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The weight of today's college degree
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Recent economic and unemployment reports indicate that having a college degree doesn’t offer as much leverage as it used to. This does not mean you should not finish school and get your degree. It simply means that, in addition to your degree, you are going to need other qualifiers to help set yourself apart from everyone else in the job market. Think of your degree and all of your other skills and qualifications as U.S. dollars overseas. Today, you simply need more of them to get what you want.
“This current generation of college students and recent college grads are in for a rude awakening,” said Richard Bottner, president of Intern Bridge, Inc. “We’ve been coaxed since childhood that a college degree is all we really need to be successful. Have a degree, and you’ll always have a job. That is clearly an expectation that is not going to meet reality in the current job market.”
Now, while this recession is indeed far-reaching, there are still jobs out there. You just have to know how to go out and find them - and prove you've earned them.
1. If you are still in college, find an internship. “Not only will it let you network, preferably in your future line of full-time work, but it will give you important experience to put on your résumé,” said Liza Weale, director of graduate programs at Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. “This helps you stand out from new grads who may not have worked during college.”
2. Even if you’ve already graduated, consider doing an internship. “If you can't land a full-time job, consider doing an internship. Even if it's not a paid position, it may be the best route for you. It will give you an opportunity to gain valuable experience, and you'll have a chance to make a great impression. They may end up being so impressed that they offer you a full-time position,” said Nancy Barry, author of “When Reality Hits: What Employers Want Recent College Graduates to Know.”
3. Utilize your personal relationships. “Make a list of every adult in your life who loves you. Send everyone on your list a copy of your résumé, and let them know what type of position you are interested in so they can open some doors for you to get an interview,” said Barry. (Read more in my articles about networking.)
4. Give your résumé and cover letter a makeover. “Develop a professional looking résumé and cover letter that focus on what value you can bring to the position you are applying,” said Raymond R. Kennelly, vice president for enrollment management at Lewis University. “Each cover letter needs to demonstrate why you are interested in that position and that specific company. Generic letters that have clearly been sent to numerous postings do not make a strong impression and can be easily discarded.”
Catherine Ahlgren, assistant dean of career services at the Boston University School of Management, adds, “It’s all about matching yourself to the position you’re seeking. Emphasize how the coursework, extracurricular roles, internships and other leadership experiences you had in college map precisely to the requirements of the job, the culture of the company and industry benchmarks.” (Read more in my cover letters and résumés series.)
5. Go abroad. “While parents often feel that time abroad delays entry to the real world, work overseas can be a terrific résumé-builder, particularly during this challenging time. Employers seek candidates with strong self-management, teamwork and entrepreneurial skills, all of which can be developed during an international experience. It also offers a chance to improve foreign language skills or learn a new language entirely,” said Christine Bolzan, founder of Graduate Career Coaching. (Read more in my article about finding a job abroad.)
6. Specialize in something. “These days, the grunt work can be readily outsourced, so you need to find something that you can do very well, and that cannot be duplicated by someone overseas,” said Brandon J. Mendelson, a blogger at Class Conflict.
7. Blog. “Starting a blog can be an extension of your résumé, and can lead to networking, which will, if done correctly, lead to a job. When companies see a candidate blog, they recognize that this person uses their free time for productivity and will make a good employee,” said Dan Healy, client services manager at Brazen Careerist, Inc. (Read more in my article about blogging.)
8. Join social networks. “Social networking can be done in spare time, and is necessary to get your name and résumé into more potential job pools. College graduates just need to be careful with this. A good rule of thumb is to keep any picture you would not show to your parents private,” said Healy. (Read more in my article about Facebook.)
9. Be a technological asset. “Even in a down economy, employers in every industry are more likely to hire a prospective employee who can set up wikis, build Web sites, create blogs, operate VOIP and video conferencing, create e-newsletters, market to social and business networking sites and tutor others on the latest software programs. This will set you apart from the pack,” said Nicholas Aretakis, author of “No More Ramen: The 20-Something's Real World Survival Guide.”
10. Be an exemplary communicator. “It’s not sufficient to take the required composition courses at the beginning of a college career and expect that to suffice for an entire career,” said Michael J. Quinn, vice president of marketing and communications at Daniel Webster College. “Students are lulled into a false sense of security in this IM- and text-message-driven world; everyone does it, so abbreviations and smiley faces are enough, right? Wrong. Reports, analyses, position papers and e-mails are still an essential part of business, and those individuals capable of producing well-conceived, well-written documents will stand out.”
11. Consider temping. “Concentrate on improving yourself even as a temp and per project employee. Statistically, many of those who start off as a temp land full-time jobs no matter what their age is,” said Stephen Viscusi, author of “Bulletproof Your Job: 4 Simple Strategies to Ride Out the Rough Times and Come Out On Top at Work.”
12. Prepare yourself well for the interview process. “Prepare answers in advance. Ask other professionals to do mock interviews with you. Dress appropriately. Watch your body language,” said W. Brent Jones, career development specialist at Elgin Community College. (Read more in my articles about interviews.)
13. Have a positive attitude. “The workplace is full of people with low morale, low energy and negativity. Entry-level candidates must come in the door with a positive, motivated, can-do attitude to distinguish themselves from the rest. The candidate also must display a willingness to learn new things, volunteer for assignments and take on jobs nobody else wants or has time to do,” said Leah Payton, a leadership and career consultant at Leah M. Joppy & Associates.
14. Show some passion. “Success is a result of passion for what you do, so degree or not, if you are not passionate and excited about the potential that you offer, it will be difficult for anyone else to see it,” said Cindi Smith, president of The Lakeside Group Associates, Inc.
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