I Am Graduating… Now What?

By Haley Way

Career Counselor, Texas State University Career Services

I remember the last semester of my senior year—one month before graduation to be exact—sitting in my apartment, dazed and confused about the job search process. Thinking:  Where do I even begin?

Let me clarify a few things from the previous statement.  First, by dazed and confused, I mean desperate and crying.  Also, I wasn’t alone in this endeavor/cry-fest, I was accompanied by my roommate and fellow Psych major.  Certainly, my fellow sobber did make me feel a bit better at first.  However, I soon realized we might not be much help to one another in the job hunt.  All this one month before graduation.  I mention the timeframe again because, at the time, I thought it was sufficient time to find my dream job, with dream pay, at a dream location (more on how these goals take time, later).

 See any resemblance as you start your job search?  I hope that’s not the case.  But I offer up this story because, though I am now a Career Counselor with Texas State, I’m not even going to pretend like I had it all figured out when I graduated.  What I can do is offer some suggestions during this time in your life, and steer you to the free—yes, free—career counseling and job search resources we have here at Career Services.  You may think you are the only one who does not have it figured out.  But I can assure you many people are in your shoes:  Nervous, scared, confused, or just feeling “behind.”  There is hope.  The job search process is just that—a process.  It that takes time, energy, and will power, but can be very rewarding.

Tip #1 - Know Yourself - What are your strengths, the values you want in your life, personality characteristics, interests, weaknesses, and, most of all, your goals for the future?  If you don’t know yourself, how can the company with whom you’re interviewing even begin to know you?

Suggested Resources:  Set up a career counseling appointment by calling 512-245-2645.  Read books like:  What Color is Your Parachute? or I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was. Take online quizzes to find out more about yourself.  In particular, try FOCUS 2, our new interactive career exploration site: http://www.careerservices.txstate.edu/Students/Career_Exploration/focus2.html

Tip # 2 - Practice a Targeted Job Search - Many people are open to “whatever” job title or company comes their way, in “whatever” city or state that happens to be.  Taking a “whatever” attitude yields endless possibilities, and actually spreads the job-seeker’s time and efforts thin.  One result are very generic job search materials (resume, cover letter, and application).  However, companies do not want generalized applications.  They want resumes that are relevant and tailored to the position they are seeking to fill.  Applying for a job, unlike what many people think, is not a numbers game, that the more jobs you apply for, the better.  It is more about quality applications for jobs that actually interest you.  Therefore, focus your efforts toward a few carefully selected job titles or companies and then invest the time to tailor your application materials (for example, making your resume fit the job posting).

Suggested Resource:  Read the book, Can I Wear my Nose Ring to the Interview?

Tip #3 - Commit - Be willing to make a commitment to the job search.  Finding a job is now your new full- or part-time job.  This means dedicating  a set amount of hours each week to research jobs and companies, compile applications, and send out tailored resumes and cover letters.  Make that corner of your office/room/library into your new Job Search Central.  Set hours for yourself, as well as manageable goals (for example:  I plan on applying to 3 positions this week).  Dedicate and focus your energy, but also time and space for mental breaks, for rejuvenation and relaxation.

Suggested Resource:  Use the job search progress log (in Excel) on our website to keep track of the positions you’ve applied for.   http://www.careerservices.txstate.edu/Students/Job_Searching-Career_Prep.html

Tip #4 - Network and Connect – The word “Networking” sometimes evokes a bad connotation, so let’s think of it more as “connecting with the people you know.”  Or those people you want to know.  You can connect with everyone:  Professors, friends, family, family friends, your friend’s family, professional organizations, church, sports clubs… the list goes on and on.  The truth is that it is a small world after all.  And you need everyone in your world to know two things:

 #1 You are looking for a job, preferably in (your chosen) field, and,

#2 You are hoping to meet anyone they know who might be helpful.

Connecting with others can happen face-to-face or online or in many ways.  In particular, you should join LinkedIn, a professional networking site utilized by many recruiters and possibly your own potential employer!

