The other day I received a Dilbert cartoon from my younger sister, whose boyfriend is graduating this year. 
Graduates across the country are starting to feel that "edge" of getting a job, moving out of the safety of the college campus, and being responsible for their own life.
I think this is a fabulous opportunity and I salute all of you graduates. Make sure to walk at your ceremony! I was an early January graudate, so my mom encouraged me to return to campus that May and walk with my classmates: the whole mortarboard and gown thing actually turned out to be a satisfying ritual that helped me put a definitive close on my college days.
Because I'm listed in the mentoring list, I get periodic emails from seniors asking for advice on how to cope with moving across the country and finding a job. My main advice is to network, network, network. Here, verbatim, is my advice that I say to all new graduates:
1) Sign up with a LinkedIn account
2) Connect with your local alumni group. For example, I'm on the my alumni listserv in my area, which has over 1500 people on it.
3) Craft an introductory letter like what you currently have but specify, specify, specify: what are your specific skills? and post asking for introductions from your alumni listserv.
I can't highlight the specificity enough. Someone cannot help you if you don't know exactly what you are looking for.
For example, if you are a policy type of person, do you want a policy analysis type of job? or more of a numbers type of job? Do you want a research job or more of a "people-oriented" job? What field? health, education, government, finance, marketing????? Obviously there are lots of choices, so why don't you think about what you're good at/want to do, then ask for contacts in those fields.
4) In your resume, refine it to focus on actual skills that you bring to the table. What are your skills? What can you do? Maybe 3-5 of those in prioritized order.
5) Then just starting asking people for introductions in whichever field you are interested in: just to learn about the market, who the "players" are, who is up-and-coming, etc. There are also a number of recruiters that you'll probably find, so you just need to spread your availability there.
6) Try reading What Color is Your Parachute by Richard Nelson Bolles.
7) Links: craigslist.org, idealist.org, and monster.com to see what types of jobs exist.
8) I would most definitely focus on up-and-coming companies. Small business es (less than $5 million in revenue) provides the bulk of jobs in our country.
9) However, nothing beats personal connections, so once you know your skills and your specific field you want to focus on, find companies that fit those "keywords." Ask for connections. Do informational interviews. Ask for connections. Do informational interviews. (repeat)
10) Consider being a subcontractor to start, where you work for someone on a temporary basis (3 months) or as an independent advisor, and then if you like them/they like you, you commit to a full-time job.
11) You might want to look at nonprofits, foundations, and government too.
12) Do a skill list so you know exactly what you're good at. You have unique skills: identify them! Then, it's just a matter of networking until you find the boss or company that needs your specific skills!
Comment Preview