About Career Blog

Tips & Tricks for Recent College Grads

So, you graduated in May and are still trying to figure out what you want to be when you grow up. Certainly, every situation is different. However, the number one most common problem for recent grads is that they do not know what to do with their degree. The following tricks and tips are intended to ease the pain of finding a new job…especially in this economy.

  • Make smart career choices. Do your homework on the jobs you are considering. Some industries are growing. Others are shrinking. Do online research. Talk with people such as alumni, parents, professors, and your college career office. Use these sources to help you understand as much as possible about your future career.
  • Be creative. There are, after all, other ways to search for a job besides the Internet. Even though search engines can help you find jobs in the comfort of your own home, it’s not the only alternative available to you. The number one way to find a job is to get out of your house and network. Talk to as many people as possible – ideally those in your field.
  • Do not box yourself into only working for a huge, international company. These large firms receive tons of resumes each day and yours could easily get lost in the maze of paperwork. Consider applying for positions at smaller companies with fewer than 100 employees. This strategy might at least get your foot in the door for an interview.
  • Proofread! Resumes with mistakes are absolutely unacceptable – and 99% of the time they end up in the “circular file.”
  • Make sure your resume reaches the right person. If possible, avoid sending your resume to a general human resource addresses. Instead, find out the name of the hiring manager and send your resume directly to her.
  • Be prepared for that all-important interview. Research the company. Learn as much as you can about the competition. Expect and prepare for all questions. Mind your manners. And, bring extra resumes.
  • Be choosy. Even though your main objective is to find a job, you must ultimately choose the position that’s best for you. Carefully weigh your career goals and how the position you’re considering can help you attain them. If you determine that the job will help you gain the experience that you need to move to the top, then go for it.

Above all, be patient. There is a lot of competition out there, and not nearly as many good jobs as there used to be. But with some perseverance and hard work, you’ll eventually land on your feet. Good luck!

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Posted by Seymour Jobs on 8/28/2009 09:49:00 AM
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Stand Out From the Crowd!

In today's competitive job market, it is vital to your success as an applicant to stand out in some way from the hundreds, or thousands of other people seeking employment. One lesson I've learned through various job hunts is to tailor your resume and cover letter to the position and company you are applying.

Each job may offer myriad options for the style in which you will work. For example, one may be analytical, the other creative. One could be hands-on, while another is strictly science. As you are writing your cover letter and resume, keep these things in mind. You can highlight your strengths in the areas that they need strong candidates.

The key to success in any job hunt is to keep an open mind and positive attitude. If you don't wow prospective employers on paper, you may not land that elusive interview. So learn from past attempts and really show them that it's your time to shine!

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Posted by Amanda on 2/26/2009 03:50:00 PM
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Don't Call Me… I'll Call You: Why Recruiters Aren't Calling and How to Fix That!


You’ve got your resume ready; you’ve diligently sent it out to several recruiters and hold the phones… yep, nothing! You haven’t received one call back yet! What do you do? While you might think that you’ve been blackballed by Corporate America, there are a few things you should consider.

First, take a hard look at your resume and cover letter. Is it really relevant to the job posted – or are you just sending a blanket resume response to every job posted? Even if you know that your skills and experience are perfect for the advertised position, it’s very possible that you didn’t highlight those skills in your resume and cover letter.

Now, more than ever, with the overwhelming response in jobs, recruiters are using digital scanning tools to quickly sort through resumes for relevant keyword terms. To improve your resume’s search-ability, highlight your professional expertise with relevant synonyms throughout your resume. Be very specific—for instance, if you are fluent in more than one language, you may consider having the word multilingual appear in your resume, as well as the languages you are fluent in. Similarly is you have earned a B.A. degree, you may consider using the words Bachelor of Arts as well as the abbreviation in the education section of your resume.

So… what if your resume and cover letter are spot-on and you still haven’t gotten a single call back? In this day and age, even the best resumes can get overlooked. Recruiters get bombarded with resumes and calls from qualified candidates each and everyday. One advertised job can prompt hundreds of responses!

The real question is… How do you stand out from the crowd? In one word, network! A personal introduction to a recruiter is a great way to stand out from the faceless resumes that they receive on a daily basis.

Trust me, you will find a job. However, in today’s job market, you have to stay one step ahead of the competition. Get your resume and cover letter in tip-top shape, start making introductions and shaking some hands. In no time at all, your phone will be ringing. Good luck!

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Posted by Seymour Jobs on 2/20/2009 01:09:00 PM
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No Resume? No Work Experience? No Problem.

According to Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letter's blog: College students with minimal work experience to list on resumes and cover letters can brainstorm using a college experience worksheet.

The worksheet includes many aspects of "typical" college life that may be worthy of inclusion on your resume. The goal is to identify each college experience that may be relevant to your future career and to identify the transferable skills and accomplishments from that experience. Start by asking yourself questions, such as:

1) Did you participate in sports, involving teamwork, competitive drive and leadership? What skills did you demonstrate and what did you accomplish?

2) What type of community service projects did you undertake? What skills did you demonstrate?

3)Did you have any creative accomplishments? Were any of your poetry, essays, creative performances or stories published or performed? What skills did you demonstrate and what did you accomplish?

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Posted by Melissa on 10/27/2008 08:50:00 AM
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