3 Golden Keys to Job Hunting For New Grads

So you just graduated college finally and are looking for your first real entry-level job. How should you go about your job hunt? Just sit home and click away at the "submit resume" button all day? Stop what you're doing! Find out what are the real keys to job hunting as a new grad in this economy and improve your chances out there!

1. Consistency

Ever hear the phrase "looking for a job is a job itself"? That holds true for many people. If you want to be successful in your job search, you must have a certain job hunt process you go through every day and you must carry it out, every day consistently. Now for college grads this shouldn't be anything new; studying in college showed you that consistency brought results. Were you more confident going into a test studying at the last minute, or reviewing content every week? Here's a little example below of a job hunt process:

o You wake up and apply for jobs online you see posted (job boards, job aggregators, corporate sites)

o Spend a few hours reading articles on how to brush up your job interview skills, how to

improve your resume. Maybe even do a mock interview with your family or friend.

o Later you spend an hour or so trying to figure out who you can network with (who do my friends

know? Who does my family know? What about online networking sites like LinkedIn, who should I contact locally?).

This is just a small example, and by no means should you manage your time particularly like this - but what's important is the fact that these are steps. You must be consistent and keep at what you are doing. If you don't stay consistent during your job hunt, what happens is you see no results.

For example, say you start networking on Monday and apply to jobs, and then don't follow up on networking the next few days and focus just on your resume. A week passes by, and you totally forgot about replying back to the people you networked with. Those people may now think you're unorganized and already you lose any value you could present to them as an acquaintance. You have to stay consistent with what you do as a job seeker; show those people you're on top of things and are eager to find work.

2. Focus

What is the particular job position you are looking for? What industry? Fresh graduates have a lot of trouble with this one, partly because many are not even 100% sure what job they want. Once again, coming out of College, you have experience with this: you spent 4 years trying to figure out what you want to do with your life, what to major in, so this is just another thing you have to figure out.

Two things College grads should focus on:

1. What is the job position you really want?

2. What industry do you want to work in? What companies do you find attractive?

We are in a recession and you'll be told not to be picky, but believe it or not, sending out 50 resumes every day to 50 different jobs at 50 different companies in totally different industries will not yield the best results for your job search.

So what happens if you focus on a job and industry?

Job position: Take a look over at your resume, what duties have you performed that could be applicable to an entry-level job that you like? Fast-forward to an HR manager reading your resume, they'll see your job duties are similar to the ones advertised in this new job opening, and you look like promising candidate now. Match your skills and strengths to particular job types as well.

Industry/Company: Get involved in an industry you're passionate about. Join clubs and organizations and read their newsletters, magazines, and books. Most importantly keep up with the trends in the industry. Why? Let's say you are networking with a particular person who works for a company in the entertainment industry and bring up in the conversation some trends you noticed or predictions you have. What will happen immediately is that person will be impressed that not only have you done your research as a college graduate, but you have a strong passion for that industry and it shows! Passion truly does give you motivation, and motivation is a recipe for success when you are working so remember that.

3. Change

People change, job duties change, the economy changes, so why shouldn't your job search strategies? Set a "Point of Review" - this could be every week, two weeks, or even every month or two (we don't suggest waiting too long).

During your Point of Review you should analyze 3 things:

1. What are your results so far? Write them down; 1 interview? 2 leads you got through networking?

2. What approach did you take that lead to those results? Did you talk about the industry trends with the person you were networking with? Did you leave out the "Career Objective" in your resume?

3. What are you going to change this time around?

During your job search (especially as a new grad) it is difficult to understand the cause and effect relationship of things you do, but sometimes some things are quite obvious. A small tweak in your resume's language can make a huge impact. Similarly, a simple change in your body language when you go to networking events can make a huge difference. For example, take note of how you acted; were you talking too long during the interview? Did you interrupt the interviewer a few times perhaps?

What you should do is try to use your "observing ego" - this is when you essentially observe what you say and how you act, and the results that come with that. Remember how you went about things and think of what you can change - little things of course, we're not saying you should go to your next networking event in your Halloween costume (although that would be very entertaining for the rest of us).

So that's it, consistency, focus, and change. These are basic principles that bring great results so use them to your advantage.

Good luck on your job hunt new grads!

Kevin Cormac
New Grad Life Writer
http://newgradlife.blogspot.com

New Grad Life is the only blog solely dedicated to providing free resources to recent college graduates or soon-to-be grads for topics such as job hunting, resume/interview help, networking tips, money management, and more. Our aim is to equip as many college grads as we can with the best educational tools to allow them to start their careers ambitious, prepared, and confident.

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Need a Career Change? Help You Need is Here

A career change is both challenging and thrilling this is why it is always important to look for help before you make any drastic decision. There are a number of sources where you can find these and I will share some of them briefly below. Just read right on to the end.

Libraries, job support groups, booths of different government and nongovernmental organizations, career counselors, trade associations, friends and familiar persons are the best "career change help" resources.

Let me also provide some other useful guidelines that will be of great use to you.

