Getting a Job: Advice for College Seniors By: Amanda the bizgal

August signals back to school and for 2012 graduates this just might be your last year of study groups and getting comfy for long stays in the library so make the most of it . . . right? I can totally remember my senior year of college and how I cherished every moment I was sitting in class, every party I went to, every flip cup game I played on the weekends and every single moment I spent with my friends because I didn’t want it to end. If you’re like me, you’re probably thinking “I have the book smarts but do I have the career savvy to be successful?” And I am sure you don’t feel like you do; I know I didn’t! So how do you get past all the depressing news of our tanking economy and the listless number of job opportunities for graduating seniors. According to a recent study by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University in 2006-2007 90% of college students got a job right after college, 2008-2009 it dropped slightly to 80% and then in 2010 53% . . . OMG you know where this trend is going and it is not looking good. So what should you do in your last year of college, throw in the towel because the job market totally sucks, try out for reality TV and pray that producers make you famous like Jersey Shore, apply to grad school or do you put on your gloves and fight the big fight? The jobs are out there but the process of finding your first career employment is a lot different than even a few years ago. It’s critical that you take advantage of everything that college has to offer during your final year. Get ready soon-to-be college graduates to get ahead of your competition by jumpstarting the process with my toolkit of everything you need to know: 1: Networking, You better start talking: Networking is one of the most powerful tools right now for finding a job. The days of sending your resume into Monster and getting five emails a day about companies that want you doesn’t exist. If you haven’t done so, now’s the time to start talking to your professors—students always underestimate the amount of connections that professors know. Think about it, if they have been teaching for 30 years–that is a lot of students! Also many have worked in the corporate world, started their own business and then decided to share their knowledge by teaching. Also research YP events in your city, there are a ton of them and a great way to start getting to know people that can hire you! 2. Informational interview: If you are walking into your final year of college and still confused on what you want to do you truly need to start figuring that out. The informational interview is a great way to get face-to-face with different people in different industries and hear first hand what a typical day is like, how they got started in their career and where they want to go. It also gives you an opportunity to build relationships with professionals that can help you find a job. It is always nice to have someone on the inside that is keeping you in the loop of job openings. Start by picking up the phone and meeting with people . . . believe me it works! 3. Internships: I have to be honest, if you are a senior and you don’t have any corporate work experience (internships) on your resume the chance of you finding a job is very slim. This is really what HR wants to see in a potential hire—that you have taken on an internship and you understand how the corporate environment works. On the flip side, if you don’t have any of this it is not too late. Try to do at least two internships in your senior year. Paid or unpaid doesn’t matter—an internship allows you to experience the work ethic involved and interacting in a professional environment. Internships are a great way to test run a position and to also build your network. Many internships lead to full-time positions, you just never know what could happen but if you don’t do anything . . . you won’t get anything! 4. Attend the bizMe Career Camp: Hosted by me! January 10th,11th and 12th. This 3 day camp will walk you through everything you need to be doing to find a job. Some of the topics covered include; Personal Branding, networking, informational interviews, researching companies, what to wear, social media, resumes, and follow up. I am also holding a private networking event where you are able to practice your skills while meet potential employers. Here is the link to sign up: Senior year is a lot of fun but it also is your last year to figure out where your life should go. If you are still trying to figure it out, don’t worry there is still time.