How to Get A Great Job Even If Your Graduating In the Worst Job Market In Years ……and How It Does Not Have to Impact You

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It’s almost that time of year. Spring is upon us, the snow is gone and you’re graduating from college.…. smack in the middle of the worst job market in years. What luck! In case you’ve not heard this before….all is not doom and gloom. Try to remember a time when you thought your world was going to end. I mean a really bad time when you lost sleep. Maybe you flunked your calc class or maybe your girlfriend/boyfriend left you, maybe something worse. What was the outcome? Did the worst thing you imagined happen or did something not nearly as bad happen instead?

When I graduated from college I was also worried. I took a bartending class during my last term (not to impress my friends or pick up women.) The job market was not as bad as now but it was still not good. The bottom line is it all worked out. I had a job lined up within a few months so I never actually worked as a bartender. I can tell you this…. I wish I would have taken a month off and travelled Europe or went to Colorado and skied. Not too long ago a friend of mine’s girlfriend graduated from college. They both are of Polish decent so they flew back to Poland and spent the summer in Europe. They had a lot of cool pictures.

Anyway this article is not going to be about travelling the world or what kind of fun ideas you should do after college. This article is about your career after college. The two things you should know right now to find a job after college:

1. Things will work out!

2. Things will out if you take action!

If you graduate, then decide to move back home with you parents or your significant other, find your old friends from high school and drink beer to remember the good old days….then your screwed. (I had friends that did this). If, however, you develop a plan and take action every day on that plan, you will be fine.

Let’s get into a few things to include in your plan.

1. Write your resume. Obvious right? Is it done? If you’ve never written one go back to your school. Many colleges have alumni resources. Go back there and get some help in writing your resume and cover letters.

2. While you’re at college getting help on your resume, the college may have recruiting help. My college has a website where they post jobs. Jobs posted only for alumni. In fact many colleges will brag how many of their graduates have a job within 6 months of graduation….. they don’t want a bad statistic!!! I’ve heard commercials on the radio.. “95% of our graduates have a job within 6 months of graduation.” Use that to your advantage.

3. Search for jobs in many different areas. You may not want to leave your home town but if you’re open to jobs in a different state you’ll have better luck. I’ve know a lot of people who recent found employment out of Michigan. Some have gone to California some to the east coast. Not all went with a smile but after they’ve been there a month, they seem to love it.

4. Pay attention to trends. Open your mind to using your degree for other careers. IF you have one career path in mind then your options are very limited. Let’s face it, one of anything is risky. The chair your sitting on has four legs, not one
5. Defer your student loan payments.

You have 6 months after graduation but banks are aware of the job market. Your interest will still accrue but maybe you can work or a small payment plan now.
Worst case, if they don’t work with you….sign up for a few classes at the community college. As long as you’re in school you don’t have to start repaying the loans. The interest might start to accrue so be aware!
Find and internship. You might be thinking why I would want to work for free? If you’re not working now then you’re still not earning any money. At least with an internship you are gaining experience. Things only work out if you take action. The economy will turn around. Internships will help you gain experience, contacts in the business, and also when they do hire….who do you think had the best shot….an outsider or you!