People entering the job
market and all job seekers should avoid some common errors. Although this
year's college graduates are facing a tough job market, they have an advantage
over other job seekers that they are among the age group most likely to be
hired in coming months.
Organizations are very
interested in hiring young people because they have a lot of energy and are
willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. But no matter how
well-positioned these young people are, they--and all job seekers--will have a
better chance of success if they avoid these common job-hunting mistakes of new
college grads:
1.
Not being proactive enough
2.
Relying solely on the Internet
3.
Not creating wide networks
4.
Not creating customized resumes
5.
Misusing the Internet
6.
Failing to follow up
7.
Setting expectations too high
8.
appearing unprofessional
9.
Not taking the job interview seriously
10.
Not using the college's career office
This isn't the time to sit
back and be casual in your approach. Create a hit list of five to ten target
companies, and really utilize your network to locate an 'in' at each. When
thousands of candidates are applying to the same jobs online and posting their
resume to the same job boards, candidates need to stand out by making
connections and networking their way into a company. Job boards are an
important tool, but new grads also need to focus energy on networking. There's
no statute of limitations on networking
Don't send out any resumes
that simply list your courses, the degree you've earned, and your part-time and
summer jobs--use this opportunity to make a stronger statement about what you
want to do with your adult life. Younger job seekers often haven't thought
about what they have to offer an employer. With this mindset, they create
resumes that are "boring biographies" instead of effective marketing
tools. A career office can help you identify networking contacts, learn
important job-search skills, and significantly improve your resume and cover
letter.
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