Suggested Resources:  LinkedIn, www.LinkedIn.com  Also be prepared to sell yourself.  Check out this online handout called Elevator Speech http://www.careerservices.txstate.edu/Students/Handouts.html

What Matters in a Resume?

What Matters in a Resume?

CONTACT	Andrea Koncz, ext. 121, or Mimi Collins, ext. 119, 800.544.5272
E-MAIL	akoncz@naceweb.org
E-MAIL	mcollins@naceweb.org
DATE	November 17, 2011
SUBJECT	What Matters in a Resume?
BETHLEHEM, PA—What do employers look for in a resume? Beyond the candidate’s ability to meet standard criteria—the “right” major or work experience—employers are most likely to look for evidence that the candidate is able to work in a team, according to a new survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Nearly 80 percent of employers taking part in NACE’s Job Outlook 2012 survey said they search for evidence that the potential employee can work in a team, and more than three-quarters indicated they want the resume to show the candidate has leadership abilities and written communication skills. Evidence of problem-solving skills and a strong work ethic round out the top five “soft skills” employers seek on resumes. In fact, says Edwin Koc, NACE director of research, “Overall, results show that the ability to work in a team is the number one soft skill employers seek in their new hires.”Consequently, job candidates need to showcase that ability in their interactions with employers, not just on the resume, but in the interview as well. NACE offers more resume advice in “Write the Right Resume” at http://bit.ly/NACEResumeHelp. Figure 1: On a resume, employers look for evidence of… 1. Ability to work in a team 2. Leadership skills 3. Written communication skills 4. Problem-solving skills 5. Strong work ethic. Source: Job Outlook 2012, National Association of Colleges and Employers
About the Survey: The Job Outlook 2012 survey was conducted August 3 - September 23, 2011, among NACE employer members; 244, or 26.8 percent, took part. Approximately 23 percent of respondents represent organizations in the Northeast, 38.5 percent are with firms in the Southeast, 25 percent are from the Midwest, and 13 percent are with companies in the West. NACE will monitor and report on the job market for the Class of 2012 throughout the year. About NACE: Since 1956, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has been the leading source of information about the employment of college graduates. For more information, visit www.naceweb.org. NACE maintains a virtual press room for the media atwww.naceweb.org/pressreleases/.

Fall into the Job Search

I know it's been a while since I was an undergraduate, but every time I walk around on campus this time of the year I am reminded of how I felt as a student. Right after fall midterms, I was in this weird mix of emotion. I was elated at the progress of some classes, and just down right disgusted at others. That's right. I wrote down right!

Now that I am a professional, the approaching holidays bring other memories to mind - the job search. You may internally think that you should just focus on your studies so that you can make the grades that you need to make. You may feel too tired to launch a search right now. I encourage you not to put this off. If you have no idea where to start, there is one thing that I want you to do. Make an appointment with a career counselor. Just dial 512-245-2645 and say "I want to make an appointment to see a career counselor about my job search". Easy. Have some one hour times in mind, and you can just tell the counselor everything that concerns you regarding finding a job. It really doesn't matter what kind of job you are seeking. Talk to the counselor about full-time jobs, seasonal jobs, internships, part-time jobs and summer jobs. Just start the ball rolling. You will feel a lot better when you can say to any of your loved ones "I am meeting with a career counselor to help me with my search".

So, what if you have done that first step, and you are just not getting any responses in your job search? You could still meet with a counselor to discuss strategies. Amazingly, there are a number of behaviors that many do not contemplate in the search. For example, have you ever listened to yourself speak? No, really. We have all had the professors that we didn't like in class, just because it was hard to listen to that person lecture. Well, what do you sound like? No one wants to hire someone that sounds as flat as a dish towel (unless that is a job requirement). Does your tone sound desperate? You know how those people sound, too. They are the ones that you won't call back or the ones you won't give your phone number. It's hard to warm up to that person, right? If you visit a potential employer in person, what are you wearing?

