My Campus Chronicles
Our college blog dedicated to helping students prepare for life outside of college.
May 2010 archive
Job seekers are having one of the most difficult times finding employment in decades. Not only are companies not hiring en masse, but some companies and industries are still shedding jobs, rather than adding them.
New graduates might be having one of the most difficult times overall. Not only are they competing against other graduates, but with more experienced professionals who are out of work.
Things might looking up, though. As a matter of fact, 2010 may be the rebound year for jobs across the country.
For new grads, landing their first job out of college is stressful in any job market, but particularly this year when jobs are scarce and employees are skittish about hiring, finding a job can be even more taxing.
If you are having a hard time, or don't know where to start, here are a couple of ideas:
- Try an internship first - if you cannot find regular employment, at least gain some valuable "real world" experience in the meantime. Even if it's unpaid, the experience will be worth it, and may lead to full time employment if you perform well and an entry-level position becomes available.
- Work your network - many companies that are hiring, or have a select amount of positions rely on referrals from other employees. Stay in contact with friends and classmates who have found jobs, and it could lead to a career opportunity.
- Look into career counseling - if you have gone on interviews and have not received any offers, or if you haven't even been called for an interview, look into career counseling services. They may be able to help you improve your resume or interviewing skills, just in case one of those areas is holding you back from being noticed.
Remember not to get discouraged, and keep all options open to find employment.
If you have ever interviewed with a recruiter and been rejected, you know how that can derail your job search. A "no" answer can send your confidence reeling.
One Hot Jobs column offers tips about how to recover from a recruiter's rejection. Tips such as sending cards thanking them for their time, asking for feedback, and not beating yourself up about it are among the advice.
Being rejecting for a job does not necessarily reflect on your abilities. Some companies are looking for more than work experience to fill a position, especially right now with the amount of candidates looking for a job. Today, companies need quality hires, which can mean job experience as well as having a personality and being a fit for the corporate culture.
If you are rejected for a job take the time to assess whether or not the company was the place for you in the first place. Ask yourself these questions: Were you excited about the position? Did the company have a reputation that you respected and appreciated? Could you see yourself working there?
If you answered no to one or all of these questions, then this could be a sign that you subconsciously held yourself back, or didn't put your best foot forward to make an impression during the interview.
This is a lesson, to be sure and really analyze job opportunities before you apply and have an interview. If it's not really a fit, but you are just doing it because you need a job, that could be a sign that you are sabotaging your interview. And if it's not a place or position you are really interested in working, don't waste your time or the interviewer/company's time.
I read an article about a job seeker who was too shy to job hunt. Once she ran through her top closest friends, mentors and colleagues, she was unsure and awkward about tapping into acquaintances and members of her professional network for job leads.
This is something that I have heard before and I can understand the reluctance to asking people who you may have lost touch with, or don't speak to often. But this may be the time to reacquaint yourself with those in your network.
A good rule of thumb to start with is trying not to lose touch with your network in the first place. I know that life and work can get in the way, but if you set a goal of checking in with 3-5 members of your network at least once month, you won't feel as though you have lost touch.
Also, don't be afraid to go out on a limb. I received an email from an old colleague just the other day. He was changing careers and reached out via email to let people know and ask to be kept in mind if an opportunity presented itself. Now, I have not been in touch with this individual in years, but I remember my experience with him and found him to be a good colleague. So if something came up, I wouldn't hesitate to send it his way, which leads to me to my next point.
For the most part, people want to help. The article makes the point to not assume you will automatically get a "no" answer if you ask. People want to help others find a job, especially right now when it has been so difficult.
Remember that, even if you are shy, you shouldn't let it hold you back from the job hunt. People are willing to help, and if you utilize your network correctly there is no reason to assume that you will not receive assistance.
Need a job, but having a hard time making connections? Brush up on your social networking skills.
Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are more than just socializing with your friends and "liking" a friend's status or fan page. You can actually find a job.
As one Newsweek article pointed out, you CAN find a job through social sites by connecting with hiring managers and recruiters who are turning to the social networks to "advertise" job openings.
If you are interested in turning social sites into a job hunt, here are a couple things to keep in mind:
- Clean it up - spring break photos, vulgar language and questionable content should be removed before using you profile to network with potential employers.
- Brush up on best practices - make sure you are using your network and tapping into the right contacts to maximize your opportunities.
- Stay diligent - just like networking in person, social networking takes some work. Don't make a connection with a potential employer and then take several days or weeks to reconnect.
- Make it part of a larger strategy - online networking is convenient, but don't allow it to be your only source for connections. Face to face contact is still very effective. So keep making lunch appointments and visiting business events to get your foot in the door.
Happy Job Tweeting!
Looking for a job? Have job burnout? Need a change of pace? So have a lot of job seekers - this past year especially. For some workers, finding a job has led them to careers in areas such as health care or non-profits - jobs that are more meaningful than the everyday corporate rat race.
Take some of these workers, for example. They chose to leave or seek careers with organizations that provided more meaningful work. And, although they may be earning less, they make up for it in the reward of knowing they are helping others.
If you are currently unemployed, or feel the need for a change of work pace, consider a job helping others. With a tough job market, now might be the time to do what you want to do and lend a helping hand to others.
To blog or not to blog....a commonly pondered thought with today's increasingly online world. But just like everything else, there is a right way and a wrong way to get attention from a potential employer in cyberspace.
Many young professionals, especially those who have recently graduated, believe that having their own blog may boost their resume profile and help separate them from the crowd. But as one article points out, there is a fine line between being showing true experience as a blogger and just having a rambling forum with no strategic plan or goal behind it.
True, social networks and online communities are becoming more and more mainstream parts of the everyday business world. But just like establishing a blog on Facebook page for a company, personal blogs must be intelligent with a specific goal in mind. Remember that blogs are a great way to make connections, and to add experience to your resume, but only if the blog is a valid "conversation" maker.
Does this mean that it had to be business-oriented? Not necessarily. But you have to think about whether or not the content is thoughtful and solicits the appropriate attention. A good friend mine has a college football blog about her favorite team. It is well-read and receives a significant amount of traffic. Although it has nothing to do with her profession (a technical writer), it is still valid forum that shows her as an experienced blogger.
Also, blogs that are thought-provoking and have a good following, as well as follow online best practices, could potentially get you noticed by a perspective employer. So if you do plan on creating your own blog, remember these easy rules to start:
- carefully plan out the goal or topic
- keep it updated regularly
- follow the best practice rules for blogging
Good cyber-seeking!