Consider Likes and dislikes: Dislikes and likes of the old and new jobs regarding the company, boss, job etc. must be fathomed out in the proper way.

Researching new careers: Make time to have a thorough research on the new field. If you don't have time to go to the library then the Internet should be your best research tool.

Transferable Skills: Be careful enough to pick the one that contains the scope to utilize the transferable skills you possessed in previous career.

Training and Education: Consider getting some new training or course.

Networking: People in your network i.e. friends, relatives, colleagues etc. may give you t carrier leads, advice, info etc.

Gaining Experience: Any part time job or such can help you gain vast experience.

Find a Mentor: A mentor is useful while embarking on a new career who may even help by seeking help from his or her network.

Changing In or Out: What to do, changing employer or career is another important decision to pick.

Job-Hunting Basics: The basics of job hunting should be obeyed as much as possible. They include: guide to researching companies, resume of resources, cover letter, interviewing, and salary negotiation.

Be Flexible: Flexibility is a must in almost everything i.e. status in employment, salary,

The first career change help you need should come from your mind and then gradually going through the steps mentioned above can be the proper career change route to take.

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Job Hunting in 2010? Let Go of Obsolete Techniques From 2000

With 2010 upon us, professionals everywhere are gearing up for the job hunt, with the usual energy that accompanies a January job search. Yet, many candidates cling to outdated job search practices and resume advice that can negatively impact their success.

If you've continuing to send resumes to "Dear Sir or Madam" while merely updating your tired resume from the year 2000, you'll find that these methods have quickly become obsolete. See if any of these common job hunting problems apply to you, and then implement resolutions to improve your success in 2010 and beyond:

1 - Failing to assess your competition.

This is by far the biggest mistake most candidates make in today's aggressive market.

The reason? It takes more than mere skill to distinguish your unique qualifications at this point, even if generalizing your credentials worked in past decades.

As an example, you may have created marketing campaigns and worked with ad agencies in a sales role, but there's plenty of marketing managers who've already been there, done that--and they represent your competition. In comparison to these candidates, your application won't stand a chance.

Instead of presenting all your skills for interpretation, do some legwork in your chosen profession, establishing contacts that help you fill in knowledge gaps. You'll also need to prepare a compelling resume that connects a subset of your skills to a specific job type, thereby giving companies a reason to interview you.

2 - Staying clueless about your online identity.

Like it or not, the social media and online relationship-building components of a successful job search are here to stay. While candidates in the early 2000's had little concern about being Googled, a digital presence has emerged as one of the most critical tools in the job hunt of 2010.

In addition, even though some professionals are savvy enough to build keyword-specific LinkedIn profiles, many job hunters continue to refuse social media connection invitations, failing to realize that recruiters make good use of these resources to find new candidates.

In fact, a recent study found that up to 80% of recruiters routinely use Internet searches to dig up more information on a candidate--and nearly half of these will reject job hunters with no digital presence. With the intensity of job-hunting competition expected in 2010, you'll need a strong, distinguished social media profile that can reinforce your brand and qualifications.

Tony Deblauwe, a human resources expert and the founder of HR4Change, notes that recruiters often look at statistics behind the LinkedIn profile itself, noting the number of connections, recommendations, and group memberships for each candidate.

"The more information a person puts in the professional profile, the better," he says, noting that recruiters prefer job seekers who provide a detailed summary and career history that saves them time.

So, if you've held off on creating a full-blown social media presence, the time has come to alter your practices and jump into the game. If you're not sure how to proceed, start by creating a profile and gathering connections, then use an Internet search to uncover branded LinkedIn profile writing services.

3 - Ignoring resume trends.

If you can't move past the thought of listing all your duties at each job on your resume, you'll find the job market of 2010 to be quite unforgiving. The achievements-based resume style is a trend that has become firmly established, according to hiring managers.

Kevin Murray, Senior Manager of Recruiting at Vistaprint, notes that the company receives hundreds of resumes daily, and says that it's critical for candidates to "document the impact of their work and quantify their accomplishments," especially at this point in the job market.

For executives and senior-level professionals, the next generation of resume writing also requires the use of personal branding.

A key weapon in the job hunt, a branded resume pulls in achievements as part of your overall value proposition. To create a branded presentation, you'll need to assess your professional style and reputation, digging deep to analyze the impact of your work--and then capture the pattern that emerges.

Of course, you'll also want to avoid the antiquated practice of using an objective statement. Instead, a short summary should be used to encapsulate your brand value and save valuable reading time on the part of recruiters.

4 - Neglecting to find contacts in your chosen field.

In previous years, applying to a new job was simple. You hopped onto Monster, submitted your resume, and received a call back.

However, getting employers' attention in 2010 will require more effort than simply sending your resume online. With an avalanche of applicants for too few jobs, you'll need to follow up on any resumes sent, with some detective work required in order to get in front of the right person.

This is where using LinkedIn or business information search engines such as Zoominfo will come in handy. You can quickly find company insiders and send your resume to a real person, rather than sending it down the black hole that consumes so many job applications.