Just asking for an application or inquiring about a job in person is part of the interview. I remember meeting a young man (with his mom) and helping him with his part-time job search a few years ago. He had visible piercings and tatoos. I explained how to use our database and he focused on one job that he really wanted. I gave him some tips and he and mom went on their way. A couple of weeks later, his mother called me because she noticed that there was an opening in our office. I explained that we have a dress code for our employees, and her son's look simply would not work in our office. A few days later, I did meet the young man again. His mom sent him to the office anyway. This time, there were no piercings, and he wore khaki pants! Imagine what I might have thought when I met him the first time if he had been dressed that way. Do not understimate the power of a good first impression.

To conclude, we know it can be challenging to find work, but our staff wants to help. Why not draft us to your team this fall? Don't put it off.

10 Worst Mistakes of First Time Job Hunters

If you're in your final year of college, be warned: the rumors about landing a job in this economy are true. You should be taking steps today, not next semester, to prepare yourself.
An April 2011 survey conducted by Braun Research on behalf of Adecco Staffing U.S. found that 71% of 500 recent four-year college graduates would have done something differently to prepare for the job market. While companies will hire 9.5% more graduates from the class of 2012 than they did from the 2011 graduating class, according to another poll, employers are still looking for the pick of the litter.
"When you're not familiar with the job market or job seeking, you really don't know how much effort it will take," said Kathy Kane, senior vice president of talent management for Adecco NA,
To find out what students can do to better prepare for the current job market, we spoke with career coaches, recruiters and recent graduates.
"I would have started looking for jobs earlier."
Putting off your job hunt isn't a wise move. Among the Adecco survey's respondents, 26% said they would have started looking for potential positions earlier.
"It's easy to fall into 'my weekend starts on Thursday' mode, rather than 'I've got to put my job search into full gear today' mode," said Kane, "but procrastinators will have fewer choices."
Most students don't start thinking about their careers until they have to, said Lindsey Pollak, a career expert who focuses on Generation Y in the workplace. "There's so much you can do that's not a lot of work and not overly time consuming."
"I would have actually networked."
For students and older professionals alike, networking can feel like the most dreaded part of a job hunt. Twenty-nine percent of respondents to the Adecco survey said they would have spent more time building a solid professional network.
"Networking can be scary," said Pollak, "but about 70% of jobs are found through networking." Students who spend their time trolling job boards should instead spend that time making solid connections with people who are respected and involved in the workforce, industry experts and alumni, and spend only 30% of their time looking at job listings.
For the most part, Pollak said, people love to help students. As long as you are gracious and thankful and not trying to hard-sell yourself right off the bat, potential connections are likely to be receptive.
"I would have taken on a job or an internship in addition to my courseload."
Bottom line: There's no substitute for experience.
Having some professional experience under your belt before entering the workforce has become a necessity for many employers.
"I don't know a company that doesn't want people with internship experience," said Pollak. "My advice is to get yourself through the recession any way you can, and come out with whatever experience you can."
Look for internships that provide college credit or are paid. Otherwise, gain work experience in a setting such as waiting tables -- and talk with people at each and every table. "There are CEOs who started networking while they were waiting tables," Pollak said.
If you can't find a full- or part-time position on- or off-campus, try going to the Internet for virtual work. "There are jobs you can get without even leaving your dorm room," Pollak said, including maintaining someone's social media outlets, working as a copyeditor or building a website for a small business. Many of these types of jobs have flexible hours, an added benefit for busy students.
"I would have gotten more involved in career-relevant extracurricular activities."
On-campus groups, clubs, events and activities are a great place to get experience that translates to the working world. Skills are skills. You can show you have gained relevant experience by planning concerts on campus or working as a freshman orientation assistant, for example.
"Everybody wants to hire people who understand how to manage projects, work alongside difficult people, and have built their communication skills," said Kane. If you were on the dance team, and choreographed a group performance, for example, you've developed creative, leadership and training abilities, all of which translate to the workplace.
Experts say it's a matter of framing the extracurricular experience you've had in a professional way. Try thinking of your biggest accomplishments as a member or leader of an extracurricular group, and using them to brainstorm resume bullet points.
