Graduating from College can be a tough, but exhilarating experience for some individuals. Now is the time to put the books down and enter what we call the "real world". Some of you may have jobs lined up already, while others may choose to return to living in their parents basement. Whatever route you take, use these resources to help ensure you will go on to choose a successful career.
For many fresh out of College, it can be a tough time as you have the degree all employers want, but lack the few years work experience that all employers usually require. It's these next four or five years that will really set the pace to a successful career.
Career Sites
Use these sites to explore careers, search for jobs, build job contacts and prepare yourself for life after college.
CollegeGrad.com - Career web site for entry level job search for college students and recent grads.
GradSpot.com - A blog covering life after college with tools and services to ease the transition from college to the real world.
LinkedIn - The world's largest professional networking site.
AlumWire - Alumwire is a network for alumni and students to find jobs, internships, and other career opportunities through on-line career fairs.
Vault - Research companies, careers and everything else related to your job search.
After College - Find jobs in the largest career network for college students and recent graduates.
Your college major doesn’t necessarily determine what career you go into.
Declaring your college major is one of the most exciting parts of the academic process. You have finally grown up and now you get to decide what career field you would like to enter when you graduate college. However, graduation comes and goes and the first job you get has nothing to do with your college major. This happens to a lot of students, but why?
Scholarships
Some students are awarded academic scholarships for their college education; however they may not receive a scholarship for their intended major. Maybe they receive a scholarship for a Business major, but they may have wanted to pursue an Art major. Since college is expensive and scholarships are competitive, most students will take any money offered to them, regardless of the major.
Opportunity
So you graduated from college with your degree in Education; however you were just offered a job with a tempting salary at a reputable company. Once again, money talks and when opportunity knocks, you will most likely take the given offer.
Change of Mind
Some students go through college and halfway through may change their mind as to what career they would like to pursue. Rather than start over with their core credits, they just continue on to pursue their degree within their current major. Once graduation rolls around, they may try to obtain a job within a different career field.
Career may not have a Major
Some people choose careers that may not have a specific major. Of course careers in Education and Medicine require specialized degrees, however there are occupations where a specific degree is not needed.
Liberal Arts Degree
There are students who pursue a Liberal Arts degree so that they get a wide range of courses and get to experiment with different subjects. This way, they can have a choice of a few different careers. Liberal Arts degrees are sometimes looked down upon as it may seem like the student could not make up their mind as to what major they would like to pursue. However, with this type of degree, the student will have knowledge on a wide range of subjects, which may make the student more appealing to prospective employers. Some students pursue this degree and back it up with a minor in Business.
If you have a degree and decide to venture off into a different career, don’t despair. The important thing is that you have the higher learning that is preferred in today’s market. The job market is extremely competitive right now and a high school diploma just will not work anymore. A college degree in almost any major will guarantee you a second look by your prospective employer.
When you are sitting down at an interview for a job, the person on the other side of the table may take a quick glance at what you majored in, however they will mainly want to see that you actually graduated from college. Just the fact that you graduated from College will show prospective employers that you are a dedicated individual. College is supposed to be a preparation for the real world, and this is why employers prefer those with degrees. Just remember, what you chose to major in, doesn’t always mean you will end up doing that line of work.
When it comes to succeeding in anything, having great time management skills is very important. Becoming motivated at whatever you are doing and not being lazy is a main objective of time management. As each day comes, make it count. Instead of letting the day pass by quickly, make each and every minute of the day important to you. Here are a few secrets that will help you start managing your time very well.
Think in the moment
What does this mean? It simply means stay on task; don't drift off into space while you are working on something. If you aren't giving your full attention to a certain task then what's the point in working on it? A main reason for getting off task is worries. You shouldn't let problems in your life slow you down, but work around them. Let go of the worries that are uncontrollable and you will become less stressful and enjoy each day more.
