DECEMBER GRADUATION ISSUE 2009
BEAT THE RECESSION
CAREER SERVICES If you have a disability and need an accommodation in order to participate in this event, please call 512.245.2645 at least 72 hours prior to this event.
DECEMBER 2009
GRADUATION
ISSUE
JOB SEARCHING IN A TOUGH ECONOMY NETWORKING ARE YOU WILLING TO RELOCATE FOR A JOB? IS GRAD SCHOOL THE NEXT STEP?
JOB SEARCHING IN A
TOUGH ECONOMY 5 tips to help you STAND OUT
1
Try part-time or freelance work. Rather than one 'job,' think in terms of multiple positions. Breaking in [to a new job] may be easier if you aim for part-time or freelance work within a company. "Line up multiple part-time positions and you'll benefit from more job security; if one position evaporates, you have the others to fall back on." Moreover, it will pad your résumé and your wallet.
2
Think in terms of results In today's recessionary environment, the single most important thing that a job seeker can do to advance his or her career is to demonstrate how they can build value for a company. Ppast behavior is indicative of future behavior, so if you've been successful in past internships or part-time jobs by growing sales, improving profit margins on specific products, capturing new clients, etc., then clearly and prominently position those achievements within your résumé and other job search communications such as your online social network or online portfolio.
3 Rev up your social networking You can have countless opportunities with a few keystrokes and a couple of mouse clicks. Sure you've received those requests to join LinkedIn and you certainly use Facebook daily. But now is the time to really take of the network you've probably casually built over the years. Networking is easier now because of the easy access to your network and those of your friends and colleagues. You should go onto social networking sites and see who in your network knows someone at a company that you might be interested in working for. You can then ask them to make an introduction on your behalf. Therefore, Join the Career Services Facebook group, LinkedIN, and experience Alumni!
4
Role play Practice your answers to interview questions. Schedule a mock interview with a career counselor at Career Services to role play with someone so you can get comfortable with your answers. Confidence is key. You'll need to be able to explain the situation in a way that is authentic and sincere without sounding desperate or insecure. Try to stay positive and share what you've learned from your past experiences -- employers hire people with good attitudes and the ability to handle adversity.
*
for resume critiques & help, come visit the Career Services LBJ Student Center
5
Polish your brand and market it How you choose to market yourself will directly impact how long it will take to find a new job. Identify your strengths and put together the best possible personal brand. You can do this with a flawless résumé, customized and compelling cover letters, and articulate and engaging networking. Searching for a job is the same in any type of market. You should be prepared, professional and do the work for the interviewer. Don't make them guess or imagine how you could fit in -- that is your job ... If you can't make yourself relevant, your résumé will quickly be on the bottom of the pile. Take advantage of the online 48hr resume critique in order to begin building a strong brand for yourself in your job search.
Are you willing to relocate for a job? According to an article in The Chicago Tribune, “In the first quarter of 2008, 14.3 percent [of job seekers who found work] relocated for a job; in the second quarter of 2008, 11.4 percent moved for work.” As you may already know, relocating for a potential job is something that you may need to take into consideration during this tight job market. Unfortunately, many times its not such an easy move to make. If relocation only involved getting a job, people would be hopping across the country without a second thought. However, people tend to have–you know–lives! (Family, loved ones, friends, hobbies, and etc.) This factors in to why we live were we live. Unfortunately, part of life is paying bills and making ends meet. That usually relies on a job. And that brings us back to the question: Would you relocate for a job? Your answer could depend on your future occupation. Unfortunately, the amount of job seekers outnumbers the amount of job openings. So anyone looking for a job has to address the possibility of relocation. Is it an absolute no for you? Is it a maybe? Is it something you’ll likely do? To help you make your decision, here are some questions to ask yourself:
What is the entire cost of the move itself? What is the comprehensive cost of living adjustment? What are your career opportunities in this new city? What does saying “no” to the relocation mean for your career? Do you have any other interviews or potential opportunities for jobs? Do you want to move? There are no rights or wrongs to these answers. You have to decide for yourself what you’re willing to sacrifice and what risks you want to take. Just remember that the decision to relocate is more involved than just changing your address at the Post Office.
CAREER SERVICES
Graduation is over & you’re starting your career. Let us help you STAND OUT and beat the recession! call us at 512.245.2645 to schedule an appointment or visit www.careerservices.txstate.edu
48-hour Resume/Cover Letter Critique A Career Counselor will be happy to review your resume, cover letter, or other employment documents without an appointment within 48 business hours of submission ! Simply submit your documents through our homepage. Note: During the Holidays and other breaks there may be a longer wait for reply. Texas State University Offices will be closed December 21 - January 4.