In addition, it's important to network effectively so that you aren't answering job ads in the first place. As companies have changed their practices to hire from within networks before even posting positions online, it's important to change the way that you approach them, with guerrilla search tactics that tap into more "hidden" opportunities.

In summary, 2010 may prove to be a improvement over the challenges of 2009.

However, to make an impression in the new decade, you'll have to employ stronger job search tactics and a branded, sharpened resume presentation

Executive resume writer Laura Smith-Proulx, CCMC, CPRW, CIC is a published, award-winning resume authority with a high success rate landing interviews. The principal of An Expert Resume, she has authored 4 books on executive resume writing and job search topics for today's challenging job market.

Job Hunting on the Internet

The Internet has become a very popular medium for finding jobs. However, there are so many websites and search engines to use, one can easily become overwhelmed or frustrated. Instead of blindly searching around the Internet, first narrow down what type of job you are looking for, or in what sector or for which company. Some of the best resources to use are government sites. Since local, state/provincial, and federal governments are looking for a wide variety of workers, it may be a good idea to start with them. Each level of government across the country has its own website with a page specifically devoted to employment opportunities. There may be internships, upcoming opportunities, or links to additional job search websites posted on there as well.

If you are looking to apply within a specific city or region, look for local job search websites. For example you might type in "Boston job opportunities" or "Ontario job search". If a commute is not a problem for you, then you might also want to look one or two towns over.

For new graduates, job hunting can also be a very stressful situation. You have your degree, but where do you go from here? Most campuses have a career resource center, which can put you on the right track to finding a job. As well, the school should have a job search website, perhaps like workopoliscampus.com, that allows employers to post ads specifically seeking new grads or senior college and university students. Furthermore, if you have a broader degree, try government agencies, larger museums, or national/international companies. Many of these organizations have a need for a broad spectrum of individuals with varying areas of expertise. Also, think outside the box and assess how your areas of study (and not just your major or minor) and acquired skills could translate to a whole host of positions.

Another option for using the Internet as a job hunting resource is putting your resume online on some of the larger job board sites. These sites allow you to post your resume and a brief description of your talents and qualifications. Potential employers will scan your resume and evaluate whether or not your experience and credentials match what they are looking for. This is also a good place for networking. Though X employer may not need your unique set of skills, he or she may know someone who does, and pass your information on to them.

Whichever method you choose to use, remember that patience, persistence, and consistency are key. Job search websites are always changing and being updated, especially government sites, so it is important that you make your job hunt a daily task. Also, do not get discouraged. No matter what state the economy is in, job hunting can be a lengthy process. Furthermore, before you submit your resume to any of the postings online, make sure that your document is neat, concise, and looks professional. You need to prove right from the start that you are a desirable candidate. Double and triple check spelling, grammar, punctuation, and overall format of the resume. Ask yourself "Does it looking appealing?" "Would I hire myself?" If the answer is No to one or both of these questions, give your resume a rewrite, or hire a professional to do it. In the long run, a professionally written resume is definitely worth the money, especially if it lands you your dream job.

Candace Davies, Owner of A+ Resumes for Teachers is a Global Career Management Professional dedicated to assisting educators worldwide leverage their strengths, accomplishments, and unique selling points to capture their dream career. Her team has successfully assisted 3500+ education professionals by transforming their talents into concise documents that secure numerous interviews.

Please visit her at http://resumes-for-teachers.com or send an email to candoco@telus.net

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Setting Up Appointments When You Need A Career Change

The key is to job hunt smarter not harder. There is no point spending all day applying to over 50 companies and get so frustrated at the end of the day because non of the employers have responded to your applications.

Don't join the rat race. Many are called but few are chosen. Why join the many when you can be among the few chosen ones without joining the crowd.

A bird at hand is better than 10,000 in the forest. You can always use that one bird to catch the many thousands in the forest because birds of the same feather flock together.

The same applies to the job market. Why apply for the thousands of jobs on job boards when you can use a contact person to attract or be introduced to many other key contacts that could help you attain the job you are looking for.

For example, if you want to start a career in project management, start networking among your friends. There must be someone you know who knows a project manager. Build rapport and create a network ladder to get to your main contact person.

Once you have established contact, you can try using this appointment generating email:

Hi Steve,

Thanks for taking my call earlier today. In relation to our conversation, Sally mentioned you were the best person to speak to in regards to starting a career in project management.

Your reputation precedes you and I feel I have much to learn from you. This is clearly obvious just by looking at your outstanding record of proven achievement within the field of successfully managing global projects.

Please find attached a quick summary my resume / CV. It explains

and details what I have been doing and how it can be of benefit to you and your department.

I am available for a meeting on either:

Tuesday the 9th of Jan

Wednesday the 17th of Jan

Thursday the 25th of Jan

Which day will suit you or do you have a more suitable time?

Kind regards

James Thomas

By Keji Giwa

http://www.careerinsights.tv