With December being another busy month for graduates, I thought I’d repost this article to give courage and say congratulations to those taking finals this week and graduating soon! Well done!!

It’s June and again that time of the year, when new graduates receive their diplomas and launch themselves into a career search. For many new graduates that didn’t begin preparing for their search while still in school, the question they ask is, “I’ve graduated…now what?” For the students that took advantage of their college career centers they probably received counseling and valuable career tools to get their job search started. A college career center is a great place to learn about career fairs, internships and job opportunities. It is estimated that 60% of interns are asked to stay on permanently after graduation, so it is well worth looking into. Plus, internships give students an opportunity to see and feel what work in their chosen profession will be like. Internships also become an impressive reference after graduation.

• Students that choose not to take advantage of early preparation can still get ahead by taking time now to prepare before launching their job search. They first need to decide on the direction they will focus their career search. Many students are still unsure even after graduation. Making a list of potential industries and positions and conducting a preliminary research is a good way to find out where their interests lie.

• If very unclear in their focus, I suggest hiring a career coach. Career coaches are very effective and have wonderful tools and exercises that allow graduates to realize their strengths and weaknesses and what they like and don’t like. Tools such as Behavioral Assessments, and Job Search Plans help graduates and all job seekers move forward and get organized in their search.

• The next step is to update or in some cases build for the first time your targeted career tools. If you are unclear of how to write powerful and specific resumes, cover letters, thank you letters, reference sheets and other career documents it may be worth your time and energy to seek out a certified resume writer. They will have a wealth of information not only on writing your documents but job search strategies, interview information can put you in touch with many effective resources.

• Digging deeper by researching companies, industries, and even specific managers, gives you a better feel for the work environment, company expectations and a feel for what your daily job will entail. Check out local industry newspapers and magazines, develop contacts that can provide information and insight and even look at the competition as a valuable source of information to help in narrowing your decision.

• Expanding your contacts and developing a network that you can rely on may be your most critical move in finding a job in the field you’ve chosen. Utilize both professional and social networking forums to expand your contacts. Look up old friends, alumni and employers; join organizations and associations and get connected! Make use of online networks too such as LinkedIn and Facebook as well as local groups such as your Chamber association to make connections in the right places.

Fresh out of college the job market can be an exciting, competitive arena, offering great promise and opportunity for those who take the time to prepare for the launch of their career. Find the right job the first time and congratulations graduates!

Tuesday’s Tips

For the past year college students have been hearing and probably feeling first hand the effects of the economy. Student loans are harder to get, interest rates are higher, available internships are down 20%, and stats on the staggering number of new graduates still unemployed leaves little to get excited about. So, what can new graduates do that will help them get ahead of other 2009 graduates that are also looking for work?

>>> Be Prepared <<<

Keep Your Documents Updated You’ve got to have really well developed documents including your resume, cover letter, and references, and addendums that are targeted to what you are looking for. Which means, if you are looking in a few different directions, you might want have a few different versions of your resume? As a new graduate you probably won’t have too much to change in order to make each resume specific in its own right.

For example, you might want a resume focused on your engineering education, internship, classes and projects you worked on in school. For this entry-level resume, all the information should be based on your engineering experience.

If however, you’ve been an assistant manager and manager in an ice cream store on campus for the last 3 or 4 years and want to have a resume focused on your management experience, then all the information in the resume should focus on management. You might include classes in management and business or communications.

Remember also to highlight any other involvement including volunteer positions you have held, that can showcase additional management skills. Don’t forget to change the cover letter to match each resume you develop and can even be tweaked for each job you apply, for maximum affect.

Keep Documents Together When going to interviews bring a portfolio to hold your resume, cover letter, references, addendums, college transcripts, and all relevant academic, social, sport and volunteer related awards and achievements. This will keep you organized and will show employees you are motivated and ready to move forward.

Another great tip that helps new graduates throughout their entire career is to keep a box, file, or drawer designated for your achievements. Throughout your career you’ll work on really impressive projects, programs, products or deals that you’ll want to showcase in future resumes. While working on them they are all consuming and you can’t imagine not retaining all the facts and figures, but in a few years after several more “big” deals, the details might start to fade.

So keep records. With the job market how it is today, if you are let go you may only have 20 minutes to pack up your belongings. Not having access to those facts and figures could be a regret down the road. You won’t have to use exact figures if you feel a conflict in confidentiality, but you will still be able to use the information for effective achievements.

Start Building a Solid Contact List Networking accounts for more than 80% of current job hires. Building a network of contacts will help with future job searching and quite possibly enhance your career performance.

The list will evolve as you meet new people, land new jobs and grow. Keeping a current list will make it easier to weed through potential contacts later when unexpectedly needed. Having a current list keeps people that could be potential mentors, coworkers, employees, or someone you can help close. Your list can have contact names, phone numbers, place of employment, industry and field of employment, email addresses, and anything else that might help later.

Building your list will not only help with your job search but might also be a viable resource during your working career. It makes for a fast and detailed reference list of vendors, suppliers, mentors, trainers, and other assistance you may need to succeed at a job.

As young professionals with so much to look forward to, there is also much to learn as you graduate and begin your career search. It can be daunting, confusing, scary, exciting, and long, but make it a true learning experience. Keep these tips in mind to help you stayed prepared, organized, connected and ready for the next awesome opportunity.

Tuesday’s Tips

The number of available internships and entry level jobs are down just as all jobs in general are down but that doesn’t mean there are not jobs waiting for the new graduates. It just means it is a little tougher to find work – so how do you get ahead…get moving!! We’ve all heard the saying, “Anything worth having is worth working for”; well it is definitely true with finding  the right job.

