Posts Tagged: First Job Out of College
You Have More Experience Than You Think (Part II)
Posted in Career Advice First Job Out of College Generation Y Job Hunting Volunteering on October 1, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Continuing on my last post, here are eight more examples of experience that “counts” in your job search. Stay tuned for my final list, covering personal interests and experiences, on Monday.
Part II: Work and Extracurricular Experience
1. Sports. Even if you aren’t a star athlete, your participation in an organized sport (varsity, JV, club level or just for fun) is valuable. An employee who is a “team player” and works well with others can move mountains in the workplace. Athletic experience builds your competitive nature, increases your level of confidence and gives you strong leadership skills. Remember to consider these lessons and experiences when discussing your skills and abilities in a job interview.
2. Clubs and organizations. From French club to student government, be sure to note your involvement in organized group activities. Make special note of any leadership roles that involved coordinating events, budgeting or acting as liaison among group members, faculty and staff. Also take some time to think about club projects you managed from beginning to end — employers will correlate these to workplace project management skills.
3. Greek life. Aside from the toga parties (which employers definitely don’t want to know about), Greek organizations provide some valuable experience for the working world. Many Greek organizations place significant value on networking events, fundraisers and recruitment. If you held a direct leadership role, planned events or coordinated publicity for your fraternity or sorority, you should share these achievements with potential employers. Keep in mind that there are some lingering stereotypes from Animal House and the like, so proceed with caution.
4. The arts. Whether you’re involved in art, music, dance or theater, your performance skills and the self-confidence it takes to share your talents in front of an audience are very attractive to an employer. Don’t be shy about touting your creative accomplishments, even in a serious corporate setting. (more…)
3 Ways to Make the Most of a Jobless Summer
Posted in Career Advice Economic Crisis Entrepreneurship First Job Out of College Generation Y Recommended Resources Volunteering on July 5, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Another summer weekend, another article about the tough job market for recent college grads. This week’s installment appeared in The New York Times Style section in the form of “Say Hello to Underachieving” by Alex Williams.
I’m very glad this topic is still on the radar screens of major media reporters. I just wish the articles would include some helpful suggestions for young people who find themselves in the tough position of facing the longest recession period since the 1930s. The Comments section of the Times article certainly included a lot of — ahem — suggestions, but I’m not a big fan of snark. So, I thought I’d share my three cents on how college students and recent grads can still improve their resumes without a traditionally “good” summer job or internship. (more…)
Lindsey on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams
Posted in First Job Out of College on April 8, 2009 at 12:08 am
Last night I had the opportunity to appear on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, talking about “Hard Times Facing the Class of ’09.” I didn’t get to meet Mr. Williams in person, but I did get to share some thoughts on job prospects for this year’s graduating class.
Click here to watch the segment (don’t blink or you might miss me!)
On Cheezhead: What Millennials really want to know
Posted in First Job Out of College Generation Y Job Hunting Recommended Resources on December 12, 2008 at 1:32 pm
This week I had the opportunity to write a guest blog post for the Cheezhead recruitment blog, the news and commentary site run by Joel Cheesman. If you don’t know about this blog, it’s a must-read for anyone interested in HR and recruitment issues. It’s also a great resource for job seekers who want to understand how recruiters operate.
My post, “What Millennials Really Want to Know,” shares the top three questions I receive from entry-level job seekers. Here is an excerpt:
Millennials (a.k.a. Generation Y) have earned a less-than-stellar reputation in the recruiting community. You’re not alone if you’ve found young candidates to act “entitled” to jobs or not know basic rules of professional etiquette. As someone who spends a lot of time with college students and young professionals, I admit that I observe these traits fairly often.
Fortunately, I can also report that many career-minded college students are eager to work hard, impress recruiters and become savvy professionals. This is most evident during the lengthy Q&A sessions following my college workshops, when students ask thoughtful, detailed and serious-minded questions about how to get jobs.
In the spirit of helping us all understand each other a little better, here the three most common questions I receive from Millennial job seekers. I believe the companies that answer these questions — and communicate their answers to entry-level candidates — will go a long way toward winning the hearts, minds and productivity of today’s best and brightest young workers…
Highlights from my weekend reading stack: the economy, entrepreneurship and Facebook
Posted in Career Advice Entrepreneurship First Job Out of College Generation Y Recommended Resources Uncategorized on October 13, 2008 at 1:25 am
I spent Sunday afternoon diving into a tall stack of weekend newspapers and this month’s magazines, looking for articles relevant to young professionals.
Here are some interesting stories I recommend, with a little bit of personal commentary: (more…)
The best and the brightest: What will change with the economic downturn?
Posted in Career Advice First Job Out of College Generation Y Job Hunting Life Advice on October 5, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Will the economic downturn stop the best and the brightest from flocking to investment banking, management consulting and corporate law? I hope so.
During my freshman and sophomore years at Yale, I’d sit with friends for hours in the dining hall, loving the debates about politics and literature and history. It was exactly what I’d hoped college would be like. Sometimes I’d look around the table and feel as if I were peering into the future: I could easily see my smart, hardworking, well-rounded classmates becoming history professors, investigative journalists, human rights activists, entrepreneurs, museum curators and diplomats.
