Have you recently walked across the stage to receive your college diploma for the completion of an undergraduate or graduate program of study? Did you leave the college campus with a job in hand, or are you in the midst of looking for one? If you find yourself in the job acquisition mode following your most recent achievement, listed below are a few ideas to consider. As always, your feedback is appreciated and welcome, so feel free to add what is (or isn't) working for you as you explore life after college...
- Stay in close touch with Career Services at your college or university.
- Volunteer with an organization or 'cause' that is of interest to you.
- Exercise to enhance both physical and mental health and well-being.
- Review career-marketing materials to ensure overall presentation excellence.
- Write a stellar resume, keeping the employer's perspective in mind. Have you made it easy for the Hiring Manager to grasp within seconds these three elements: 1. how to get in touch with you in multiple ways? 2. the type of job you seek? 3. who you are and what makes you uniquely qualified to do said job?
- Avoid sending a mass-produced cover letter addressed: 'To Whom It May Concern' with your resume attached. (Sorry to say, I don't think anyone will be concerned.)
- Avoid sending a mass-produced cover letter addressed to 'Dear Sir or Madam' with your resume attached.
- Keep track of stuff -- people, dates, times, places, data, action steps, etc.
- Make the first few lines of the body of your resume rock -- and stand out like no other in a sea of competition. (Lead off with something that will make the reader go 'WOW' -- I need to get in touch with this person now!
- Target your career-marketing materials to each respective employer, so when your materials arrive on the Hiring Manager's desk, the reader will know you did the documents especially for them, and only them.
- Consider all of your options. Make a list of possibilities to expand your target market so if one thing doesn't work, maybe another idea will...in short, have a Plan, B, C, D, and E.
- Network like you invented the concept! Thanks to @SpenceAnderson for his tip over on Twitter the other day in response to my question about college degree and no job? "Tell them to start networking and starting networking FAST."
- Also, thanks to @SitalRuparelia for his tweet in response to the same query "Offer local businesses skills and time for free, do great job & 1. ask for LinkedIn recommendations & 2. Referrals." (Yes, yes, and yes!)
- Believe that rejection is a word and not a way of life.
- Add an additional layer of skin to protect yourself from the word 'no' and 'naysayers' and 'negativity' -- do not be deterred by any of these 'n' words.
- Unfollow a 'doom and gloom' perspective and 'friend' possibility thinking.
- Establish a routine and stick with it daily. The golf game will wait; the video games will wait; your future is waiting for y - o - u to show that you care!
- Inspire self; motivate self. What are some positive words with which you could start each day? Instead of thinking as a job seeker mentioned the other day: 'Same Old Stuff Different Day' (SOS DD)-- how about considering a more positive, productive mantra to help you move forward?
- Do not be a job seeker who touts to the world 'I'll take anything.' Find your focus and decide upon some type of direction -- and then do!
- Get professional help if you feel lost -- there is an abundance of talent in the career management profession. Get referrals and do your homework before engaging services.
- Speaking of 'do' -- take action now. Thinking is one thing; doing is another. Combine the two and voila -- you can begin to make things happen.
- Be okay with asking others to and for help. These four words are powerful: "I need your help." Be not afraid to say them; it doesn't mean you are weak or anything of the sort -- quite the opposite -- it takes a strong individual to invite and accept help.
- Become knowledgeable of how to manage your student loan payments when they become due.
- Say 'thank you' to each and every person who shares a tip, an idea, a thought, a piece of wisdom. Thank you never wears out its welcome.
- Do not appear desperate when you are speaking with employers or your network -- even though 'inside' you may feel lost, confused, or overwhelmed -- put your best foot (and face) forward and let others hear and see that.
- Reach out to your connections for ideas and advice; do not ask for a job. Besides that not being cool, it puts your contacts on the spot and in an awkward position. Invite help without hassle.
- Build a transition team to help you get from point A (college) to point B (work). Invite people you trust to serve on your team; listen carefully to their suggestions and recommendations and then, draw your own conclusions and make your own decisions.
- Read blogs and books and be a sponge in soaking up knowledge about how to find work after college.
- Advocate for yourself by going to a career fair and speaking with a recruiter or other representative. See what happens; see what you learn.
- Advocate for yourself by doing an unpaid internship -- you may not make money right now, but it could lead you to get that hands-on experience that distinguishes you from your competition.
- Smile -- you are a college graduate. (Think of all the people who would love to be in your shoes!)
- Share an 'attitude of gratitude.'
- Never, ever ever give up.
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