You have got your degree now what are you going to do with it? Like all job seekers, you have got to get your ducks in a row. Make sure you know the direction you want to go in terms of position and even industry. Just because you are new to the business world it doesn’t mean you don’t need a plan. Without a plan you’ve got no direction and you’ll wander, get discouraged and quit looking or settle for something you really didn’t want.

 Make sure you develop a killer set of career documents. A powerful resume showcases the classes, projects, internships, affiliations and outside work experience you’ve hopefully accomplished during your time in school. Gather positive recommendation letters from employers, teachers, volunteer leaders or others you’ve interacted with during your college life. Finally, make sure you have a reference sheet, targeted cover letter, transcripts, examples of work or projects and anything else relevant to your new career.

 Once armed with direction and documents you need to take action! Don’t think posting to Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com and NewGraduateJobs.com is all you’ve got to do to find a really great, high paying job. You’ll need to set in place job search plan as well. Still search the job boards but find ways to get closer to the actual hiring managers.

• Do your research; Google the company, read the career section on the company website and find ways to meet people within the organization that can get your resume to the decision makers!
• If you are not on http://www.linkedin.com/, http://www.visualcv.com/, and using http://www.jibberjobber.com/ to organize your search you should be. You need to look at this job search as if it is an all out battle or assault for the jobs. Many companies aren’t using the big boards so you’ll have to be find ways to be seen by them and get creative in finding them. 
• Get involved in associations, volunteer programs, community and church activities, forums, and networking groups in your area. Think about starting a network for new graduates to help each other.

The more aggressive you are and more motivated, confident and valuable you appear. Appearance and fit at this stage of your career is the name of the game. If you decide to “take the summer off because the market is so slow anyway”, like I am hearing daily from new graduates in my area, you’ll look lazy (for lack of nicer word) to hiring managers that realize you are just starting your search after 3 or 4 months of being out of school. 

When you are a new graduate your motivation, energy, and positive attitude are crucial to employers looking for entry level employees. Put your motivation and energy into action for faster results and a more proactive reputation.

Thursday’s Review 

I’m sure we can all agree that we need some encouragement and understanding of the opportunities that come with major changes in environments. So, in keeping with this thought I decided to investigate the top industries and positions that job seekers looking for change or just getting started can hopefully check out to see if one of these industries could be a viable career choice for you.

 New graduates out there, keep in mind the future is where you need to be looking, not the present. See what industries are hot and focus on starting your search in those areas.

According to an expert in the area of careers Marty Nemko, Contributing columnist for Kiplinger.com, in his March 2009 updated article, 13 Hot Jobs in Hard Times here is his list:

Accounting

Education

Entertainment Industry

Utilities

Repairers

Energy Industry

Health Care

Senior Services

Law Enforcement

The Clergy

Repossession, Foreclosure, and Debt collection Industries

Government Work

I also checked out the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) the government provides as part of its annual statistics. For the 2008-2009 year this is what they’ve come up with for the 30 Fastest Growing Occupations:

Network systems and data communications

Personal and home care aides

Home health aides

Computer software engineers,

Veterinary technologists and technicians

Personal financial advisors

Makeup artists, theatrical and performance

Medical assistants

Veterinarians

Substance abuse and behavioral disorder Counselors

Skin Care Specialists

Financial Analysts

Social and human service assistants

Gaming surveillance officers and gaming

Moderate-term on-the-Investigators

Physical Therapists Assistant

Pharmacy Technicians

Forensic Science Technicians

Dental Hygienists

Mental Health and substance abuse social workers

Mental Health Counselors

Marriage and Family Therapy

Dental Assistant

Computer systems analysts

Database Administrators

Computer software engineers, systems Software

Gaming and sports book writers and runners

Environmental science and protection technicians, including health

Manicurists and pedicurists

Physical therapists

Physicians Assistant

What this means to you as a job seeker is that if you are completely up in the air on what direction you want to look to find a new career, this is a good start. As I’ve discussed in other articles, doing what interests you and what you are good at also have to be deciding factors. However, if you’ve got experience, education, or a desire do what it takes to find a career that is sustainable I would look into these industries and jobs and see what areas are worth taking a closer look.

Opportunity seems to still be hiding for some but take a closer look and you’ll see it’s getting easier to find every day! Shine On Job Hunters!

Soon-to-be new graduates are once again revving up their job searches by now, either looking for internships or entry level jobs in the “real” world. It is hard for all job seekers right now but new graduates especially may find the process overwhelming. So, I’ve included a few great secrets that job seekers learn after several trips through the job search process from which new graduates could really benefit.

Secret #1 - Just like when trying to start up an exercise routine or any new skill – it takes time and accountability. Find someone also looking for work and help each other through the good, bad, and ugly that you’ll undoubtedly see during your search. Two job seekers equal, two sets of ears and eyes, and twice the amount of research, networking, contact development and basic ground covered.

Jobs won’t come looking for you – you need to be aggressive and motivated in your career search. Secret #2… jobs are found through contacts, not job boards. Network-Network-Network! Get involved in groups, social networks – live and via the internet, volunteer programs, and associations in your area and in your industry. Get the word out, make contacts and get in through the back door to avoid the gate keepers!

The final secret, Secret #3 revealed today is to be nice. It sounds simple but easily overlooked, especially by new graduates that are full of ideas of what they should act like – remember to be grateful. Make friends with the competition and try and help others. Aggressive is fine, but people will respond to the humble or grateful much quicker than to those that are pushy and rude.

Send thank you notes to those helping you, make a name for yourself as someone others would want to work with and for, and would want to refer to others. It will stay with you and help you throughout your entire career.

Shine On New Job Seekers!