College Grads Looking to Land your Dream Job in your Dream Company Listen Up!

College Grads Looking to Land your Dream Job in your Dream Company Listen Up The reality for many prospective graduates is daunting. In the last decade, it has become increasingly difficult to land a job directly after graduating college. The numbers are sobering the unemployment rate for college graduates has risen to 8.8 percent (compared with 5.7 percent in 2007) and the underemployment rate is at 18.3 percent (compared with 9.9 percent in 2007). Though these numbers are startling, it is not impossible to land a job. The fortunate truth is that the most prepared college graduates still stand a option of attaining a good position, even in this market. In fact, there are quite a few industries actively seeking new graduates. The most prevalent job opportunities for graduates can be found in fields like education professional, scientific and technical (that require specialized expertise) health ca re federal, state and local government and finance and insurance. Although these sectors have the highest hiring rates, it is still tough to get hired when competing against thousands of other well-qualified applicants.The key is to stand outThe first step in standing out is to conduct appropriate, focused research I call this the Missing Information Analysis (MIA). MIA prepares a candidate to ensure that he or she appears to be the perfect fit for the job. Those who look and sound like all other applicants will invariably go unnoticed.abflug out by finding out everything possible about your desired position. For instance, where is it located in the corporate hierarchy? Who do you report to? What are the major responsibilities in this role, and what knowledge and skills must you possess to be successful at accomplishing these? Conduct an informational interview with people who have this job or an equivalent, and with a human resource professional at the company. Ask the HR departmen t for the job description in writing.Look up everything you can about the company to which you are applying. Start by closely reading its website. Look online and in print media for articles about the company. Find out about the companys culture, politics, structure, strengths, weakness, profits, losses (get financials if publicly available), areas for potential growth, (how can you help with that?) and so on.Make sure you find out about how people are selected at your target company. Is there a resume review, an interview, a test? Who sits on interview panels (know their names and titles), what are waiting periods, who is the main corporate contact, is there anything available in writing for you to study? Typically, the best way to obtain this information is through the companys HR department. Otherwise, if you know anyone who has applied to this company before, perhaps he or she could tell you the process.After you have completed your MIA, you can proceed to the next step in stand ing out, which is to create a customized resume. Generic resumes do not get noticed. Put an objective statement at the top that demonstrates you know the specifics of the job and company for which you are applying. List your past experiences. Did you ever have a job that matches the job title or part of the job title for which you are applying? If so, highlight that. Can you list some courses that demonstrate you have the knowledge and skills listed in the corporate job description? If so, make sure to mark that down. It is a time-consuming process, but to increase your chances, you must create a customized resume for every job to which you apply.Make sure you send your resume and cover letter to a specific person, name and title included. After you submit your resume, send an email or make one phone call to find out if it has been received and if and when you will be scheduled for the interview.If you have been selected to go through a formal selection process, begin to prepare imm ediately. There are books on interviewing that may more fully prepare you, but in general, make sure to demonstrate that you know about the job, you possess the requisite knowledge and skills, and you fit the organizational culture. Practice in front of a mirror to look confident and well prepared. Tell your interviewers that you are fully aware of the companys goals and show them how your specific contribution will help them achieve their desired outcomes.Dont be frightened by the statistics. With the right tools and proper preparation, landing your dream job is truly possible.

Asking for Letters of Recommendation

Asking for Letters of RecommendationAsking for Letters of RecommendationChecking references is usually the final step prior to being hired (or accepted into a graduate school program). Its important to be selective on who you use as a reference and who youll ask for a letter of recommendation. You will want to include people who view you favorably and who have positive things to say about you. If in doubt, ask your reference if they feel that they know you well enough to provide a good reference. Types of References Basically, there are two types of references professional and personal. Professional references can address your skills, knowledge, and work ethic while personal references can better discuss your personal traits. Employers and graduate school programs will usually let you know the number of references they want and may specify the type of reference they are seeking as well. A good reference will provide knowledge of your character, integrity, specialized skills, and work habits. Hopefully, your references are from people who are excited about your career plans and can provide an employer or grad program with important details that create a favorable impression about you. Steps for Asking for a Letter of Recommendation Determine the purpose of the letter of recommendation and then identify the appropriate person(s) who can best supply that reference.Its better to ask your reference if they feel they know you well enough to provide a good reference than getting a reference that does not boast of your accomplishments and personal work ethic.Provide the reference with supporting documents such as resume, classes taken (and grades received), as well as any internships, volunteer work, or jobs that you have completed. Make koranvers your reference knows the purpose of the recommendation so they can address the skills and accomplishments based on the type of position or graduate school program to which you are applying. Apprise references of your goals and update them on your background and the type of job/program you are seeking. Keep them abreast of what you are applying for and let them know once you have accepted a position. Be sure to get permission prior to using someone as a reference. Advise your references of any deadlines and provide as much time as possible for references to write a recommendation. A hurried reference letter will not have the same impact as a well-planned letter boasting of your strengths and accomplishments. Follow up and check with your references to see if they need any additional information. You can gently remind them of the deadline if the date is approaching soon. As a courtesy, you can also supply your reference with a stamped envelope to send the letter directly to the employer. Employers usually prefer confidential references where the reference is able to supply valuable information without worrying about the applicants response to the reference. Who to Ask for a Reference Professor sPrevious Supervisors at jobs or internshipsAcademic AdvisorsCoachesSpecial Contacts (music teachers, sports contacts, volunteer/job/internship associates) These individuals can all be used as character references as well as attest to your work ethic and desire to achieve. A list of references is usually supplied upon request by an employer or graduate school program. The list should be developed on a separate sheet of paper and provided when asked. You may ask your reference for a copy of the letter that you can use in future applications. Be sure to send a thank you note to your reference thanking him/her for their time.