Networking Why boosting your networking skills could increase your chance of landing a job. by Imelda Vergara, Mass Communication Senior Attending a job fair is only half of the adventure, so how do you conquer the mountainous world of the dreaded job search? It’s easy: focus on networking. Students and recent grads should master the skill of networking in order to succeed in finding a job. Being aware of career networks, like Career Services on campus, is essential. Career Services can provide support like resume help, mock interviews and information on job fairs and events. Web sites like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, have risen in popularity across many types of industries for one simple reason, they are convenient. “They are faster and an easier way to keep in touch without calling or visiting,” says Career Associate with Career Services and English senior, Corissa Craddrick. It would be helpful for students to keep up with a perspective employer online in order to find out more about them and what is expected from them when they finally meet them at a job fair or networking event. An important thing to consider is that networking by no means is limited between you and a perspective employer or career network. The majority of networking connections comes from your fellow students, colleges, and friends. They can share information about jobs, companies, and potential employers within a field of interest to you. Career Services strongly recommends you join our LinkedIn network. LinkedIn is a professional networking site that allows bobcats to build relationships with employers and search for jobs. Small organizations, non-profits, medium sized businesses, and fortune 500 companies are among the many that use LinkedIn to recruit candidates for employment. LinkedIn not only provides a direct employer to job searcher connection, it has the ability to build relationships with fellow bobcats after graduation, thus building a network. “It’s a great way to learn how to network online, professionally. It’s a great way to conduct competitive intelligence research,” says Elizabeth Buchta, Career Services Recruiting Coordinator.
Students can start by creating a detailed profile including current and past employment, education, websites, and portfolio. They should take into serious account what type of photograph they use for their profile; they should stick to a professional head shot. Keeping in mind that many companies and organizations are on the prowl for perspective employees, bobcats are recommended to express the skills that set them apart and include keywords that stand out for the industry they are pursuing. This will make it easier for employers to access their profile. Bobcats should remember to create their network by connecting with other students or people they can trust, preferably someone they had a professional relationship with, like a professor and students from a organizations they belonged to. That is the simplest and most reliant way to build a strong network. Buchta believes it provides a unique way to make contacts with Alumni for a free and honest exchange of information.To connect with the Career Services LinkedIn, simply click on the icon on the bottom right-hand of the Career Services homepage or just type Texas State Career Services in the LinkedIn search bar.
IS GRAD SCHOOL THE
NEXT STEP?
When deciding whether to go to graduate school, do a personal inventory of your career goals, your motives for attending graduate school , and your level of readiness to pursue more schooling. Listed below are some questions to consider. Identify Career Goals? • What are my values and how do they relate to my career choice? • What are my professional interests? • What skills can I bring to the workplace? • Have I interviewed professionals in my field to gain valuable career information? • What are the necessary steps to achieve my career goals? • What type of graduate or professional degree will best prepare me to enter my career of interest? Assess Purpose? • Is a graduate degree essential to getting into my desired career field? • What are my reasons for wanting to attend graduate school? • By deciding to attend graduate school, am I simply trying to avoid the job search?
Sometimes, even before a student has fully charted a career path, he or she will consider graduate or professional school an option for future pursuit. As you continue to focus in on where your career path can take you, it may become less a matter of what qualifications you need to enter into that occupational field, but more what qualifications will permit you to advance. You certainly owe it to yourself to check into the pros and cons of training at the next academic level. The first step in researching post-graduate study is to decided whether, in fact, graduate school is for you. If so, then what is the best way to choose the best program for you? There are many factors to consider, and you should consider them all, perhaps in discussion with a career counselor.
• Is post-graduate work the next logical step to becoming a professional in my field? Assess Readiness? • Do I have a clear sense of the career I want to pursue? • Do I have a solid understanding of what graduate or professional school entails? • Am I ready to immerse myself in the study of this particular academic discipline? • Am I willing to do the work required to succeed in a graduate program? • Should I gain more experience in the field before pursuing a graduate or professional degree? • Do I currently have the financial resources or financial assistance to complete a graduate or professional program? • Is it possible that a future employer might agree to pay for my graduate education?
YOU’LL NEVER KNOW HOW BIG YOUR FIRE IS UNTIL YOU STRIKE THE MATCH.
Resume Writing Job Searching Interview Preparation
Download the STAND OUT Career Prep
Packets on our website and get started