"I would have applied to more jobs."
Many recent graduates regret not putting out more feelers. According to the Adecco survey, 26% of recent graduates would have applied to more jobs prior to finishing school.
Putting your hat in the ring is the only way to be considered for most opportunities. The trick is to keep track of the applications you send out. "Sending in your application for hundreds of jobs on Monster.com will work against you," said Dan Schawbel, a personal branding expert and author of Me 2.0. Not only is it difficult to remember what you applied for and when, but you're also likely to send out generic resumes.
Write your resume so it highlights your experience with each position's requirements. Not sure what your relatable skill-set is? Try creating a Venn diagram that illustrates all of the skills and experience you've developed. The overlap can indicate your primary strengths, and the remainder can help you see where you have specific skills related to your prospective industry.
"I would have focused more on becoming 'professional.'"
Save the sweatpants and fratty T-shirts for the weekend. Replace them with clothes that are fitted, pressed and at the very least casual-Friday appropriate even when you're going to class. You may think dressing well every day doesn't matter, but the professors you ask for recommendations will remember your style.
Another way to show your professionalism is to pick up the tab for networking coffees, and send thank-you notes for even a little bit of help. "If someone gives you advice, all you have to do is say thank you after the fact," Pollak said.
And, of course, monitor your online appearance. Clean up and privacy-protect your Facebook accounts, start Tweeting interesting news (instead of which class you're skipping), be careful where you "check-in" on your smartphone, and set up a solid LinkedIn profile, Pollak said. Add a signature line to your e-mail account and set up a professional voicemail message.
"I would have done more to figure out what my career goals were."
Your first job out of college is unlikely to be your dream position, if you even know what that is. Indecision can hold you back, so set up some informational interviews to try to narrow your focus.
"It's a rare gift at any age to know what your passion is," said Bruce Tulgan, CEO of Rainmaker Thinking, a New Haven, Conn.-based management consultancy that focuses on integrating generations in the workplace. "In 99 out of 100 cases, people start to learn about a career path, gain experience in something, and over time they become passionate about it."
Don't be afraid to try something that you're initially lukewarm about, said Pollak. "I don't believe in dead-end jobs when you're early in your career," she said, "because everything is experience."
"I would have gone to the career center."
This is what they call a "no-brainer." You might not think you need your university's services, but there's no reason to find out the hard way you did something wrong that could have been avoided.
"College students have an advantage other job seekers don't -- an on-campus career center staffed with people who have one purpose: to help students find jobs," said Kane of Adecco. "Most career centers aren't taken advantage of to their full extent."
Once you get to know the counselors and they know what you're looking for, they can tell you about new opportunities, Kane said. It's also a good place to practice your elevator pitch, draft introductory e-mails or cover letters, perfect your resume, or any other measures you don't want to run by friends or family members.
"I would have kept better track of my achievements."
Experts say that even on-campus accolades belong on your resume.
"Start creating tangible results with your name on them so you have evidence of your ability to add value," said Tulgan. "Save the tangible results, date them, and be prepared to present them."
Tracking how many donations you collected from calling alumni or that you created a new filing system for the admissions office are achievements that translate to everyday work activities. Don't forget to highlight your academic awards, such as making the dean's list or honor society.
"Any accomplishment matters," said Schawbel. " Track them in a public setting, like your LinkedIn profile." If it's not out there for people to find, those achievements won't be doing anything to help you, he said.
"I would have focused more on developing relevant skills."
Having an awareness of industry-specific skills as well as broad, transferable ones is a way to really stand out.
"Companies aren't investing as much in training, so companies are more likely to look for someone who can hit the ground running," said Kane. That isn't just familiarity with industry terminology, it's also having professional "street smarts."
"Show your understanding of chain-of-command issues, working with older, more experienced colleagues and working with people in parallel roles in other departments, or with vendors and customers," said Tulgan.
You should also have excellent customer service knowledge – not only to use as a professional, but also to use as a job seeker. That includes making yourself available, being fully prepared for interviews,and knowing how to problem-solve, Tulgan said. "Above all, develop self-management skills and the ability to work effectively with a manager," he said.

