Posted in Uncategorized on May 17, 2009 at 9:45 am
Thank you to Youth Radio for interviewing me recently on the topic of “What next?! Finding a job after graduation.” Here is an excerpt of the interview:
Q: So I’ll be graduating college next semester. What do you recommend I should be doing now to prepare for the job market?
A: I think you want to get as much real experience as you can. Whether it’s internships, part time jobs–anything where you can have accomplishments, real world experience and are meeting as many people as you can. I don’t mean networking in a cheesy way, like using them. I just mean meeting other people and offering to help them, and someday they might offer to help you. Also use your college’s career services office. So many college students I know don’t take advantage of that. They can help you make sure your resume is excellent.
Q: What’s the biggest mistake that grads make when they’re job hunting?
A: The biggest mistake is doing nothing, becoming paralyzed by the bad economy. The reality is you have to get out there and do stuff, even if you don’t get your dream job right away. Take a retail job, temp, volunteer, do something just to get out there. Don’t stay at home playing video games. It sounds obvious, but a lot of people think it’s better not to take a mediocre job or temp — but it’s better to be out there. If you’re a barista at Starbucks, then be the best barista at Starbucks. That’s better than sitting at home waiting for the perfect job. A lot of people disagree with that mentality, but I feel pretty strongly about it.
Read the full interview on the Youth Radio website…
Tags: Youth Radio
I found that there are a couple of things that really increase the chances of getting a job, even now with an economic recession the basic rules still apply.
* Use Titles or Headings That Match The Jobs You Want
* Use Design That Grabs Attention
* Medium Size Resume and The Use Power Words
* Identify and Solve Employer’s Hidden Needs
* Sell the Benefits of Your Skills – it should be pretty obvious for the employer why not hiring you would be a loss for their company
New graduates should know that there is some silver lining to the grey cloud hanging over our economy — especially if you’re a Gen Y’er (No, really).
Smart employers know that Gen Y talent – generally defined as the emerging workforce – is practically priceless and brings more to the table than a new perspective. Extinguish the stereotypes that come along with Generation Y and consider highlighting the following benefits in your employment pitch.
• You’re techno savvy. Technology is the great enabler for corporate America, and you know how to leverage it (come on now; we grew up gnawing on a keyboard). Use your tech savvy know-how to your advantage. Not only do you know how to harness new media, you will quickly master new technologies. You’re an early adopter and can easily transfer your knowledge to your colleagues.
• You’re flexible. Emerging professionals are more likely to relocate, can easily adapt to change, and are willing to work on a project basis (in fact, many prefer it). Let a potential employer know you’re willing to wear many hats and will do what it takes to get the job done.
• Your multi-tasking skills are second to none. You process information at lightning speed and have the organizational skills to manage multiple projects at once. Rising to the top under pressure while managing many different initiatives will set you apart from the crowd.
• You’re entrepreneurial and motivated by opportunity.
• You can reach fellow Generation Y’ers in the marketplace. No matter what your role in a company, understanding how to tap into the emerging generations will have a positive impact on revenues.
If you’re looking for job opportunities in Chicago, here’s one resource:
http://localdev.brillstreet.com/talent/jobs/?utm_source=Blogs&utm_medium=Blogs_Daily10Update&utm_campaign=Blogs_Daily10Update_060209
Good luck in your job search….
Ashley (fellow Gen Yer)
I completely agree… the worst thing that someone can do when it comes to finding employment, is to not do anything at all. I have a brother-in-law who is holding out for management, who has been unemployed for the past 4 years (seriously I don’t know how my sister can put up with it). I have a friend who is too lazy to write a resume. I can understand… writing a resume is intimidating, but he could at least try. When I graduated from college I took a little secretarial position making $9/hr and just worked my way up to where I am now (a Sr. Admin. Assistant and have now been with the same company for 6 years now). I just recently updated my resume, (a tip I got from a book titled, “The Job Coach for Young Professionals” by Susan Kennedy and Karen Baker). Now that I am in a job, I can keep my eye out for my dream job!
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