Maximizing Job Prospects For College Graduates
By Lynne Fuller, Founder of College Flight Path
When considering how to enter the job market in a field that aligns with your students’ specific needs, wants, and personality, it is important for them to spend the time doing the introspective work on essential skills, needs, and areas of interest that will provide purpose and fulfillment. If a job seeker can identify those core values, then identifying a major, internship opportunities, and future places of employment will be far easier.
It starts with what fills your student with energy each day. For some, that is combing through research, for others it is reimagining the functionality of a space. It makes sense to connect the dots…for example, if a student exhibits leadership skills, is willing to take calculated financial risks, and works well in a collaborative environment, entrepreneurial endeavors and start-ups may be a comfortable work experience.
To gain this introspection, it makes sense to start with an assessment of one’s skills, where all stakeholders (parent, mentor, teacher, and close friend) can remark on what fills your student up and what depletes them. Taking this important information, coupled with an assessment (Strong Interest Inventory, Hogan, CDR, Birkman) interpreted by a career counselor to determine work environments that align with occupational themes, basic interests, and personal work styles, creates the magic recipe to help students propose a plan for career clarity.
When entering college (2-year, 4-year, apprenticeship/trade, or military training), it makes sense to connect with career services during the very first semester or before enrolling. The reason why…there are only three summers as a four-year college student and much less time in an Associates or trade program. Determining a path before committing is an essential part of the brainstorm process.
Learning how to write an excellent resume that will jump to the top of the pile in an age where keywords matter; likewise, updating a LinkedIn that hiring committees will read, and networking with professionals in the field also matters. Those who use every summer to explore various aspects of the career paths they have identified will be able to narrow their focus to land a first job that offers the most comprehensive first step on their specific career trajectory.
The advice I offer my high school and college students is to reflect and highlight their academic and professional progress after every semester. The hack I try is updating my resume and LinkedIn profile every time I get my teeth cleaned. I might as well update it aligned with the two times each year I am seeing my dentist, making both tasks a little less cumbersome.
As we progress through the job search process and land first internships, it is essential to reflect on what worked, what did not work, what could change, how connections were made, who will remain as mentors, and what could be considered next moves. The more we consider these factors, the more it will fuel us all in pursuit of our personalized career goals. Need help? Email hello@collegeflightpath.com or fill out our form to get connected with our dedicated career counselor to prepare your resume, LinkedIn profile, and interview skills.
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