College, Career, Life

Education and career planning resources for college students, recent graduates, and career-changers.

Should Colleges Require Career Planning Classes?

July 12th, 2010

collegecareerlife

With the rising cost of tuition, getting the most out of your college eduction is more important than ever. Despite the increased importance of career planning, many college students graduate without ever visiting the campus career center. One way for colleges to prepare students for the “real world” would be to require a career class as part of the core curriculum.

If colleges require all students to take other courses, why not career planning? My college required a “university studies” course, which covered the history of higher education and of the university. It felt like a complete waste of time and is no longer required. I think a career planning course would have been more useful to me and to the other students.

A career planning course could be offered online or in summer, and could meet once per week (instead of twice or three times like a typical college course). Not only could students learn how to choose a career to suit their personalities, but they could also develop their interview and resume preparation skills.

Most colleges offer career-related courses, but students might not be aware of them or may not think career planning is important. A required class would not only force students to think about their career plans, but it might also expose them to some new career ideas they had never considered.

Loading ...

Career Planning: How to Get Where You Want to Be

July 8th, 2010

collegecareerlife

The following post is by Kate Cunningham, who writes about online university rankings.

It’s no secret that the best way to get something done is to plan for it. The same goes for your career. Not as daunting as is sounds, career planning is simply mapping out the necessary steps you need to take to obtain the position you desire. Dream jobs are rarely handed out and are usually only secured through hard work and determination. To get where you want to be and land the job title you most covet, it never hurts to begin planning.

Choose your destination.

You can’t plan for something if you don’t know what it is. Whether you decided what you wanted to be at the age of five or are just starting to figure it out, you should take some time to figure out what your ideal job looks like. Career planning is not something that should be thought about after you have been handed a diploma. If you have chosen a major, you have already begun to plan your career. Earning the right degree can be the minimum requirement that qualifies you for that dream job, and your educational background is the foundation you will begin to build your career on. Explore all the possible career opportunities that are in your reach with a particular degree, and think about the destination you want your career to lead to.

Get directions.

While there is a set path that leads to some jobs, there may be several different paths that lead to others. One of the best ways to figure out what path leads to your ideal occupation, is simply to ask for directions. Informational interviews are typically the most informative and helpful way to do this. These types of interviews give those who are looking for direction and insight in their careers the chance to obtain occupational information from a professional who has been there. Look up people who hold a job title that you hope to eventually possess, and contact them about setting up a time where you can meet with them. Be sure to come to the meeting prepared to ask questions about their work and educational history and find out what type of experience led them to their current position. While following a particular path is not a guarantee of a particular job, after talking to some people who have been there you may have a better idea of what kind of career goals you need to set to get you where you want to be.

Climb the ladder.

Chances are, your dream job isn’t exactly one at entry-level. If someday you really want to have that particular job title, you are not only going to have to work for it, but also progress towards it. If there is an ideal job you are determined to one day work in, you should never spend more than two years in any related position along the way. Learn all you can in each job you hold, but move on once you have. This doesn’t mean jumping from job to job; after all, no one wants to hire a quitter. Go to jobs that will advance your career. By doing this, you will become more and more qualified and eventually just might move up to your dream job.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Kate Cunningham, who writes on the topics of online university rankings. She welcomes your questions and comments at her email Id: cn.kate1 @ gmail.com.

Kate Neville Offers Career Advice for Lawyers

June 26th, 2010

collegecareerlife

Law school is a common route chosen by college students hoping for a stable career. However, law is not recession-proof, as career expert Kate Neville has discovered. Neville counsels lawyers seeking to make a career move and says her business is thriving. Ms. Neville answered some questions about law school and offered career advice for lawyers seeking a career change.

Are any specialties within the law field in high demand?

Pharma/health law/Medicare fraud/FDA/biotech
Government contracts
EE-type patent work
Procurement in government

What are good career options for former lawyers?

Of course, identifying good career options depends on the skills and experience of the individual. Below is a list of some jobs that people with law degree often hold:

Policy positions in federal government or advocacy organizations
Local and state government policy and management positions
Researchers in think tanks
Financial analysts
Social work
Non-profit management
University administration
Ombudsman
Teaching (K-12)
Marketing and communications
Journalism (traditionally though fewer positions now)

What tips do you have for lawyers (or other professionals) wanting to make a career change?

