Hot tips for a smooth transition from studenthood to the world of work

By Amber E. Brown

December 21, 2005 | Walking around campus lately you may see more troubled faces on your fellow students than would otherwise be considered normal. These faces are not due to a poor grade on a paper or a recent break-up. These are faces full of anxiety, fear and confusion, due to the lingering question we've been asked since kindergarten: "What are you going to be when you grow up?" With graduation fast approaching, many seniors are realizing that in a matter of months, this question will no longer be a nicety that adults prod us with as children, but our reality, as we leave behind the familiarity of the college classroom that has been home for the last four years and venture into the world of the unknown we've only heard whispered rumors about: the world of work.

While many, if not all, have experienced jobs in high school, and more probable, during the college years to pay our rent and stock our cupboards with mac and cheese, entering the "Real World," as it is commonly referred to, is a far different scenario than our job as a cashier at the local supermarket. No, now we have the pressure of applying our years of education and pursuing not a job, but a career. Now is the time to show that the thousands incurred in student loans was all for a good cause: you have become a self-supporting, degree-educated, capable young adult. At least that's what your professors tell you you've become. But how do you make a future employee view as such?

Internships

According to Donna Crow, Director of Career Services at USU, one of the most effective ways to become a more competitive applicant in the job market is to have practical experience in the field you're interested in by completing an internship. "Studies show that 60 percent of students graduating with relevant work experience in the form of an internship are offered permanent employment by the company they interned with," said Crow.

"In addition, recent data shows that 70 percent of all employers prefer to hire students who have had internship experience, even if it wasn't with their organization. Why? Students who have completed internships are more prepared to meet the demands of the job market and are less likely to 'job hop'."

But how do you land a coveted internship position? Dr. Michael Sweeney, Department Head for the Department of Journalism and Communications at USU, said one of the best ways to land an internship is by networking, especially with people you already know. Sweeney also suggests checking out departmental bulletin boards for any internship postings, or if you're feeling especially brave, simply call different companies that you may be interested in working with, and asking them if they have any internship positions available, or what they are looking for in prospective employees. As Dr. Sweeney so eloquently stated, "What have you got to lose?" If nothing else, perhaps you can walk away with another networking connection.

Another great way to network and find potential internship and even employment positions is through attending career fairs. Despite online job posting systems such as CareerBuilders.com, nothing can take the place of a face-to-face contact with a potential employer that career fairs offer. In one place, at no cost, students can connect with a large and varied group of employers regarding both internship and permanent employment opportunities. Career Services at USU sponsors what is typically the largest Career Fair in the state. This year it is scheduled for March 1, so plan on attending!

An important fact that many students may overlook is that, besides practical work experience, many internships are also paid. If that weren't enough, you can actually get college credit for an internship! Students should speak to their academic advisor to see if this is a possibility for them, advises Crow.

Resumes

So maybe you've already completed an internship: great! You may be one step closer to landing your dream career. Or maybe you are weeks from graduation and still haven't completed an internship: don't worry, you're not doomed to unemployment! There are still other ways of making yourself more marketable to prospective employers.

One great way to make a lasting first impression is with an incredible resume. Incredible doesn't mean your credentials need to be through the roof, and belonging to ten different honor societies isn't necessary either (although it couldn't hurt!). The best way to get your resume noticed is to pay attention to the details of the job description and the qualities the employer is looking for in an employee, and then tailor your resume so that it is job-specific. For instance, if the job description states they are looking for an individual with ambition and leadership skills, emphasize the points in your resume that detail how you've demonstrated leadership. Another key point, according to Crow, is to ensure that your resume is free from spelling and grammatical errors.

"I can't say enough about the importance of grammar, punctuation, and spelling--they are the main reason resumes don't survive the 30-second employer scan," Crow emphasized.

Students who are struggling with compiling a resume can seek help in the Career Service center, located on the bottom floor of the University Inn on campus, where trained coaches can help guide them through the process and bring them yet another step closer to landing their dream career.

Locating Prospective Employers

Let's face it: the idea of sifting through the job market trying to find your ideal career can be overwhelming. Overwhelming, yes; impossible, no--especially when armed with the knowledge and tools that can help you succeed. According to the UCI Career Center, the average job search takes about six months, so it's important to begin your search before graduation.

A good place to start is by researching what exactly employers are looking for in future employees. Employers responding to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Job Outlook 2005 survey were asked to rate the importance of candidate qualities and skills on a five-point scale, with five being "extremely important" and one being "not important." Communication skills (4.7 average), honesty/integrity (4.7), teamwork skills (4.6), interpersonal skills (4.5), motivation/initiative (4.5), and strong work ethic (4.5) were the most desired characteristics.

"While employers rate communication skills as one of their most desired characteristics, they also report that they are the skills that are most lacking in today's job candidates," says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director. "There is such a heavy emphasis on effective communication in the workplace that college students who master these skills can set themselves apart from the pack when searching for employment."

