I just read the distressing headline that 1 out of every 2 recent college graduates is unemployed or under-employed and struggling to get started in their chosen career field.
As the parent of two recent college graduates from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, and the co-moderator of a central New Jersey job hunters support group (the St. Matthias Employment Ministry in Somerset, NJ), I have some ideas.
- Objective: What are you looking to do? Is it finance? writing? nursing? a managerial role? Having a very clear objective is a must! With a clear objective, you can be highly focused in your search. Without one, you will flounder.
- Experiences: What have you accomplished? What personal projects, part-time work, work study, volunteer, and internship experiences does she have? The competition is heavy out there. You have to portray your capabilities and differentiate yourself.
- Value Proposition: Ultimately each person who is in transition has to answer the Big Question of employers: Why should I hire You? How would you answer that question?
- Network: How well are you utilizing your network of contacts? You have lots of contacts: family, friends, neighbors, professors, college administrators, internship and work study connections, etc. Are you reaching out to them, sharing your Objective with them, asking them for advice and referrals?
- Drive: One of the characteristics I have seen that seems to be key to landing a job is something I'll call Drive. My father called it "moxie." It's opposite would be "Waiting for the phone to ring." Drive is not being afraid to toot your own horn. Drive is get-up-and-go. It's gumption, nerve, chutzpah. And it's not taking "No" for an answer.
Oh and one more thing.
- Help Others: Be sure to help others along the way. Why? because they will help you in return. It's reciprocity. And it's a beautiful thing.
Posted by Terrence Seamon on Thursday April 26, 2012
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