Write to Kelly Eggers

September 2011 Employment Changes by Industry

September 2011 Employment Changes by Industry 

   

September 2011 Industry Composition

ALAMO 12-COUNTY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA (WDA)

Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina and Wilson counties

AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE

  

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS

FedEx to hire 20,000 to handle holiday business - Memphis Business Journal

FedEx to hire 20,000 to handle holiday business

Memphis Business Journal by Andy Ashby, Staff writer

Date: Monday, October 24, 2011, 10:51am CDT

Related:

Logistics & Transportation

Andy Ashby

Staff writer - Memphis Business Journal

Email

FedEx Corp. will hire 20,000 seasonal employees to help the company handle its busiest holiday season yet.

The Memphis-based transportation company expects to move more than 17 million shipments, almost double its daily average volume on Dec. 12, the projected busiest day in company history. In 2010, the company’s busiest day was Dec. 13, with 15.6 million shipments.

FedEx (NYSE: FDX) says the 10 percent year-over-year increase will be driven by FedEx SmartPost, a residential shipping service designed for online and catalog retailers, as well as expected increased volume at FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, FedEx forecasts more than 260 million shipments to move through its worldwide shipping networks. This would be a 12 percent increase for the holiday season over last year when 232 million shipments were processed.

“As e-commerce continues to grow and demand increases with more customers shopping and conducting their business online, FedEx SmartPost is poised to handle the increase in shipments,” Fred Smith, chairman, president and CEO of FedEx said in a statement. “More than 290,000 FedEx team members also stand ready to deliver the holidays and enable commerce around the globe.”

Holiday sales are expected to grow 2.8 percent during November and December to $465.6 billion, according to theNational Retail Federation. This is higher than the average increase of 2.6 percent over the last 10 years.

The NRF also predicts that 46.7 percent of shoppers will buy online as compared to 43.9 percent in 2010. Holiday online shopping is expected to increase by 12 percent during the 2011 season, according to eMarketer.

The Candidate Skills/Qualities Employers Want

Spotlight for Career Services Professionals, October 26, 2011

When it comes to the importance of candidate skills/qualities, employers are looking for team players and candidates who have strong verbal communication skills, according to respondents to NACE’s Job Outlook2012 survey.

Survey participants rated “ability to work in a team structure” and “ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization” as the two most important candidate skills/qualities. These are followed by candidates’ “ability to make decisions and solve problems,” “ability to obtain and process information,” and “ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work.”

The least important candidate skills/qualities on the list are the “ability to create and/or edit written reports” and the “ability to sell or influence others.”

Following is the list of the employer ratings:

Employers rate the importance of candidate skills/qualities

Skill/Quality	Weighted average rating*
Ability to work in a team structure	4.60
Ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization	4.59
Ability to make decisions and solve problems	4.49
Ability to obtain and process information	4.46
Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work	4.45
Ability to analyze quantitative data	4.23
Technical knowledge related to the job	4.23
Proficiency with computer software programs	4.04
Ability to create and/or edit written reports	3.65
Ability to sell or influence others	3.51

*5-point scale, where 1=Not important; 2=Not very important; 3=Somewhat important; 4=Very important; and 5=Extremely important

Source: Job Outlook 2012, National Association of Colleges and Employers

The Job Outlook 2012 survey was conducted August 3 through September 23, 2011, among NACE employer members; 244, or 26.8 percent, took part. The report is available to NACE members atwww.naceweb.org/job_outlook_2012/

Report: Top 15 most scary jobs

Austin Business Journal

Date: Monday, October 31, 2011, 7:50am CDT

These 15 jobs may not go bump in the night, but people do think they’re the scariest, according to the Kansas Business Journal.

Bomb squad technician topped the list, but it also included livelihoods such as mortician and stunt person — as well as some that might surprise you.

Harris Interactive surveyed almost 4,400 workers on behalf of CareerBuilder.

Here's which careers they said gave them goosebumps:

1. Bomb squad technician

2. High rise window washer

3. Armed forces

4. Miner

5. Police officer

6. Alaskan crab fishing

7. Mortician

8. Firefighter

9. High school teacher

10. Cemetery worker

11. Exterminator

12. Stand-up comedian

13. Animal control

14. Stunt person

15. Politician