1–Identify your skills generally, outside the context of law, e.g. prepare and deliver presentations on complex issues to sophisticated audiences/members of the public

2–Translate your experience into language that non-lawyers/prospective employers will understand and find impressive–do the work for them in a cover letter and your resume

3–Don’t dismiss the law if you didn’t like law school as practice is different–try practicing at first, consider it similar to a medical residency

4–Look into renegotiating the terms of your school loans and whether your school has any loan forgiveness programs

5–Think what content area interests you, but in addition to content, think about what role you want to play–what skills you have and that you enjoy using, e.g. research and writing, public speaking, negotiating, facilitating meetings, operations and logistics

6–Talk to people who do the work you think you want to do BUT be sure to prepare for those conversations–goal is to both get information and to make a good impression

7–Remember that networking is the most common way people get jobs–the vast majority of jobs are never posted. Determine how to do it effectively.

Many college graduates consider law school, believing it will lead to job security and better pay. Do you think this is still true or has the job market for legal professionals changed?

The changes in the economy have made it much riskier to go to law school. Pursuing a law degree as a default position because one isn’t sure what else to do is problematic. Large law firm hiring is drastically down, and more layoffs of experienced large firm attorneys took place in 2009 than ever before. Because firms cut positions and deferred and rescinded offers in 2009, there is already a backlog of deferred associates and new graduates. While the standard wisdom has been that going to law school will “keep your options open,” some employers see a JD as a negative in non-legal positions, and once in practice it can be difficult to determine what those options are and how to pursue them effectively.

Going to law school means taking on a huge amount of debt to get the degree and making a big investment of time and effort in school and to pass the bar. It seems clear that the pipeline is flooded since there are more qualified attorneys than there are good jobs for them, but law firm applications are UP. The assumption is that people want to sit out the economy by going to grad school, but it’s important to investigate what the options are after graduation to pay off that debt and get a good return on their investment of time and energy. The pool of attorneys who need to figure out their professional options will only expand so it’s important to talk to people who do the type of work you think you want to do before deciding to go to law school and while there.

What advice do you have for law school students or graduates that wish to find a job in the legal field?

1–Participate in clinical programs to experience what it’s like to represent a client and explore different areas of practice

2–Don’t just look at jobs in large law firms, consider government, businesses, smaller firms

3–Law is a broad field, which can encompass real estate transactional work to litigating immigration rights to lobbying for energy reform–think what content area interests you

4–As above, in addition to content, think about what role you want to play–what skills you have and that you enjoy using, e.g. research and writing, public speaking, negotiating, facilitating meetings, operations and logistics

5–As above, talk to people who do the work you think you want to do BUT be sure to prepare for those conversations–goal is to both get information and to make a good impression

6–As above, remember that networking is the most common way people get jobs–the vast majority of jobs are never posted. Determine how to do it effectively.

Kate Neville is a graduate of Harvard Law School and has practiced law in both the public and private sectors. Her experience also includes management consulting and policy analysis. After working as an advisor in Georgetown Law’s Office of Career Services, she founded Neville Career Consulting and provides career guidance to attorneys who are considering a professional transition. Her articles have been featured in The Legal Times, YahooFinance.com, Roll Call, Veritas, and training materials for the ABA Section of Litigation. Visit NevilleCareerConsulting.com for more information.

Advice on Finding a Job After College

June 19th, 2010

collegecareerlife

When the economy is bad, employers are hesitant to invest in inexperienced applicants, and older workers delay retirement. Campus recruiting has also dried up, eliminating a way for graduates to find real entry-level jobs. These factors create significant barriers for new graduates. But it’s not all bad news. Hiring of 2010 graduates is greater than hiring for 2009 graduates, and SimplyHired’s blog reports increased opportunities in a variety of industries.

I graduated with my second bachelor’s degree in December and recently found a job. If I can do it, so can you. Some advice from someone who has actually been there:

Keep looking

The number one key to finding a job is to just keep looking, even when you think you’ve exhausted all possibilities or even if you’re expecting an offer. A few years ago, a large percentage of graduates had a job upon graduation. The realities have changed and you’ll need to adjust your expectations. A difficult job search is not a reflection on you, but on circumstances beyond your control. Many talented people are out of work now, so don’t doubt your abilities.

Take a break

Some people say that job searching is like a job, but it really isn’t. During a job, you get paid to work. In a job search, you don’t get paid and may even spend your own financial resources on interview clothes or travel expenses. It’s fine to take a break from looking for a few days. Constantly searching without any responses can lead to depression, which will reduce your motivation. When you start to feel discouraged, stop and do something fun.

Stay busy

Not only will keeping active help ward off depression, but you can also increase your chances of finding a job. I briefly did temporary work in an unrelated field, but still gained skills that I’ll use in my new position. You can also volunteer, obtain certifications, or get an internship. Potential employers will admire your motivation and work ethic.

