5 Customer Service Jobs for College Grads to Keep Their Eye On

Ashley Verrill of Software Advice

Customer service has always been a great field for recent college graduates seeking entry-level employment. Most positions only require candidates to have used a phone, and be able to sound empathetic and patient. But the industry is evolving in such a way that new skills are becoming important – skills that could give applicants right out of college a leg-up from their veteran counterparts. Continue Reading

The Future Of Aviation Mechanics Jobs

If you are considering an entry level job in aviation mechanics after graduation, the future is truly a bright one. With the decrease in American dependence on aircraft transportation after the year 2001, the field settled into a minimal growth rate but as people become more comfortable with aircraft travel and current workers reach retirement age or change occupations, the amount of entry level jobs in this field are expected to rise.
The competition for these entry level jobs will be quite sparse if present trends are an indication as the number of students enrolled in courses for aviation mechanics will be far lower than the demand for entry level employees in the field after their graduation. By the year 2012, there is expected to be a huge shortage in aircraft mechanics as many currently employed individuals will be reaching retirement age thus opening thousands of entry level jobs in the field each year. Many more currently employed aircraft mechanics will leave the field for other jobs in related fields.
In addition to the retirement and changing occupations of current airline mechanics, the entry level job market will be wide open because the majority of students with skills that are marketable in this field are choosing to go to traditional colleges and use their skills in other fields which offer better working conditions such as the computer science industry.
For those currently seeking entry level job opportunities in this field, smaller companies specializing in commuter flights and regional ticket sales are the most accessible points for finding entry level job openings. These smaller companies are experiencing a huge rate of growth in their industry and offer more entry level job openings than the larger airline companies, at present. Though the pay for entry level jobs with smaller airlines may be significantly lower, the lack of competition for these entry level jobs may be enough to compensate for this.

Dealing With Rejection While Job Hunting

As a college student seeking entry level employment, you are going to encounter rejection. How you deal with it determines the amount of success you will experience in your entry level job search.
With an overcrowded job market, employers have the opportunity to pick and choose from hundreds or thousands of applications for every entry level job they offer. This results in a lot of rejected applicants so you may receive a large amount of rejection letters before you finally find an entry level job. The secret to handling the rejection is not taking it as a personal affront or becoming disheartened. You may have been very well qualified for the position you applied for but, for whatever reason, the employer decided to go with another candidate for the position.
When this happens, take the time to mentally review the experience and take stock of the situation. If there was something you could have done differently that might have effected the outcome, then alter that with your next opportunity. Did the successful candidate have certification in some field that you were lacking in? Be willing to take a class and become certified yourself. Did you botch the interview because you stayed out late the night before or weren’t properly prepared? Get more sleep before your next interview and take time to prepare yourself before you get there. Then again, the rejection may be for reasons that are totally beyond your control. If this is the case, accept that it was not your fault and go on. The next entry level job application you put in may lead to an even greater opportunity.
By handling rejection during your entry level job search properly, you benefit yourself and can achieve a greater level of success.

Keep Up With The Changing Economy…

A view of the economy can help you make realistic decisions regarding entry level salary negotiations.
Our economic climate has shifted up and down since 2000. We are stuck in a maze when it comes to finding a stable or high paying entry level position. Designated cities such as New York, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, and others keep our minds boggled in traveling distances to succeed. Recent college graduates should pick up a copy of Wall Street Journal just to keep abreast of the latest business news. Every industry can have an idea of what to expect as they move from student to career professional. In my previous post, Student Money Skills: Break Your Spending Habits Before Graduation, I touched on the aspect of residual income for graduates.

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Entry-Level Employment Can be Any Number of Things

What a broad topic. Entry-level employment can entail many, many things. You, my friend, need to get more specific. I say look into collegerecruiter, about.com, careerbuilder.com, monster.com, hotjobs.com…any of these sites are perfect for entry-level employment.
Then ask yourself what you are interested in. Is it helping others? If so look into social service jobs. Is it managing others, science, math, computers? I have good news for you; there are jobs for all this stuff! You just need to dig deep, be proactive and you’ll find what you are looking for.
Along with the entry-level employment search, you must have certain tools under your belt such as a strong resume and cover letter. All of these sites provide help in these areas. If you are the adventurous type, try looking internationally. Have fun with it and remember that the entry-level employment search is a process, and not necessarily a quick one.