What 2013 Grads Should Do?

college graduateGraduation is only a few months away, so now is the time for college seniors to start their job search. There is good news for seniors graduating in 2013.  The job market has started to show glimmers of hope, according to a new survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.  Employers expect to hire 13% more new college grads from the Class of 2013 than they did from the Class of 2012. For many companies, the bulk of the recruitment process is done from September through November and for soon-to-be grads who are hoping to land a job by spring.  There is no time like the present to hit the job search hard. There are things college seniors can do to enhance their chances and opportunities for job procurement.

Senior year can be hectic but students need to treat their job hunt like another class and always put their job search in front of any extracurricular activity.  After all, what was the purpose of going to college if not to find a career? Needless to say, resumes and interview skills need to be updated, practiced and modified to match their newly acquired degree. Seniors who wait until second semester to visit the campus career center are failing to effectively use the services offered for their job search.  Colleges and universities have many resources that are available.  The “bird gets the worm”, as the saying goes.  Many colleges actually have job fairs and recruiters on campus conducting interviews and most have resume writing and interview workshops to assist college grads. Students are able to practice verbal skills for meeting potential employers that help to eliminate anxiety and polish performances for interviews.

Students should attend all on-campus visits with visiting employers. These information sessions and career fairs are key for getting face time with executives and hiring managers and establishing connections. Statistics show that the majority of companies hire come from colleges and universities.  Meeting recruiters and representatives is imperative. In addition to this, colleges and universities have services and staffing that have question and answer sessions to provide students with more insight with regards to their career and future.

The experts recommend seniors use the second half of their senior year to get more experience in their desired field and career path.  If possible, internships provide a solid foundation for career experience and often provide a possible employment opportunity if available.  Job boards are posted all over college campuses. If there are hard skills around certain kinds of computer programs or activities that people in your field are looking for, then you have the time while you’re in school to gain those skills, to make sure that you can truthfully express your aptitude in those skills if the need arises.

Source: Class of 2013: Start Your Job Search Now.” Fox Business. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.

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