking — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:37:47 +0000

Many people believe that the holidays are the worst time to look for a job. That is a myth. The fact is that many organizations have their new year budgets approved and know exactly who they can hire and when. In addition, business travel often slows down for the holidays so people are in their offices and may be more available for informational interviews and connections.

Here are a few things you can do to advance your job search this holiday season.

First, this is a great time to network with family and friends. Ask them what their jobs entail, how they got started and if they have any suggestions for you. You can even ask them if you can do an “externship”: ask if you can spend a half day with them at work so you can see first hand what they do and what the environment is like.
Next, use the holidays as an opportunity to reach out to those you have already networked with to update them on your job search efforts. E-cards are a great way to stay in front of people. I once received an email from someone who had been looking for a job. It was not only helpful to know what she had been doing but it also served as a reminder that she was still looking.
Take some time this school vacation to make a list of the marketable skills you have developed this semester. Were you able to lead a school project or club? Did you launch a small business on campus? Did you take a course whose subject area was new and interested you? All of this information is important when trying to set your career goals.
This is a great time to ask Santa Claus for some interview-appropriate clothing. An interview suit, professional shoes and/or a portfolio make for great gifts.

Most importantly, don’t overlook the holidays as an opportunity to look for part time work, an internship or a study abroad program.

Take any job or wait for THE job??

career.treking — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:27:01 +0000

I am often asked if someone who is unemployed should take any job or wait for THE job. Here is what I recommend to my friends and clients when asked that question:

Taking any job will provide

cash flow
a track record of work experience and work ethic
confidence
benefits
getting a foot in the door

Here are some drawbacks:

might be less income
might be less challenge
Less flexibility in terms of looking for THE job

With all of that said, I always think it is better to work than not. Even a job waiting tables can enable someone to develop the marketable skills employers look for in job candidates. See a recent blog post on the details: http://collegerecruiter.com/profiles/blogs/making-parttime-work-work-for

Be sure to select a job that will enable you to develop the skills you will need for THE job. For example, a job candidate who wants to work in the video game business might opt for a part time job at Game Stop. That person will be exposed to the various products as well as the end users.

FAQ: The College Graduate Resume

career.treking — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:38:26 +0000

Rule number one for resume writing: it is an art, not a science. You can ask 10 people for feedback on your resume and you will get at least 10 different suggestions. The key to a resume is to clearly delineate what you can offer to the employer. With that said, here are some Frequently Asked Questions about a resume for a college graduate.

Should my resume fit onto one page? Yes. College graduates typically have limited work and real life experience. One page should suffice. Do not go lower than an 11 point font to squeeze your background to one page. If I have to get my glasses to read your resume, you’ve now made me work.

Should I have an objective? Again, yes. I realize that many career services offices do not recommend an objective but when I have a stack of resumes to review, I need to know (and quickly) what you want. Be sure that your objective is clear and concise. ”Pursuing a career in publishing to bring my writing and editing skills to a growing organization” can suffice.

Should I list my personal interests on my resume? Yes, but only if they tell me why you are unique or how you will add value. Including volunteer work at the Big Brothers Association tells me a lot about a candidate so that should be included. Reading science fiction books should not. BTW… being able to navigate Microsoft Office software (Word, etc) is a given these days. You don’t have to include it.

Should I include my GPA? Yes, if it’s a 3.5 or better.

One last thing… when listing dates of employment, do not include the months. For some reason, when I see months, I automatically start “doing the math”, thus taking my attention away from the content of the resume. If it was a summer job, you can just put “summer, 2010″.

Interview Followup: why? when? how?

career.treking — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:35:12 +0000

You just had a great interview. You clicked with the recruiter, you liked the hiring manager… even the receptionist was friendly. You really want that job. What can you do AFTER the interview to help make sure the job us yours???

Within the first 24 hours….

Send a (separate) thank you note to everyone you met with. Each note should be customized for each person you met with and should be used as one more way to sell yourself. Keep the note short and concise. Emailed noted are fine; some people prefer to send handwritten notes/ Either way is fine as long as they are sent within 2 hours after the interview.

