My Life as a Bean Raker

n high school, Brian Culver of Wheaton, Illinois had a fairly good idea that he wanted to be an English professor. But like most of his teenage friends, when it came to finding a job, he thought he should take the first thing that came along. “I wound up as a ‘bean raker’ at a fast-food taco shop,” says Culver. “My job was to keep the beans from sticking in this giant frying pan—it was as big as my desk. I sure learned some lessons about getting to work on time and saving some money—not to mention how to properly rake beans—but it really wasn’t much of a step toward my dream job.”

In retrospect, Brian realized that an internship at a magazine or a part-time job at a college might have advanced his career goals. “If I had done a more thorough search, I might have found work writing my deep thoughts instead of deep frying,” says Culver, who years later, finally did find his ideal job teaching at a college.
So don’t settle for the first job that comes your way. If you want to find a job that’s meaningful to you, begin your search by using the following tips:
1. Networking Pays. When it comes to finding the perfect job, the phrase “it’s all about who you know” can apply. “Most students know—within two degrees of separation—someone at a large or small company who they can make a connection with,” says Steve Pollock, president of the job search site Wetfeet.com. So talk to every person you know—family, teachers, friends, even mere acquaintances—about your field of interest. Someone may know of a terrific entry-level opportunity.
2. Contact Professional Organizations. Fancy yourself as a science writer? Contact the National Association of Science Writers. Physical therapy more your interest? Try the American Physical Therapy Association. Think of just about any career that interests you, and there’s probably a professional group that can give you more information and possible leads to an interesting job.
3. Check Out Career Fairs. Career fairs are not just for college students. Ask your guidance counselor about events in your area and search online. Employers who have exhibits at fairs are eager to find dedicated new workers—so if you ask smart questions and show some enthusiasm, you might walk away with an ideal job connection.
4. Try Online Job Services. Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, Hotjobs.yahoo.com, and other major Internet job search services are worth a visit. They cater mostly to college students and adults, but if you spend some time on them, you can find helpful advice for high school job-seekers and a few employment leads.
5. Scope Out the Classifieds. It may sound old-fashioned, but the newspaper classified ads are still a good place to find an opportunity that matches what you’re looking for. Be sure to check under headings for part-time work.
6. Have the Right Tools. For any job you respond to, you’ll need to know how to write a resume and handle the interview. For pointers on these, go to www.careersandcolleges.com.
Source: www.careersandcolleges.com