by Kristen Fischer, for Yahoo! HotJobs
It's the time of year when many college students are focused more on ordering their caps and gowns than thinking about getting a job. But the last semester of school is a vital time for soon-to-be-grads to get a jump start on job hunting.
Here are some tips for using your last semester of college to prepare for professional life:
Start your resume. Even if you don't have much to put on your resume, now's the time to get cracking on it. Don't know how? Visit the campus career services office. Compiling a resume can be intimidating for many college students because they worry they don't have enough experience to include. But once you learn about what can go on a resume -- and realize that top-notch writing can create a powerful document -- it's not as daunting.
Get an internship. If you haven't had an internship yet, get one. Internships are now a major deciding factor for employers hiring new grads with no real-world experience: The ones who took initiative to garner some professional experience during college will stand out. "It's not too late to add meaningful, resume-building experience to your resume," says Heather Huhman, career expert and founder/president of Come Recommended. She advises taking on an extra internship, volunteering at a local nonprofit organization or becoming an officer in a campus organization. "Not every position in the 'Experience' section of your resume needs to be paid," she adds.
Network galore. Attend an industry-related meeting in your area, stop by the career services office to see if they can offer any connections in your field, or talk to a professor. These are valuable sources that may have an "in" with companies hiring in your arena. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that about 70 percent of jobs are found through networking. "Always network and get to know your contacts before you ask something of them -- in this case, a job lead," Huhman advises.
Get online. Susan P. Joyce, the editor/publisher of Job-Hunt.org recommends that college students set up a LinkedIn.com profile before they graduate. "By setting up their LinkedIn profiles while they are still at school, they have the opportunity to speak with faculty members and others with whom they have worked (on committees, school-related projects, and part-time jobs) to request LinkedIn recommendations," Joyce suggests. After the school year is over, people scatter around the globe and it may not be so easy to track them down -- so do it now.
Solidify your references. Huhman suggests getting your references ready, and part of that includes choosing people you know will speak highly of you -- and checking with them to ensure they approve of being used as a reference. "With recruiting budgets, resources and staffs being cut, it's important to take into consideration all the ways in which you can help streamline hiring managers' processes," she says.
Ditch your college persona. A professional email address is fundamental for effective self-promotion. So don't use that "hotbabeindorm" username anymore. And for interviews, try a makeover: Invest in a good pair of slacks and a dress top to make a winning impression.
Kristen Fischer is the author of "Ramen Noodles, Rent and Resumes: An After-College Guide to Life." Find out more at www.ramenrentresumes.com.
It's the time of year when many college students are focused more on ordering their caps and gowns than thinking about getting a job. But the last semester of school is a vital time for soon-to-be-grads to get a jump start on job hunting.
Here are some tips for using your last semester of college to prepare for professional life:
Start your resume. Even if you don't have much to put on your resume, now's the time to get cracking on it. Don't know how? Visit the campus career services office. Compiling a resume can be intimidating for many college students because they worry they don't have enough experience to include. But once you learn about what can go on a resume -- and realize that top-notch writing can create a powerful document -- it's not as daunting.
Get an internship. If you haven't had an internship yet, get one. Internships are now a major deciding factor for employers hiring new grads with no real-world experience: The ones who took initiative to garner some professional experience during college will stand out. "It's not too late to add meaningful, resume-building experience to your resume," says Heather Huhman, career expert and founder/president of Come Recommended. She advises taking on an extra internship, volunteering at a local nonprofit organization or becoming an officer in a campus organization. "Not every position in the 'Experience' section of your resume needs to be paid," she adds.
Network galore. Attend an industry-related meeting in your area, stop by the career services office to see if they can offer any connections in your field, or talk to a professor. These are valuable sources that may have an "in" with companies hiring in your arena. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that about 70 percent of jobs are found through networking. "Always network and get to know your contacts before you ask something of them -- in this case, a job lead," Huhman advises.
Get online. Susan P. Joyce, the editor/publisher of Job-Hunt.org recommends that college students set up a LinkedIn.com profile before they graduate. "By setting up their LinkedIn profiles while they are still at school, they have the opportunity to speak with faculty members and others with whom they have worked (on committees, school-related projects, and part-time jobs) to request LinkedIn recommendations," Joyce suggests. After the school year is over, people scatter around the globe and it may not be so easy to track them down -- so do it now.
Solidify your references. Huhman suggests getting your references ready, and part of that includes choosing people you know will speak highly of you -- and checking with them to ensure they approve of being used as a reference. "With recruiting budgets, resources and staffs being cut, it's important to take into consideration all the ways in which you can help streamline hiring managers' processes," she says.
Ditch your college persona. A professional email address is fundamental for effective self-promotion. So don't use that "hotbabeindorm" username anymore. And for interviews, try a makeover: Invest in a good pair of slacks and a dress top to make a winning impression.
Kristen Fischer is the author of "Ramen Noodles, Rent and Resumes: An After-College Guide to Life." Find out more at www.ramenrentresumes.com.
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