Some students finish their college coursework in December instead of May. If you think they are all prepared to be jobseekers, then think again.
They do not have their career documents together (resume – one for handing people and another for online applications, LinkedIn profiles, BIO, networking one pager, job tracker sheet, networking business cards, target company list, etc.)
They do not have a well prepared and practiced elevator pitch and have not been groomed for interviews nor do they know how to negotiate salaries, much less look them up to find out the range in the local area.
They don’t know how to network online and in person, much less follow up … and I could go on.
After paying who knows how much for that piece of paper called a diploma, one would think that the students might be better prepared. They are not.
I spent time with one December graduate this week who finally has a LinkedIn profile (which should have been established in high school) to connect with family and friends. However, she has been instructed by me NOT to connect to potential employers and search for jobs until she has her proverbial “career document act” together. It’s a process and a journey for this phenomenon, which could be known as job school 101. Better to take the time to prepare and groom than rush into the unknown.
Another local student who will graduate from College in May attended one of our speaker and networking meetings this week and exclaimed how much he learned from being there. He never realized that this career education support system existed. Now he knows.
Bottom line … do not neglect managing your career and your career documents from the beginning of your career onward and make networking a habit. A simple start would be with a Bronze membership.
If you want to engage in career management in a group setting, save the date of Saturday February 1st for an all day accelerator in King of Prussia. We will walk with you along your career management journey!
Also register for the upcoming LinkedIn workshops listed below.
You can also ask mom and dad to hire a coach, as suggested by Alex Freund in this video interview with Anthony Uva who runs a program called Secrets of College Planning Show.
Dive in! Welcome to life! You have work to do!
Don’t miss our upcoming featured events. If you are a working adult, come learn and network with us. Visit the events tab on our website.
NEXT STEPS
- Subscribe to my newsletter on LinkedIn™ for bright ideas on how to manage your career.
- If you need a resume or LinkedIn™ profile to get you to your next step, book a call to chat!
- Join as a member at https://greatcareers.org/membership of the #1 business networking association on the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Book of Lists four years in a row!
- To support our charity at KeepOnSharing.com use the referral code Career
- Follow #GreatCareersPHL
AUTHOR BIO
Lynne M. Williams is the Executive Director of the Great Careers Network, a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides career development and networking connections for 1) job seekers in career transition, including veterans, and 2) employed and self-employed for career management.
Aside from writing keyword-focused content for ATS resumes and LinkedIn™ profiles, Lynne is writing her doctoral dissertation on LinkedIn™ for Job Seekers. She is a contributing author on “Applying to Positions” in Find Your Fit: A Practical Guide to Landing the Job You Love, along with the late Dick Bolles, the author of What Color is Your Parachute?, and is also a speaker on career topics.
