Posted by:
Katie Leonard, Senior Communications Intern, EOLWD
Emerson College School of Communications Masters Program
It’s a challenging time for most people to be searching for work. For new college graduates looking to land their first “real world” job, the task can be especially daunting. Whether you’re a graduating senior without a job offer or a freshman looking for internship opportunities, resources are available to help you put together an effective job search.
I talked to youth specialists from some of the state’s 37 One-Stop Career Centers, and they offered these tips to create a more successful outcome.
Start early.
This doesn’t mean that freshmen need to skip the Welcome Week activities to surf job websites, but the earlier you can hone in on what it is you’d like to do once you’ve earned your degree, the better.
“Businesses are always looking for good employees,” said Bridget Quinn, youth coordinator for the Career Center of Lowell. Quinn recommends reaching out to potential employers even before the job you want is available. By sending an introduction letter, doing an informational interview or networking with other employees, you can better your chances of being considered for an opening before the job posting hits the Web or the newspaper.
Get some experience.
Jim Parcells is the director of planning and youth programs for the Franklin/Hampshire Career Center in Greenfield. Parcells said it’s beneficial for students to work while they’re in school. Jobs within your major, summer jobs and even positions unrelated to your studies not only help pay the bills, they can get you professional references and also show a future employer that you can handle working. Internships and volunteer experiences can also be key to building your resume and giving you a taste of what a paid position in the field might be like.
Take advantage of your campus career services.
Most colleges and universities have career support centers on campus. It’s their job to help you by hosting job fairs and mock interviews, critiquing your resume and offering other resources like career assessments or updates on job openings. Start early in the semester so the counselors can get to know your personality and your interests.
Lots of people will be asking what you’re going to be doing after graduation. Tell them! Visit professors during their office hours. The knowledge and experience they have in their field, plus their own networks of potential contacts, make them an important resource outside the classroom.
“It’s knowing people that know people who hire people,” said Parcells.
State Resources
In addition to what’s on campus, there are 37 One-Stop Career Centers across the state. The centers offer career counseling, workshops on job search strategies, and networking groups, among other services. Depending on the center, many of these services are free of charge.
Know how to communicate your skills.
The working world is different from the academic world. Employers will want to see that you’re more than a degree. Parcells said that it’s key to know how your major translates into skills that are valuable to an employer, and to be able to communicate what you can do and what you can produce, rather than just what you’ve learned.
Quinn said that with cuts to staffing numbers, employers are looking for workers who can do more with less. An interviewer might surprise you with a hypothetical question that will show how you might handle certain situations. Quinn said employers are looking to get a sense of how you tackle stress, if you can multi-task, and how you interact with people.
Don’t get discouraged.
“The labor market is extremely erratic at this time,” said Donna Condon, youth career center manager at the North Shore Youth Career Center in Lynn. Young people are competing for jobs with older workers that have been working for years and there are fewer jobs available.
Some people get lucky and nail down a job before spring break, but for most, getting a job is “not an easy task,” said Quinn. “It does take a long while to get the interview and get a job offer.”
Quinn suggests treating your job search as a full-time job.
Stay organized, keep good records of who you’ve spoken with, and follow up with an email or phone call to employers to show that you’re interested.
All of the specialists said they urge young people to expect some frustration during the job search, but to keep at it until they find success.
“Plan on what you want to do and stay with it,” advised Quinn.
