Congratulations, you've done it! You made it through college, have
your degree in hand and are finally ready to make your mark. You are
now in the real world and it's time to get your professional life
started. If you are in the middle of this crossroad, it can be scary,
exciting, confusing, overwhelming or all of the above. Following are
some steps to make a successful college-to-real world transition.
Step 1: Pinpoint Your Direction.
After four (or five, or six) years of college, you are completely
certain about what you want to do, right? If not, now is the time to
determine what your strengths are and identify what kind of careers
suit you. Are you someone who loves to be around people? Or are you
happier crunching numbers or creating computer programs? Consider all
of your strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes and interests when
thinking about your career plan. Read about fields that interest you
and talk to others who are doing jobs that you find interesting. Focus
your direction on positions and fields that match your interests and
talents.
Step 2: Do Your Research.
It is vital to learn as much as you can about the companies that
interest you and to consider all of your options, says Pam Webster, a
recruiting manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. She should know:
Enterprise is the largest recruiter of college graduates in the US.
"You should be open-minded about opportunities in companies and
industries you might not have thought of before," she says. Once you
have identified companies that you want to target, Webster suggests
looking at their Web sites, reading news articles and talking to
current employees to learn as much as you can. "You also need to look
at a company's stability," she says. "Is the company going to be there
for the long term?"
Step 3: Assemble Your Toolkit.
It is important to have the right tools for any task. The tools
needed for a job search are a CV, cover letter and a portfolio of your
work. Take the time to develop a CV and cover letter that clearly
convey your strengths and experience. Here are a few tips to remember:
- Think about the type of CV you need. A functional CV, which
highlights your abilities rather than your work history, is a good
choice for first-time job seekers.
- Focus on accomplishments and results you have achieved, rather than simple descriptions of experiences.
- Use action words in your CV and cover letter to describe your experiences, such as "initiated," "produced" and "managed."
- If you are low on practical work experience, look to your part-time
work, school activities or volunteer positions. "Evaluate all of your
experience and translate how it applies to any job you might apply to,"
Webster says.
Step 4: Network.
One of the most important tasks in any job search is networking.
Take advantage of any resources you have, including your school's
career placement office, friends who graduated before you and are
already working, friends of your parents, former professors, and
neighbors. Send e-mails to ask if your contacts know someone who can
help you. Pass your CV around and ask others to do the same. Call your
contacts to see if they know someone who works for a firm you are
interested in joining.
Step 5: Play the Part.
If you want to join the professional world, you need to act -- and
look -- the part. Buy a business suit and wear it to all of your
interviews. "Make sure your e-mail address and voice mail greeting are
appropriate," Webster says. That means if your e-mail user name is
"crazygirl2005," you might want to get a new account. Webster says you
should also remember to be professional at home. "Be prepared for a
phone call or a phone interview at any time," she says. The more you
play the part of a well-trained professional, the more people will see
you as a professional.
Step 6: Don't Give Up.
The real world can be a real challenge. Set realistic expectations
and recognize that you will probably have to start at the bottom and
work your way up. You will likely face rejection as you start looking
for your first full-time job, but everyone goes through it. Just
remember to be proactive, be persistent and remain confident that there
is a great job out there for you!