How To Find A Job For College Graduates

Are you a recent college graduate in search of a job? If so, you are not alone. According to State University of New York professor Cong Cao, only 19.7% of the United States' 2009 college graduates have secured employment as of July 1 (less than 1 out of every 5), a stark contrast to the 68% of China's 2009 college graduates who have become employed. In tough times such as these, recent college graduates such as yourself need to be proactive in the job search. There are several steps you should follow to get the job that is right for you.

1. Go beyond the career services available at universities and search actively for opportunities. There are numerous resources available online to help, including the recent partnership between America's Job Exchange and CollegeRecruiter.com to create a "College Center" that provides several tools and services to young career-seekers^[1].Other resources include CollegeGrad.com, QuintCareers.com, and JobWeb.com.

1. America's Job Exchange - College Center

2. Network! Social networking sites such as LinkedIn can be useful tools since they allow you to connect and communicate with other people in the business world. Also, you can attend local business meetings through the Chamber of Commerce or other local groups such as BNI. Joining a relevant group and attending meetings is a great way to meet people, and you can get a lot out of an in-person meeting that cannot be accomplished online. Communicating to people that you are actively looking for a job is a great way to get to know potential employers, or to become recommended to a potential employer by one of your new contacts.

3. Be willing to try new things that you may not have considered before. You should not feel confined to a career path that deals solely with your areas of study. Instead, consider your best qualities and explore careers in other areas that you have not yet considered. Staying flexible could land you a job you enjoy that you had never thought you could get.

4. Stay open to relocation. Not all great job opportunities will appear in your backyard, so in order to land that new job, you may need to move to a nearby city or even far from home. If you are not finding a lot of jobs in your area, you may consider moving if you think it will help your career.

5. Freshen up your resume. Your resume is the first step in getting you hired. Add recent achievements and accomplishments, or try giving it a new look. Highlight your talents that will help with the job you seek. There are lots of resources online to give you ideas and even services that will assist you in writing your resume. America's Job Exchange offers resume-writing help, and you should take advantage of this.

6. Have a positive attitude. When there are a lot of candidates with similar qualifications competing for one position, intangibles such as work ethic and temperament come into play when the employer makes a decision. Candidates who demonstrate their curiosity and enthusiasm are more likely to be selected. You can distinguish yourself by projecting the right attitude.

You can distinguish yourself by projecting the right attitude. Overall, to get the right job, it comes down to doing research, networking, staying flexible in terms of profession, being open to relocation, and keeping a positive attitude. Follow these steps, and success will be yours.