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How
College Graduates Can
Land a Job in a Down
Market
(ARA) -
It's all over the news
-- employment has fallen
sharply recently.
College graduates
looking for a job often
view the rise in
unemployment as a
formidable obstacle.
Suzanne Roush, director
of career services at
Brown Mackie College in
Moline, Ill., offers
advice to graduates who
are looking for work.
"With the increasingly
downward spiral of our
economy, the outcome for
new graduates can appear
bleak at best," Roush
says. "But there are a
few simple rules they
can follow in their
search for employment."
Roush works with
graduates on a daily
basis to prepare them
for the work of finding
a job. Her advice helps
people set themselves
apart from the crowd,
and avoid discouragement
during the search. Here,
she shares a few simple
rules that help in the
search for employment.
Get
Organized
"It is extremely
important to be
organized in the job
search," says Roush.
"Creating a 'job search'
book is a good first
step. You can keep
records of all job
descriptions,
applications, and dates
of contact." Roush
points out that two or
three months can pass
before a company
contacts applicants.
"I've heard many stories
where someone calls for
an interview, and the
applicant doesn't know
who is returning the
call. Not a good start,"
says Roush.
Organization helps when
the callbacks come.
"When a company calls to
set up an interview, you
will have the job
description and can
tailor your responses,"
Roush continues. "If an
applicant is not
organized, that can be
the cause of not landing
the position."
Be Persistent
Persistence eventually
pays off. "Do something
every day that will take
you a step closer to
landing a job," says
Roush. "Check newspapers
and Web sites. Treat
your job search like a
job." It is common for
college graduates to
accumulate more than 100
jobs in a "job search"
book. "Every 10 or 15
resumes result in a
phone call," says Roush.
"It's a numbers game.
The more resumes you
send out, the more
chance you'll have of
garnering a response."
Network
"It's important to talk
to as many people as
possible when looking
for a job," says Roush.
"A high percentage of
jobs aren't even
advertised. Don't be shy
about joining trade
clubs and associations
and networking clubs.
Call past graduates,
current students and
friends and family
members as well. You
never know who may be
able to help."
Roush even prompts
graduates to do
volunteer work with an
eye toward networking
prospects. "Keep a copy
of your resume in the
car," she says. "The
person volunteering next
to you may be on the
board of a company
you're interested in.
Talk to everyone --
neighbors, people at
church. Someone may be
hiring for a company in
your field."
Sell Your Best
Attributes
Some college graduates
have little experience
in the field they want
to enter, while older
applicants have concerns
about competing with the
young. "Both have good
things to offer," says
Roush. "The younger
graduates can sell
enthusiasm and eagerness
to work hard. Older
graduates offer maturity
and skills that go with
the workforce."
"I remind everyone that
Charlotte's Web was
rejected 30 times before
it was published. Many
successful people go
through hardships. I use
inspirational stories to
show that anything is
possible," Roush says.
"It helps college
graduates feel better,
build confidence, and it
helps with interview
skills." With a mind for
detail, and a concise
"elevator pitch" about
yourself, finding
employment can become a
systematic process that
lands your job.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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