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Now That You’re Out of College…
Now that you’re out of college, you’re ready to begin working in the "real world"! Employers are interested in candidates who have taken charge of their lives by setting sound professional goals, and your determination, as evidenced by your college career, is a good indication of your capacity to focus on what you want and then dedicate yourself to whatever effort it takes to make it happen.
Don’t short-change yourself by doing anything less than a thorough and thoughtful investigation of how to best begin your chosen career—all of your hard work and dedication to years of study have brought you to this point of evaluating your new options and making decisions that feel like the very best "fit."
The first stages of beginning a career can be a time-consuming, albeit ultimately deeply rewarding, process. Perhaps the following suggestions will be of help:
- Consider seeking part-time work or interning in your field of interest.
- Be certain of educational requirements. Consult with your professors and university department heads and ask about the fresh-out-of-college placement rate.
- Talk to as many people who work in your area of interest as possible.
- Read business directories, salary surveys, and make a practice of regularly identifying and accessing new sources of information. Subscribe to (and read!) trade journals.
- Network—and use your network to ask for help and guidance in dealing with specific issues. While professional networking is one of the best ways to find a job, be careful whom you network with; you want to be associated with people who are on a strong career track.
- Stay current with what’s "hot" in your field of interest. To ensure staying on top, it’s important to keep brushing up on your skills and developing new skills. If you’re not sure what skills you should be focusing on, ask—or read the classifieds for jobs in your field to determine if you’re keeping up with the competition.
- Assess job longevity. State labor departments usually publish statistics such as future job vacancies vs. the expected number of new graduates for a vast number of job fields.
- Build new contacts and fatten up your Rolodex. Attend job fairs and network at trade shows and business expos. Join professional organizations and attend meetings. Recruiters often look for new talent at these events and meetings, so if you can identify one, introduce yourself and follow up later with a letter.
- Develop a great resume. Most of the time, your resume is the first impression prospective employers will have of you. If there are several options you’re interested in pursuing, develop separate resumes for each one—it’s very important that each resume have a very clear, specific direction. A good cover letter is key, too, as it introduces your resume, highlights what motivated you to apply, and sums up why you might be a good fit for the position. Make sure the people you use for references have an updated copy of your resume and know what type of position you’re applying for so that they can give an appropriate, glowing reference! (It’s customary to contact intended references and ask their permission to include them.)
- Find a mentor. Having someone whose already successfully established themselves in your desired career can prove invaluable in "showing you the ropes," and helping you benefit from their experience, and making introductions.
Determining what job you most want is an exciting—and often anxiety-provoking—process. When you’re in the throes of making life-altering decisions such as how to translate your education into a great job, mental health professionals are equipped to help you in your efforts. You don’t always need to be depressed, or stressed out to benefit from the insight, care and objectivity therapy can provide! A therapist can help you define your goals, evaluate your options, strategize your efforts, and work on any personal issues that might be getting in the way of confidently and successfully pursuing your new career.
Link: Find a Therapist
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