Finding employment should be much like finding an internship, and many of the same resources may be used. The Career Fair is a great way to network and find positions. Also check out departmental bulletin boards, or talk to professors in your department who may be able to give you a job lead. There are many Internet sources available where you can post your resume for millions of employers to check out, but often there are fees associated with this service. A better alternative for budget-savvy students is to check out websites such as the Utah Job Connection. The website allows you to search through positions that are currently available within Utah for a variety of fields, and you can create a profile and post your resume for free.

Then there's always the good ol' fashion highlighter and newspaper approach: scanning the Employment section for possible positions. While this can be effective, keep in mind that only 10 to 20 percent of job openings are ever published, according to the UCI Career Center. That means that the majority of positions -- 80 to 90 percent -- are located through other methods such as networking, or researching and contacting companies you'd like to work for to see if there are any positions available. Even if there isn't currently any positions available, it may be wise to set up an appointment to meet with someone within the company as a way to get tips on finding a career in that field. You may even be able to leave them with a copy of your resume, should any positions become available in the future.

The Interview

You're sitting at home in your sweats watching the Real World (or some equally mindless entertainment that college-aged youth seem to crave) when all of a sudden your phone rings! It's so-and-so from one of the companies that you applied to, and they would like to meet with you! After the initial excitement wears off and you catch your breath from all the cartwheels you did, you realize that you have no idea how to prepare for the interview. What do I wear? What should I say? How do I act? Your excitement is replaced with anxiety, but with the proper preparation you can go into the interview with confidence rather than butterflies.

We've all heard the saying, "You only get one chance to make a first impression," and during the job search, this couldn't be more true. A significant part of a hiring decision is based on nonverbal elements in an interview -- handshake, eye contact, body language, posture, listening skills, clothing, grooming and accessories. Don't overlook the power of a good first impression. People make amazing assumptions about your professional credibility and potential performance based upon your appearance during a first meeting. It's very difficult to overcome a poor first impression, regardless of your knowledge or expertise.

To be successful, research and practice for the interview and carefully plan the professional image you want to project. If you come to an interview dressed professionally, you will feel a sense of confidence and others will sense your self-assurance. Many employers interpret your appearance in terms of what you know about the world around you and what attention you give to detail. For a list of general tips for men and women, check out how to Dress for Interview Success.

Once the dilemma of how to present a professional appearance is out of the way, serious thought and preparation should go into responding to questions the interviewer will likely ask. One of the best ways to prepare for an interview, according to Mackes, is to research the company beforehand.

"Each year, employers cite researching the organization as the single most important piece of advice they can offer candidates, said Mackes. "There is no substitute for research, so do your homework: Research the company (and the position, if possible) before you interview. This will enable you to ask intelligent questions during the interview."

Another preparation strategy is to anticipate questions that will likely be asked, and have an answer prepared, says Sweeney. Common questions include, "What are your strengths and weaknesses," "What would a friend say about you?" "Tell me about yourself..." You should have several key ideas that you want to nail across in each question, as well as concrete examples that back up what you're saying. It's one thing to say, "I'm a hard worker," but a far more effective way would be to demonstrate how you're a hard worker, by answering, "I worked 20 hours a week at a loading dock while carrying 18 college credits and volunteering at the food bank." This would show that you're a hard worker, rather than tell, and as a result you'll have more credibility and will be more memorable to the interviewer.

Nancy Tobler, a Ph.D. Candidate in the Communications Department at the University of Utah, stressed the importance of following-up after the interview. This may be in the form of a telephone call, an e-mail, card or letter, just to reaffirm that you are still interested in the position, and it may also offer you an opportunity to emphasize some of the points you made in the interview about your eligibility for the position. It may also be the opportunity to mention an anecdote that the interviewer may have discussed. For example, Tobler said that while interviewing potential professors on campus for a new position at Utah State, one of the final candidates sent each of the committee members a card after he interviewed and had a personal (and funny) note to each of the interviewers. Sixteen years later she can still recall what had been written inside of her card. During the actual interview Tobler had told a story about her young son who persistently asked her to go on walks so he could see "Cheezits." She mentioned how she had the hardest time trying to figure out what her little boy meant when he said he wanted to see "Cheezits," until one day on their regular walking route they passed a cemetery and her son pointed out a headstone that had "Cheezits" on it. It was Jesus, of course, and the young man who had interviewed for the position recalled her telling this story, and on the card he sent her, commented on hoping to be able to see "Cheezits." Tobler said that as a committee they were already leaning toward him as the final candidate, but the card added that final push that showed he would be someone they would like to work with. While in most instances a humorous card would not be appropriate, in this case it was, and it left a lasting impression on the interviewer.

Finally, remember that obtaining a job is a process. Don't expect to get an interview for every application, and don't get discouraged by failure. Finding a job can be difficult, landing your dream career can be even more so, but once you do, it will be worth the hard work, and worth enduring the jobs you had to work at until you got to that position. Ultimately, the overall goal is to have a plan to get you into the place where you are happy with your job, and you wake up each morning excited to get to work.

As a last piece of advise, remember this pearl of wisdom from Dr. Sweeney while continuing the job hunt: "Life is too short to spend 40 years doing something you hate, and no amount of money will make you feel good about a job you hate." Now there's a mantra worth keeping...good luck with the job search!

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