Make each minute of the day count
Instead of hoping that each day has more time to complete your tasks, tell yourself that you can finish the tasks in that amount of time. Not being lazy is important here. Start waking up earlier so that you can fit more into a day. Sure the first few hours of being awake are going to be rough, but once you are completely awake, you will benefit greatly. One tip here is to plan your day out to what you think you want to accomplish. This will have your mind organized with what tasks you are going to do and around what time you will start them. This will also make you feel better during the day and be less stressed out. Don't put off stuff for today thinking you will do it tomorrow. A key role in being successful is to not procrastinate but to do what is important immediately.
Balance your life out
You should set time aside each day for business matters, strategies, refreshment, friendships and family. To do all of these you must manage your time effectively. You decide how you want to spend your time. You must get in a habit of what you do each day. Make sure you are spending enough time to satisfy yourself. Always put your loved ones first as they are more important than anything else. Spend as much time as you can with them while you aren't working.
Don't over work yourself. There is only so much you can do without being overloaded with work and becoming extremely stressed out. Don't be afraid to say no if you think it is past your abilities and limits. This will tell others that you are trustworthy which will benefit you in the long run.
Remember focus on the goal you want to achieve. Work hard every minute to get closer to that goal. Every action brings you to a new goal. Stay balanced, productive, and sort out your priorities so that your time will pass wisely.
First impressions are key when you are interviewing for a job. You want to not only impress a potential employer with your education and experience, but you want to look your best as well. Even if you are applying for a job in a factory to sweep floors, you should still dress your best for the interview.
WARDROBE
What you wear is what could possibly seal the deal for a job for you. You can be the most qualified and intelligent person that gets interviewed for a position, however if you are wearing something that is too revealing or sloppy looking, then you will be overlooked very quickly.
Women should wear skirts that are at least knee length or longer. Be conservative. Try to stay away from really high heels and open-toed sandals.
Women should stay away from clothes that are too tight and/or revealing.
Men should wear a suit and tie. Shirts should be tucked in and every button should be fastened.
Make sure your clothes are ironed and free of wrinkles and stains.
This may sound obvious, but make sure your clothes match. Try to choose colors that are neutral such as navy blue, black, white, or tan. Stay away from bright colors such as pink and red and try not to wear anything with a “print” to them such as flowers, plaids, and checks.
Remove any excess body piercings, such as a tongue ring, nose ring, or extra piercings in your ears.
Cover any obvious tattoos if necessary.
Women should choose nail polish that is light and conservative. Stay away from the black or orange nail polish. Go for a light pastel or clear color instead.
HAIR
Your hair should be neat. If you are a woman, then be sure to style your hair conservatively. A neat ponytail, bun or hair worn down neatly should suffice. Men should make certain that their hair is not overgrown and that they have shaved or trimmed their beards and mustache.
MAKEUP
Women should put on as little makeup as possible. Do not overdo it on the foundation and keep the eye shadow and eyeliner light and natural. Wear neutral tone lipstick and blush. You do not want to go into an interview looking like you are ready to take your glamor shots. Basically, you should wear your makeup so it looks like you do not have any on at all.
PERFUME/COLOGNE
Men and women should choose light scents that are not overpowering. Apply as little as possible as you do not want the interviewer to smell your perfume or cologne before they even meet you. Men should keep the aftershave to a minimum as well.
JEWELRY
Sure you love to wear a ring on every finger and twenty bangles on your arms. However for interviewing purposes, tone the jewelry down to just one or two rings and maybe one bracelet. Men with pierced ears should remove their earrings.
BRIEFCASE
Carry a portfolio, folder or briefcase. This will make you look professional and prepared. Even if you just have a pad of paper and a pencil, you will look the part that you are applying for.
You want to make sure you make a lasting impression. The basics of dressing for an interview are to be conservative and professional. If you are hired, then you will be representing the company and you have to do that in a positive light.
