| So you just graduated college finally and are looking | | | | best results for your job search. |
| for your first real entry-level job. How should you go | | | | So what happens if you focus on a job and industry? |
| about your job hunt? Just sit home and click away at | | | | Job position: Take a look over at your resume, what |
| the "submit resume" button all day? Stop what you're | | | | duties have you performed that could be applicable to |
| doing! Find out what are the real keys to job hunting as | | | | an entry-level job that you like? Fast-forward to an HR |
| a new grad in this economy and improve your | | | | manager reading your resume, they'll see your job |
| chances out there! | | | | duties are similar to the ones advertised in this new job |
| 1. Consistency | | | | opening, and you look like promising candidate now. |
| Ever hear the phrase "looking for a job is a job itself"? | | | | Match your skills and strengths to particular job types |
| That holds true for many people. If you want to be | | | | as well. |
| successful in your job search, you must have a certain | | | | Industry/Company: Get involved in an industry you're |
| job hunt process you go through every day and you | | | | passionate about. Join clubs and organizations and |
| must carry it out, every day consistently. Now for | | | | read their newsletters, magazines, and books. Most |
| college grads this shouldn't be anything new; studying in | | | | importantly keep up with the trends in the industry. |
| college showed you that consistency brought results. | | | | Why? Let's say you are networking with a particular |
| Were you more confident going into a test studying at | | | | person who works for a company in the |
| the last minute, or reviewing content every week? | | | | entertainment industry and bring up in the conversation |
| Here's a little example below of a job hunt process:o | | | | some trends you noticed or predictions you have. |
| You wake up and apply for jobs online you see | | | | What will happen immediately is that person will be |
| posted (job boards, job aggregators, corporate sites)o | | | | impressed that not only have you done your research |
| Spend a few hours reading articles on how to brush | | | | as a college graduate, but you have a strong passion |
| up your job interview skills, how toimprove your | | | | for that industry and it shows! Passion truly does give |
| resume. Maybe even do a mock interview with your | | | | you motivation, and motivation is a recipe for success |
| family or friend.o Later you spend an hour or so trying | | | | when you are working so remember that. |
| to figure out who you can network with (who do my | | | | 3. Change |
| friendsknow? Who does my family know? What | | | | People change, job duties change, the economy |
| about online networking sites like LinkedIn, who should I | | | | changes, so why shouldn't your job search strategies? |
| contact locally?). | | | | Set a "Point of Review" - this could be every week, |
| This is just a small example, and by no means should | | | | two weeks, or even every month or two (we don't |
| you manage your time particularly like this - but what's | | | | suggest waiting too long). |
| important is the fact that these are steps. You must | | | | During your Point of Review you should analyze 3 |
| be consistent and keep at what you are doing. If you | | | | things: |
| don't stay consistent during your job hunt, what | | | | 1. What are your results so far? Write them down; 1 |
| happens is you see no results. | | | | interview? 2 leads you got through networking? |
| For example, say you start networking on Monday | | | | 2. What approach did you take that lead to those |
| and apply to jobs, and then don't follow up on | | | | results? Did you talk about the industry trends with the |
| networking the next few days and focus just on your | | | | person you were networking with? Did you leave out |
| resume. A week passes by, and you totally forgot | | | | the "Career Objective" in your resume? |
| about replying back to the people you networked with. | | | | 3. What are you going to change this time around? |
| Those people may now think you're unorganized and | | | | During your job search (especially as a new grad) it is |
| already you lose any value you could present to them | | | | difficult to understand the cause and effect relationship |
| as an acquaintance. You have to stay consistent with | | | | of things you do, but sometimes some things are quite |
| what you do as a job seeker; show those people | | | | obvious. A small tweak in your resume's language can |
| you're on top of things and are eager to find work. | | | | make a huge impact. Similarly, a simple change in your |
| 2. Focus | | | | body language when you go to networking events can |
| What is the particular job position you are looking for? | | | | make a huge difference. For example, take note of |
| What industry? Fresh graduates have a lot of trouble | | | | how you acted; were you talking too long during the |
| with this one, partly because many are not even 100% | | | | interview? Did you interrupt the interviewer a few |
| sure what job they want. Once again, coming out of | | | | times perhaps? |
| College, you have experience with this: you spent 4 | | | | What you should do is try to use your "observing ego" |
| years trying to figure out what you want to do with | | | | - this is when you essentially observe what you say |
| your life, what to major in, so this is just another thing | | | | and how you act, and the results that come with that. |
| you have to figure out. | | | | Remember how you went about things and think of |
| Two things College grads should focus on: | | | | what you can change - little things of course, we're not |
| 1. What is the job position you really want? | | | | saying you should go to your next networking event in |
| 2. What industry do you want to work in? What | | | | your Halloween costume (although that would be very |
| companies do you find attractive? | | | | entertaining for the rest of us). |
| We are in a recession and you'll be told not to be | | | | So that's it, consistency, focus, and change. These are |
| picky, but believe it or not, sending out 50 resumes | | | | basic principles that bring great results so use them to |
| every day to 50 different jobs at 50 different | | | | your advantage. |
| companies in totally different industries will not yield the | | | | Good luck on your job hunt new grads! |