|
A few short years ago finding a job after
college seemed like a daunting task. But today, as the
economy continues to hold its own and companies agree
outsourcing is not such an attractive option as it was
once thought to be, the job search seems, dare we say,
simple? With that positive thought in mind, let's
return to reality with a cold dose of the truth: an
upturn in the economy actually means your job search
might be more difficult because as the economy improves
more people will be looking for jobs, not less.
The smart way to find a job in any economy, however,
is to assume it's going to be difficult and to develop a
foolproof plan. In other words, from now until you land
a position, your job is finding a good job. Think of it
as the part-time position that pays dividends for a
lifetime.
The Three-Step Plan
The academic year is just getting under way, so it's
difficult to think about beginning your job hunt. You're
too busy with research, classes and tests, right? And
graduation probably seems way too far away, yet, there
are distinct advantages to getting the hunt underway
now, before everyone else gets started. Think of it this
way: You will be one of the first in line to apply for
jobs that your peers are only dreaming about finding.
And there's no need to feel overwhelmed by the
process. Start with a three-stage plan: 1) research 2)
refine and 3) act. These steps will guide your actions
over the coming academic year.
Research
Your final year at college will be
spent studying for classes--and studying for your
future. And your research will start in your college or
university's career center. Make an appointment with a
career guidance counselor, and be ready to ask questions
about what the office can do to help you during the
course of the year.
It's not enough to check out the printed and online
references that the office might have. You want to make
sure the staff and, in particular, the director, knows
who you are and what your goals are for your first-time
job and career. These folks start getting calls about
job openings even before the academic year begins, so
you want to be on the top of their list when an employer
calls looking for an employee like you. Become a
familiar face at your career center. Remember, the staff
is there to help you land a job!
Another good way to research is to take advantage of
networking opportunities through alumni groups and trade
associations. Talking to people in these groups will
help you find out what kinds of jobs are available
through connections they have. It will also help you
refine your search, which is the second step in your
plan.
Refine
Narrowing the scope of your job search
to no more than five fields in computing, technology or
engineering should be your goal. If you apply for every
job that looks good, you're going to waste too much
time. You can also feel overwhelmed, which leads to
weaker cover letters and fewer interviews.
Consider your short- and long-term career goals, and
use those objectives to help you pick some areas of
concentration. This is also a good time to do some
research into what areas of specialization in
information technology and engineering are performing
better than others. For example, many companies are
looking for IT professionals who can help them with
their logistical strategies. Companies may want
specialists who know how to apply technology to make
supply chains more efficient. Information and network
security are also red-hot areas of specialization right
now and will be for years to come. Once you know what
areas are hot it may help you narrow your job search
targets.
While you're researching and refining, take the time
to ask your networking contacts their opinion about
pursuing an advanced degree in your chosen field. Yes,
the thought of continuing your education is probably the
last thing you want to consider as you're just finishing
your undergrad degree, but it may be worth it in the
long run. Your undergrad education may just be the
starting point--a master's degree or PhD in a related
disciple might make you more valuable to potential
employers. Or, maybe an MBA with a technology focus will
give you the extra edge that you need to land a top job.
Take Action!
Last but not least, you have to get out there and apply
for jobs. You should start applying no later than late
fall or early winter. Companies don't hire according to
academic calendars; they often hire on a calendar basis
with spikes in hiring in January and June. You won't be
too early for a June position if you start in November
or December with your initial inquiries. Waiting until
April will mean that you only have the leftover jobs to
consider.
Even in a good economy it can take months to find a
suitable job, so it's never too early to start looking
for your first job out of college or even a summer job
or internship. Use the three-step plan approach:
research, refine and act. And don't give up until you've
got a job offer (or two or three) that you can talk
about with pride.
Molly Joss is an IT veteran
who writes about career and job issues, among other
topics of note.
S ource
http://www.graduatingengineer.com/articles/feature/10-06-05g.html |
