Video: How to Get a Job After College Graduation

I recently was interviewed via Skype by Jordie Kern of 1 Degree Hire, which is a resource for first-time job seekers. More specifically, 1 Degree Hire is a 21-day step-by-step program designed to make recent graduates more marketable, better understand what employers want, and give those grads an edge over others who are competing for the same jobs.

The 1 Degree Hire system includes 21 days of intense preparation through a series of eBooks and MP3 audio downloads. Members also enjoy a personal consultation, resume and portfolio critique, e-mail support, and weekly webinars. In addition, they get insider access to an extensive video library of interviews with some of the nation’s most powerful CEOs and human resource professionals, who reveal what they look for in a candidate and what key questions they typically ask in an interview.

Jordie and I talked about CollegeRecruiter.com and what recent college graduates should do in order to increase their chances of being hired. Listen in: Continue Reading

Have Internships Become the New Interview?

College students and recent graduates searching for jobs should strongly consider getting internships.  The following infographic details their value for these job seekers and the employers who want to hire them. Continue Reading

Recent Graduates: Before You Go Job Hunting, Take the DISC personality Test to Learn What Kind of Employee You Are

Person taking a personality/aptitude test. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Embarking on your first big job search after graduating college can be an eye-opening, humbling overwhelming and exciting experience.  You’re pumped to show the world what you’re made of yet rife with frustration as even landing an interview can prove trying and difficult. Rather than getting discouraged or fed up during this time, use this experience as an opportunity to get to know yourself better. Meditate; take aptitude tests, anything, really, to better understand how you operate as a person in both the professional and personal realms, that way, when you do finally land a job, you’ll be a better employee. Continue Reading

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

4 Tips for Making the Most out of a Career Fair

If you are in college or you’ve recently graduated, chances are that you have or will have the opportunity to attend a career fair. Of course, most job search methods include looking through positions in ads, networking, using social media, etc. In this sense, the career fair is a little bit old-fashioned. But it’s a great way to land a job. I know, because I used to host career fairs in my previous job, and we almost always ended up hiring students or recent graduates from career fairs rather than students who just submitted their applications. Here are a few tips for making the most out of career fairs. Continue Reading

Career Lessons That Professionals from Other Fields Can Teach You

Erin Palmer

One of the hardest things that college students face is trying to figure out what they want to do for a career. One of the hardest things that recent graduates face is finding the right job to jumpstart their careers. A side effect of this pressure can be a narrow field of vision. Once you’ve chosen a major and began working towards a particular career path, it is easy to become single-minded.

Just because you are working towards a particular career or area of study doesn’t mean that you should remain within that silo for career guidance. Marketing majors can still learn from the finance industry. Healthcare professionals can benefit from the wisdom of people who work in hospitality. No matter what your career path consists of, there are lessons you can learn from other industries. Continue Reading

Inspirational Quotes to the Class of 2012

As this year’s graduates embark on the next chapters in their lives, they should take some inspiring words with them. Continue Reading

Student Turned Entrepreneur: What Your Social Media History Means to Future Customers

When you’re in college, social media sites often serve as more of a playground than an area to make serious business connections, and, while the friends you make during this time can potentially become beneficial to your career in the future, there are also things about your online activity that can cause you problems in the business world. If you’re a recent graduate running a small business, or who has an otherwise entrepreneurial spirit, you have most likely already turned to social media to help market your ventures, and rightly so. Social media is one of the most significant platforms today in public communication and marketing. It can make a brand or promotion blow up in instants. Unfortunately, it can also tarnish a reputation in the same amount of time. And, when you’re trying to make the transition from keg party photo-ops to trustworthy business owner, it’s time to start thinking about how your social media footprint will affect potential customers. Before you continue to use social media in the future, take a look at your past to get some great insight into the most important things consumers are questioning about your brand and how it could affect their purchasing decisions. Continue Reading

10 Degrees Hiring Managers Don’t Want To See

Before declaring their majors, college students should consider not only which degrees they pursue but whether or not career opportunities exist in those fields.  The following infographic may help you think twice about your college major of choice. 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