Don’t be picky

Even as a recent graduate, you’ll need to have standards. You probably have loans to pay off and you don’t want to take such a low salary that it will set you up for lower salaries throughout your career. However, being too picky can hurt your chances of finding a job. Many companies don’t have the money to pay the same entry-level salaries they did several years ago. It’s not fair that because of your graduation year you’ll start out with less money (and probably higher student loan debt) but a lower salary than you expected is better than none at all. Visit PayScale.com to find out what you’re worth, based on your specific qualifications and company characteristics. Also, be open to taking a job in a less-desirable location or at a company you haven’t considered.

Focus on local positions

I got a much higher rate of response from local employers, or employers in nearby cities (within 50 miles of my address). Many companies aren’t paying relocation expenses of non-local candidates and many limit the applicants they consider to local candidates. This doesn’t mean you should ignore jobs in other locations, but spend at least half of your job search time applying to local jobs. When applying to non-local jobs, use the address of a relative on your resume if it’s closer to the job to which you are applying.

Diversify your search

I got my job through an online job board, but I also searched local newspapers, sent out resumes cold to nearby employers, and contacted recruiters. Don’t rely on just one (or two) job search methods. If you don’t want to apply to a position through an online job board, try to find the hiring manager’s email or apply directly through the company’s career site. Aggregator sites like Indeed and SimplyHired are especially helpful because you don’t have to visit individual job boards or company websites.

Bypass HR

When applying to large companies, resumes are often filtered significantly by computers or by human resources staff. I was hired by an accountant after he saw my resume, and I’m not sure if HR would have recognized my potential due to my lack of relevant experience. At smaller companies, hiring decisions are usually made by the department that has an opening. For larger companies, you can search for a department manager’s contact information on LinkedIn and other professional sites. Your goal should be to get your resume into the hands of a professional in your industry.

Tell people you’re looking

As you’ve probably heard, most jobs are never advertised. The more people you tell about your job search, the greater your chances of hearing about potential openings. Some people might even be nice enough to put in a good word for you at their company. Recommendations from insiders prove much more influential than outside references. If you don’t like networking, just casually mention that you’re looking for a job instead of asking directly. This gives people the opportunity to help without putting too much pressure on them.

There is no formula for finding a job. An offer may come when you least expect it (mine did), so don’t give up on your search. See the Online Resources page for websites where you can research employers, craft a good resume, and brush up on interview skills.

Internship: The New Entry-Level Job

June 14th, 2010

collegecareerlife

True entry level jobs (those that require no experience) are getting harder and harder to find. And even if a job requires no experience, a candidate with experience is usually preferred over an inexperienced applicant. Even if you have the knowledge and skills to perform the duties listed on the job description, employers want experience because they don’t want to invest in training. A solution to this problem is to get experience through an internship. Although some internships require experience (!), most don’t (yet). One of your key goals in college should be to get as much internship experience as you can before graduation. Some great resources for finding internships:

Your College Career Center

The place to start when looking for an internship is your campus career center. Most career centers will have internship listings along with regular job listings. Your college may also offer formal internship programs that help students balance school work with internship responsibilities. Talk with a career counselor or career center staff member about your internship options.

Federal Government

The federal government offers internship opportunities, which can be found on the Student Jobs page at USA Jobs.gov. Government jobs are often overlooked by students, but they are great option to consider if you’re looking for security.

CDS International

For students interested in travel or working abroad, CDS International is a great resource for finding international internships. CDS international is a non-profit organization offering professional work internships, exchange programs, study tours, seminars, and cultural training. Find internships in Spain, Germany, Argentina, Switzerland, and the USA.

Intern Web

If you’re looking for a large selection of quality internships in a variety of locations, Intern Web is a site to visit. New internships are added daily, so be sure to search the site regularly or follow them on Twitter.

Urban Interns

Urban Interns connects businesses with internship- and part-time job-seekers. You can search for jobs by industry, skills, hours and/or city. Cities covered include New York, Boston, Chicago, and Washington, DC. You’ll find internships in performing arts, public relations, event planning, and many other industries. A perfect site for students and recent graduates.

Even as a new graduate, you’ll be expected to have experience. How is that possible, when balancing demanding course load? Get a summer internship (most large corporations offer summer internships), participate in a formal internship program at your university (these programs help schedule your classes around an internship), or take a semester off to participate in an internship. Not only will internships help you obtain relevant experience, but they may also help you decide if the career path you’ve chosen is right for you.

Recommended Reading:

The Intern Files: How to Get, Keep, and Make the Most of Your Internship

Hello Real World!: A Student’S Approach To Great Internships Co-Ops And Entry Level Positions

College Students Do This! Get Hired!: From Freshman to Ph. D. The Secrets, Tips, Techniques and Tricks you need to get the Full Time Job, Co-op, or Summer Internship position you want

Follow College, Career, Life on Twitter or subscribe to the RSS feed