So, in case you didn't know (or didn't bother to read the bottom of this blog), I'm graduating in May. This means I am done with the University. Finished. Outta here. Deuces!
But I'm not the only one! So for those of who who read yesterday's blog entry (I know you did!) it has just hit you that there are only seven weeks of school left and you have no clue as to what you REALLY want to do with your life.
This week, I am starting the "Life After College" series and am hitting you with a list of ideas to explore before shaking hands with our own next door neighbor, President Witt.
So, here goes...
Option 1: Get A Job.
Yes, the economy is in the toilet, but that dosen't mean you can't get paid. Several people are realizing that they aren't ready to tackle another stint in school or don't have the money are just aren't planning to go back period. So for those people who are ready to get into the real world, it's time to get a job.
The first thing to do in the process is to get your resume ready. We all have the little rinky dink one we did in high school or the one we wrote out on the back of our notebook that reads "Past Experience: Who Cares?" But it's time to get serious and get our resumes in order. Thankfully, the University has a Career Center right on campus. The center, located on the third floor of the Ferg, has consultants that will help you do resume critiques, mock interviews, and job searching. The website provides several helpful documents tailored to your major, including cover letters and guidelines on how to succeed after college.
After that, it's time to go job hunting. In this day and age, most would say that all of the available jobs are online. While there are several available, that is not always the case. A very good friend of mine who was a former Staff Assistant in Washington DC recommended going on "Informational Interviews." This type of interview is when you call up a company or organization you are interested in working for and ask to schedule a meeting for "a little of their time - no longer than twenty minutes." This gives you the chance to get in some face time with the staff and drop off your resume and discuss your future plans - even if they don't have any openings at the moment. The point is that someone who took the time to introduce themselves stands out a lot more than someone who forwarded a resume online. It's always good to put a name with a face. So for instance, if you wanted to work for a nonprofit organization that focused on children, you might call and set up an informational interview with The Ronald McDonald House to get a foot in the door. It works!
Of course, time is not always on our side, and for that we turn to our trusty job search engines: Monster , CareerBuilder , and (my personal favorite) Craigslist . On some of the sites, you create a profile and upload your resume so employers can find it faster. On Craigslist, it's up to the browser to follow the directions on the post.
Once you land your interview, it's important to look the part. This means the dreaded "s" word... a suit. Just a simple, black one with a white collared shirt is fine...as long as you project in your personality that you mean business. Business suits have become relatively cheap for both men and women these days - everyone from Target to TJ Maxx sells them for next to nothing.
Remember that most entry - level jobs don't pay much, so don't expect to make 100 grand out of the gate...unless you're just that in demand. Also, it may take time to find a job, so start as soon as possible.
For additional information, consider reading THE job hunter's bible, What Color Is Your Parachute? This guide provides need - to - know info on finding the right field for your interests, how to land a job, and how to keep it.
Have the Princeton Review help you find out What job is best for you
Get started composing an A+ resume.
Networking is just as important in getting your name out there. Consider joining LinkedIn, a professional networking site where you can make connections and find job opportunities.
And for goodness' sake, Send a thank you note!
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