How many times have you received campus-wide e-mails encouraging you to high-tail it to your campus' career center for resume critiques or mock-interview sessions? Do you find these e-mails getting lost among "more important" messages? Did their importance seem overrated? After all, you had plenty of time to find a job, right? By May, you begin to panic and realize you have yet to nail down a job for after graduation, and wish you had attended some of those sessions you deemed not important enough to attend. So what do you do now, as you realize your resume is two years outdated and your interview skills aren't up to par? You realize it's a bit too late to slink over to the career center, and who knows how long posting a resume on Monster.com will take? So, KnotMag talked to career counselors and career experts from colleges and online career services across the country to help procrastinators everywhere. Disclaimer: Knot Magazine does not endorse waiting till the last minute to begin one's career search. So here is some of the best advice for college grads and college students around:
"It's been said a hundred times, do your research on the employer ahead of time. Find out if the job is going to be one where you can say to yourself, "Gee, I'm glad I get to do what I do!" Discover what it is about yourself that gives you a sense of joy and purpose, THEN find out what employment opportunities are available; where that talent or skill can be used. If training is necessary, get it.
"For students, realize that the "major" is not your career. It's a known fact that nearly 2/3 of college graduates just five years after graduating are employed in a job that does not relate to their college major. Instead, use your major (a subject you enjoy learning more about) as the opportunity to develop the skills ALL employers are seeking in candidates: communication skills, thinking skills, people skills, leadership skills, and technical skills."
- Will Smith, Director of Career Services at Wartburg College
"Students who graduate in the next year or two need to fully avail themselves of the resources of their campus career center. The professionals in those offices have a wealth of experiences, ability and desire to help their students find great professions. It is a crime how few students understand or make the effort to even enter their career service offices, let alone undergo mock interviews, career counseling, resume evaluation and their other wonderful services."
- Steven Rothberg, President and Founder of CollegeRecruiter.com
"As far as finding a job, students must once again be more geographically flexible and broaden their strategy for finding a job. Our primary message is to develop a multi-faceted job search strategy, which means trying everything - career fairs, online job listings, resume databases, newspaper ads, reciprocity at college career centers in other parts of the country, and good old fashioned networking. Be persistent."
- Richard White, Director of Career Services, Rutgers University
"1. The current economic slowdown has hit some industries and not others. Do your research and find out which industries are still strong.
2. You may want to create several versions of your resume highlighting different skill sets.
3.Look at the job description carefully and draft a cover letter that tells the employer exactly how your qualifications match the job specifications.
4. Don't have much job experience? Concentrate on "transferable skills," i.e. managing a food drive shows initiative and time management. That skill set can benefit an employer, you will have an advantage over someone who makes no effort to target their resume and cover letter to the employer's needs."
- excerpt from a students news publication article written by Karen Shelton, Director of Career Services for the College of Business at the University of Missouri at Columbia, called "Job Market 101 - The Good, the Bad, and the Reality."
"For those that have a year left, get as much experience as you can and do well while you are in school. Attend workshops on job skills and build a list of companies you would like to work for. If I were to narrow down one thing, it would be to have students find a non-profit they really believe in and volunteer a little in their field of study. They will grow as a person, get some solid skills, develop references and have a better resume because of it. Research the market and research yourself. Know what you are able to do and what you are worth.
"Students must become savvy job hunters. Employment skills are not something one is born with, but something that is learned and practiced. For a student to be successful today in any field, it is imperative that they learn the basics. There are two areas that this is important in. The first of course, is within their field. Other than just taking classes, a student should begin their work experience while they are still in school. This means seeking out internships and volunteer opportunities so they have resume building experience."
- Connie Winn, Director of Career Services, The Art Institute of Portland
"For the grad two years out, make sure to understand your own values, interests, and skills sets, as you conceptualize your career path. Too many students are influenced by the dollar dynamics of certain fields. There is nothing worse that doing something you do not enjoy....day after day after day, even though you make good money. Challenge and spiritual self-atisfaction, in addition to what one values, are much more important than money. Many of your parents are trapped by their financial success into professional lives of meaningless boredom."
- Alan McNabb Director of Arts and Sciences Placement Office at Indiana University
"No one loves looking for new jobs. It can feel like personal rejection every time you don't get a call or an interview goes sour. Don't get down. The key things are to use the tools available to you and dont forget the #1 tool of all- your personal networks! As a new grad, you leave school with friends and alumni who have all been in the same boat. Contact your career office and alumni office to find people in your field of interest. Moving to a new city? Contact the local alumni club in that area to get connected with people in your field. Asking for an informational nterview just might lead to a job."
- Tanya Singer, Producer for Yahoo! Careers
