Students and Alumni, Remember to Utilize The Career Services Available to You

Open door to the word Help in red letters. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Colleges today seem to have no shortage of amenities for their students. They have fully-equipped gyms, state of the art computer labs and top of the line food courts. And while it may seem that students are taking full advantage of these and other offerings, there is one service many are completely overlooking. I’m referring to the career services department of colleges and universities across the country. Continue Reading

Dazed and Confused – College Job Search

“Been dazed and confused for so long, it’s not true.” – Jake Holmes

In college on your “own”, trying to figure out midterms, finals, spring break, dealing with roommates, meal plans, rushes, finding time to party, etc. It’s a delicate balance. At some point (hopefully after 4 years unless you are on the “5 year plan”) it will all come to an end and you will need to find a job. Four years sounds like a really long time, but trust me, it will all be over before you know it. The last thing you need when you graduate, as you try to assimilate back to your parent’s house, is to linger on the unemployed line. College grads are finding it more difficult than ever to find jobs in their chosen field, and many have to resort to jobs that were traditionally filed by those without a college degree. Whether you are a freshman or a senior (or anywhere in between), there are lots of things you can do now (or should avoid doing) to improve your chances of getting a job when you graduate. Continue Reading

Tips From The Pros, Part 1

Jeffrey Metzger, Your Resume Consultant

This will be the first in a series of blogs made up of great advice from the best and brightest voices in the Career Services industry.  When asked for their best piece of advice for the job seeker in 2012, these pros responded with great enthusiasm. Continue Reading

The Hand that Feeds You: How Your Alma Mater Can Prepare You for the Job Market in More Ways than One

Regardless of the state of the current job market, your alma mater can put you in a better position to land the job of your dreams shortly after you graduate. If you’re conducting a job search on your own, your school can give you the professional guidance you need. Whether you graduated last week or several years ago, you can count on your alma mater to help you make the initial transition or get back on your feet in the professional world.  Continue Reading

Job Outlook for MBAs in 2007 – You’re Gonna Need Shades

As a new management graduate, your job prospects are looking better than ever! According to Job Outlook 2007, employers are planning to employ 17.4% more new graduates than they did in 2006. This increase is across all sectors – service (19.8% increase), manufacturing (9.5% increase) and government/non-profit (9% increase).
This year, MBAs will enter a market with 22.1% higher demand for their skills. MBA degree holders in demand are in the fields of Accounting, Business Administration/Management, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Information Sciences and Systems, Marketing / Marketing Management, Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, Economics and Finance.
Upbeat Employment Market
The market is looking up, the economy is improving, rising demand for goods and services, the baby boomers are nearing retirement age – all these factors are contributing to the booming employment market. Most employers have already solidified their spots at campus recruitment sessions for the spring of 2007.
Starting salaries are expected to go up by nearly 10%.
Prospective employers are looking for a high level of motivation and fresh ideas that will benefit their organizations. They are looking for candidates that they can mold to be future leaders. A good GPA will help you get your foot in the door. To progress, prospective employers are looking at communication (grammar and writing skills), honesty, teamwork, leadership potential and a strong work ethic.
Work experience in the form of an internship at a leading company will help you stand out among the many job applicants.
Innovative Salary Structures
Employers are trying to be innovative in their salary structures to attract good candidates. Medical (life and dental) insurance, tuition reimbursement, planned social activities, bonus/commission plans, flextime, longer vacation and telecommuting are just part of the attractive perks and compensation packages being offered. In addition, as an MBA, there’s a good chance you’ll get a signing bonus.
Don’t let the booming employment market let you get complacent, even if you are graduating as an MBA with experience. Enlist the help of a job and career coach to help you ‘market yourself’. Be sure to attend your first MBA interview armed with knowledge about your prospective employer, the prevailing market conditions, the motivation to be a team player and a willingness to learn. Often, attitude trumps aptitude in the employer’s eyes.

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Over 50 and Job Searching – Cultivating Your Upper Hand

No one really knows when youth ends officially. But if you are over 50 and looking for a job, you probably feel that the rules have all changed. These are the times of downsizing, ‘right-sizing’ (whatever that means) and cost-cutting. If you have ever lost a potential job to a much younger, lower-paid candidate, you might have asked yourself if you’ve reached your expiration date.
Yes, age bias still exists – let’s not be in denial about that. But there are all kinds of biases that exist in the workplace and the matter of age is now less of an issue. Today, many companies are realizing the fact that younger employees are more liable to shift from company to company in an effort to strengthen their careers. But older employees are more likely to stick with their present jobs and have more loyalty. Companies (finally!) have begun to realize that stocking their workforces with younger candidates may not be the wisest thing to do with respect to their retention strategies.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you can shimmy right up to that 20-something Human Resources Director and expect them to just give you the job – it all boils down to what a particular company is looking for at any given point in time. If a company values the immediate cost savings that only a younger employee can offer, then you probably don’t stand a chance. But if you can manage to convince them that your knowledge and skills are a lot more cost effective in the long run, then chances are your age won’t be an issue anymore.
In order to achieve this, you need to take stock of your qualifications and skills. Once you determine what skills are marketable, you’ll probably stand out from all the other candidates.
Tips – Differentiating Yourself From The Masses
• Find organizations that will view your skills and qualifications as appropriate to their business.
• One of the biggest misconceptions about older employees is that they are less technically savvy as their younger counterparts. If you are computer literate, add that to your resume. List all the software packages that you know how to use. If you aren’t proficient with the computer, consider taking classes.
• Networking is extremely important for the older employee in the job market today. Search for former business colleagues, organizations and employees at firms that interest you.
• Always concentrate on your past achievements and not on your age. You can leap over impending hurdles with regard to your age by displaying strong vitality, good work experience and refined work ethics. Make yourself seem like someone who can get the work done and who can bring a lot of profits to the table with your maturity and exceptional qualifications.
The bottom line is that an organization either has to hire talent or develop talent. So, if you are articulate enough about your skills and talents and can show that you are a fast learner, your chances of getting a good job, irrespective of your age, are very high.

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