And then senior year rolled around and a strange thing happened. Instead of talking about Milton and Kant and Jefferson and Elizabeth I, everyone started talking about Goldman and Lehman and McKinsey and Harvard Law. The best and brightest people I knew suddenly considered no other career paths than investment banking, management consulting and corporate law.
I see this happening just as often today. As I travel around to college campuses, I meet smart, articulate, worldly and personable students. And, inevitably, the best and the brightest always ask me how to get jobs in investment banking, consulting and law (“not necessarily to be a lawyer,” they often say, “but using a law degree to do something else.”).
For the students who are fascinated by finance, business strategy and legal study, then these paths are excellent choices. But, in my observation, intellectual interest is rarely the reason that students select these post-college career paths.
(more…)
Career Q&A: What career should I choose?
Posted in Career Advice Career Q&A First Job Out of College Generation Y on June 24, 2008 at 6:00 am
Q: I graduated college a few weeks ago, have agreed to take a job for the summer and in the fall will embark on a Master’s degree (entailing a couple of night classes a week). I am not sure if I’ll want to pursue a Ph.D. in the future, but for now, I’d like to explore a different career path. I was an English major, have interests in communications, literature, and non-profit work, but I’m having trouble deciding what area to go into. What should I be doing in the next two months (while at my current job) to research/determine what area I should go into?
A: It sounds like you are very eager to determine your career path before you start your master’s work. I completely understand that desire, and I also know from experience that choosing a career is not something that can be rushed. You may not decide what you want to do until you actually meet someone who does it (that’s what happened to me). So, let’s talk about some ways to maximize the number and variety of careers you are exposed to over the next two months and into the future: (more…)
On MSN Careers: 12 things to ponder before taking your first job
Posted in Career Advice First Job Out of College Generation Y Job Hunting on June 16, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Thanks to Rachel Zupek for including my comments in her article on MSN Careers today, “12 Things to Ponder before Taking Your First Job.” The article also features tips from career experts who have been featured on this blog–Kristen Fischer and Shawn Graham.
Here is an excerpt from MSN Careers:
Finding your first job is easy. You send in your résumé for a position to which no one else is applying. You get a call back right away, have a successful interview (during which you are promptly offered the job) and of course you’re offered the salary to last a lifetime. Nothin’ to it.
Dream on…
Read the rest of “12 Things to Ponder Before Taking Your First Job.”
Guest Post: The pros and cons of starting your career on Wall Street
Posted in Career Advice First Job Out of College Generation Y Job Hunting on May 13, 2008 at 4:38 pm
By Miriam Salpeter
Miriam Salpeter is a career coach and resume writer with Keppie Careers. www.keppiecareers.wordpress.com; www.keppiecareers.com. Definitely check out her great blog!
It would be nice if new college graduates did not experience tough life lessons right out of school. Wouldn’t it be great if there were an official “honeymoon” phase of life when things would go smoothly and plans would go, well, according to plan?
We all know that the transition from college to career can be a rocky one, especially for those unfortunate enough to have landed their dream job (the envy of all of their friends), only to see the offer rescinded in a cruel twist of fate. Lindsey generously offered free assistance to the 250 new college grads with rescinded offers from Bear Stearns. Since I worked on Wall Street right out of college, I wanted to help as well.
I consulted a former colleague who is still in the business and compiled some pros and cons to consider if you are dreaming of a career on Wall Street:
Pros:
- Lucrative salary.
- Glamour. High rollers abound, a lot of money trades hands and, when times are good, big bonuses and perks are rewards for a lot of hard work.
- Thrill factor. It can be exciting to be part of a last minute, high-tension deal closing.
- Foxhole friends. You will spend a lot of time with your co-workers. Camaraderie and strong, long-lasting friendships may result. (This was certainly my experience. Twelve years after I shared a “foxhole,” I wouldn’t hesitate to contact my Wall Street friends for any reason. When we get together, it’s as if no time has passed.)
Cons:
- Zero work/life balance. Your work will be extremely demanding. You’ll be expected to put in long hours, cancel personal plans and generally put your life on hold.
- Volatility. The adage is that Wall Street is quick to hire and quick to fire employees. Job security is not a reason people choose this profession. “Rainy day” funds are imperative in this field.
Tense work environment. The high-pressure, fast-paced job doesn’t lend itself to the most warm and supportive work environment. When bosses get tense or stressed, young employees (or anyone around) tend to bear the brunt.
Despite these cons, I would not trade my Wall Street experience. I made lifelong friends and learned important skills and coping mechanisms. However, it’s important to know what to expect so you can make an informed choice about your future.
For college grads with rescinded Bear Stearns offers, I’m happy to speak with you about my experiences and supplement Lindsey’s offer of free coaching. If you are interested in a 30-minute free coaching session with me between now and September 1, 2008, please send an email with “Bear Stearns Coaching” in the subject to results@keppiecareers.com. We’ll set it up!
