Student Job Link's Resources

If you follow the news you will probably have an inkling that we are very likely heading into the worse economic period since the Great Depression (for those of you who slept though History 101 think 1930’s, Grapes of Wrath, soup lines, stock brokers jumping out of windows).

 As a result, students graduating this year are going to face a much more difficult job search than students who graduated a year ago and it is very likely that this will be the reality for the next couple of years…at least. 

So, as a student what can you do about it?

Well, first off, take heart knowing that smart companies are still hiring students because they realize that recession, depression or neither, they will still need workers to replace their baby boomer employees who eventually will retire (and for the love of God let’s hope that’s sooner than later).

Now the reality check for you is that while there still will be jobs available for new graduates, there will be fewer of them and there definitely will be more competition for them.

 So now is the time to put on your game face and get into a competitive state of mind. Look around your class and ask yourself who stands out as a high achiever.

If it is not you, then it is critical that you immediately begin taking steps to set your self apart from the rest of the herd of average performers. The following are some ideas that can help get you started: 

Excel academically. How much your grades matter varies by industry/field. Personally, I have never been asked for my marks. What is always important though is that your fellow classmates and instructors see you as intelligent and hard working. These people should be part of your professional network throughout your working life and their opinion of you counts.

Join a professional organization related to your field. Attend their events. Join their committees and look for opportunities to volunteer within the organization. Often the people who run these organizations are well connected in their industry/field of work. Get to know them- they could end up being great references.

Find an internship or co-op- even if it is unpaid. This can be a great way to build your resume and build some important industry contacts. Who knows? You might even be hired by the company where you intern at.

Build your network. Many books have been written on networking (although most of them are garbage) so for now I will only briefly touch on this. Make a list of the people you know in your field, or at specific companies or organizations that you would like to work for. This could include family members, friends, classmates, parent of friends, acquaintances, the weird 40yr old who talks to you at the Gym.

Once you have your list, contact each person and explain to them your goal to work in/for X and then ask for a short meeting with them further discuss.  Once you have met with them, and if they are willing to help you, follow up every couple of months to find out if they have any new information. And don’t be a schmuck, if you go for lunch or coffee, you pay.

Of course you can disregard all of this and just sit at home and watch TV, maybe go partying a few times a week. Or even better, why not perfect your video game skills.  But don’t be surprised when you never hear back from the companies that you have applied to. They are probably too busy interviewing someone who spent their time ensuring that they stood out.

Happy hunting!