During your job search you will be probably be called in for job interviews. Most companies use interviewing as a way of getting to know an applicant better and to gauge whether they are qualified for the job that they applied for. It is important that you are well prepared for the interview. Usually employers will make their final decision during this session so its imperative that you make a positive and lasting impression. There are a few ways where you can prepare ahead of time so that you ace the interview and make yourself the prime candidate for the job.
RESEARCH THE COMPANY
Employers will be impressed if you come into an interview with knowledge of the company. Before the interview, check out the website of the company. Learn about the history, number of employees, and other facts that they may display on their website. You can throw these little quips in during the interview. The interviewer will be impressed that you took the time to learn more about the company and its founders before coming in for the interview.
BRUSH UP ON YOUR SKILLS
It is important that if you have a degree in a specific field that you actually know the subject matter. For example, if you specialize in computer programming, then you may want to be prepared to sit down and answer questions about code, computer language and programming. Some places will even make you write a sample program during the interview. If you have a degree in Psychology, then you will probably be asked sample problems and situations related to Psychology and how you would handle them. Therefore, it is important that you are prepared to show off your knowledge.
BRING YOUR RESUME
Sure, the interviewer will most likely have a copy of your resume before you come, however, you may want to bring another copy with you. If you are interviewing for a teaching position within a school district, then you will want to be sure to bring your teacher portfolio. Be sure to bring anything with you that you feel would benefit you during the interview session.
PRACTICE
Ask a friend, parent or mentor to sit down with you and ask you sample interview questions. This will prepare you to answer questions on the spot. When the interviewer asks you questions, you need to think quick and come up with a good answer right away.
Popular questions that may be asked:
“Why do you think you are a good candidate for this job?”
“In what ways would you be an asset to this company?”
“What are your career goals?”
“Describe success in your own words.”
FINALLY
There is nothing worse than showing up late for a job interview. Make sure you show up on time and prepared. If you have changed your mind about attending the interview, then be sure to call in advance and cancel. Be professional and be ready to put your best foot forward so that you will be the person they potentially hire.
Choosing a career may be a difficult decision for a lot of students. After all, once you choose your career, you most likely will be in that field until you retire, so you should make sure that you put a lot of thought into your decision. You most likely will be majoring in a field for a specific degree so it is best that you choose your career field early in your college education. This is especially important for students who wish to enter the medical or law field as they will have to continue their schooling well after their bachelor’s degree. What if you are undecided as to which career to go into?
CONSIDER YOUR HOBBIES
You will most likely excel in a career where you actually enjoy what you are doing. If you like to read or write then maybe a career as a proofreader, copywriter, or even an English teacher would suit you. If you love numbers, then you should consider something in the field of accounting or math. It is best to try to choose a career as close to your hobbies and your likes as possible.
CONSIDER THE JOB MARKET
Run a quick Google search for your intended career to see if it is one that will be around in five years or if it is something that may be phased out by technology. Jobs in the computer and technology field are in high demand as are nurses and doctors. Do your research and see if the career you are thinking about is something that will be around for a while.
SELF-ASSESSMENT TESTS
Maybe you have a wide range of interests and you have considered a career in law or even maybe education. If you think you may need help narrowing down your decision then you should consider taking a self-assessment test. You could take one online or you could call an employment agency and have them administer a professional one to you. These tests ask you a variety questions from your favorite activities to your questions about your personality. The results will let you know which careers you are best suited for and which ones you should probably stay away from. A test like this could help you to narrow down your decision and possibly point you in the right direction.
CAREER FAIRS
Job fairs are held often in most areas of the country. You should attend one and talk to the representatives on hand about the positions they are offering. Ask them what their degree requirements are and the average pay scale. Ask them any questions you may have about the field so that you can better assess which career is best for you.
Remember, you can obtain your degree in one field and enter another career. In the end, you want to make sure that you enjoy what you do to make your living. There is nothing worse than sitting at a job that you hate for thirty years just to pay bills; therefore you should make your decision after a lot of thought and planning.
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