3 days after stated notification date…

If you haven’t heard from the employer 3 days after you expected to hear from them, call your initial contact and ask for a status update. For example, if they said it would take a week to make a decision, call 10 days after the interview (3 days after the expected date). Be prepared to leave a professional voice mail if you don’t get them on the phone directly.

2 weeks after notification date…

Send an email to your initial contact reiterating your interest and qualifications for the position.

Then…

Sit back and wait. Hiring decisions always take longer than people expect. It’s important to show your interest but you don’t want to appear pushy or difficult. Most recruiters are incredibly busy and just don’t have the time or resources to follow up promptly. Your phone call and email will let them get back to you when they have a chance.

Best Places for College Grads to Look for a Job

career.treking — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:28:41 +0000

In order of priority

On-campus recruiting. This tops the list… the employer is coming to YOU.
Internship programs. The conversion rate from an internship to full time employment averages 50%.
Employee referrals. Knowing someone who can recommend you at one of your target organizations is significantly more successful than applying blind.
Career and job fairs. Employers who attend these events are actively recruiting.
Faculty contacts. Many employers have established relationships with members of the faculty. It’s worth checking out!
Commercial websites. Applying for jobs online is the least successful job search strategy. In a healthy economy, only 4% of jobs are filled online. In a challenging economy, that number drops even more: recruiters get inundated with applicants when they post a job and often don’t have the time or resources to adequately screen the resumes.

The Dos and Don’ts of a Successful Job Search

career.treking — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:02:49 +0000

It’s no surprise that jobs are harder than ever to come by. And the “right” job?? Many job seekers have stopped questioning what the right job is– they just want to be employed. But there are definitely things every job seeker can do to increase their chances of success.

First, stop perfecting your resume. Yes, it has to depict who you are and what you can bring to the table. Yes, it has to be error-free. And, yes, it has to fit the position you are applying for. But too many job seekers spend too much time writing and rewriting their resumes. Writing a resume is an art, not a science. If you ask 10 people what they think of your resume, you will get 10 different answers.

INSTEAD: Spend your resume writing time to network and get introduced into an open position.

Second, don’t rely too much on social media. Social media is a great tool to use in a successful job search but it is ONLY a tool…

INSTEAD: Set up your LinkedIn profile and use your Facebook account to build connections and use them for introductions for networking.

Finally, do not rely on job boards to get a job. In a healthy economy, job boards have only a 4% success rate. In a challenging economy, that number is significantly reduced.

INSTEAD: Create profiles on the various job boards and check for email alerts for openings as they come to you. Spend the rest of your time away from the computer.

Nothing replaces face to face networking.

Demonstrating Appropriate Behavior at Work

career.treking — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:42:20 +0000

Organizations are increasingly putting more emphasis on hiring ethical employees and encouraging honest and ethical behavior on the job. Due in part to prominent companies making illegal and unethical choices, consumers have heightened expectations for corporate transparency, ethics and social responsibility.

Although it is everyone’s responsibility to demonstrate ethical and appropriate behavior in the workplace, young professionals are especially susceptible to demonstrating inappropriate behaviors as they are transitioning from school to work.

First and foremost, be honest. This begins in the job search. Be sure your resume and cover letter are 100% accurate. Recruiters will find discrepancies in the reference checking process. As you progress in the working world, take pride in your honesty: communicate openly, share your opinions and ideas when appropriate and do not take credit for the work of others.
Be respectful. Refrain from discrimination, discourage harassment and show concern for other people’s well-being.?? What may have been considered a joke in college can easily be perceived as discrimination or harassment.
Demonstrate self-control. Control both physical and emotional impulses. Try not to overindulge. Consider replacing anger with concern.
Keep in mind that computers and other electronics that belong to the employer should not be used for personal use. In fact, in many industries, your manager is required to track your email and internet usage. The “e” in email stands for “everlasting” and “evidence”.

If you are in doubt as to what is considered appropriate behavior, you can ask your manager or another well-respected co-worker.