For years, graduating college students have faced a market with little prospect of employment. Students have been told to stay in school and get a good education, and that by the time they graduate, the job market will have turned around. Unfortunately, this hasn’t happened as quickly as we’ve hoped, and many students are approaching the end of their college experience with feelings of anxiety and stress. Together with the University of Oregon Career Center, we’ve come up with a few tips for helping you succeed in finding a job, post-college.
1.) Have direction: Know what field of work you want to go into. You’ll be more likely to put yourself closer to a potential employer if you’re looking at places you actually want to work at. “I think it’s really critical that people have done the research on themselves, and on the employer before walking into the room,” said Deb Chereck@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=staff&d=person&b=name&s=Chereck@@, Career Center Director. “The match between you and that employer needs to be made way before you are sitting in the room and having that conversation. You have to believe that you can add value.”
2.) Start early: Do not wait until you’re handed a degree to start looking for a job. Those who are successful in finding careers right out of college are those who have been looking while they are still in school. “The biggest tip for finding a job is starting early,” said Chereck. “People assume that they don’t need to start looking until they’ve already graduated, but then they’re frustrated when they’ve missed so many opportunities.”
4.) Network and be remembered: Get your name out there. Talk with people in the field you are interested in. Get to know some people who work at a company or do the job that you want to do. “The important thing in today’s marketplace is networking. Students want to presume that the answer to their dreams is on the web somewhere. They’re spending a lot of time trying to fit a square peg into a round whole,” said Chereck. “It’s the opposite of what people think. You should be spending 20 to 30 percent of your job search online, and 70 percent trying to create that opportunity for yourself. By talking to people in the industry, getting close to organizations and, if you have time, by doing internships.” Once you’ve got your foot in the door somewhere, you want to be remembered. It’s important that you make a good first impression, and that you leave a long-lasting impression on your future employers. “In order to be remembered you have know yourself really well. You have to know your strengths and your accomplishments and be able to back them up with specific stories and experiences to drive those points home,” said Chereck. “If you know what it is you want to communicate, you’ll find ways of making that happen throughout the interview process.”
5.) Have confidence: Feel confident in the work that you have done, the education you have received and your ability to positively add to a place of work. “I think both staying positive and being persistent are huge when you’re looking for a job, and the other piece of attitude that employers see very quickly is confidence. Do you actually believe you are the right person for the job when you walk into the door?” said Chereck. “The positivity shows up in being ready, being confident in telling your own story and backing up the claims of your ability with strong examples.”
