These days many a student is putting a diploma on the wall and contemplating entering the working world. There’s only one thing they didn’t count on when they began their Associates or Bachelors, and that’s the state of the employment market. Make sure you look into a online course.
Of course, there is one problem. Thanks to the current economy, one can’t just mail out a resume and expect the job offers to come pouring in. Quite the contrary, with an incredible number of experienced people out there also fighting for your job, you have to start thinking outside of the box.
The job website Monster.com has come up with an interesting list of ways to improve one’s employment odds. Look them over and put them to use. They certainly beat a long, hot summer cooling one’s heels.
Think Horizontally – Just because you have a degree in nursing means you should look for a job in a doctor’s office or hospital. School, cruise lines, law enforcement agencies and more also employ nurses. Get on Google and do some research. Also make contact with the local division of your professional society. Doing so can as much as quadruple the potential number of companies you could work at. Another thing that helps is a online college.
Do Some Research On The Company – While your resume should be pretty set, by doing some research on your target company you can make your cover letter conform to what your targeted company is interested in. Highlight whatever parts of your education, experience or other assets you have that will make you attractive to a recruiter, even if it meant you were a counselor at a summer camp. That shows you know how to handle kids.
Network – A good example is a young lady studying architecture. Not only does one of her cousins happen to be an HVAC architect, but her mother works in a green construction firm. She started twisting her family’s arms for contacts as soon as she passed her freshmen year and has already wrangled a paying internship for herself. Now entering her junior year, she has put together a small rolodex of contacts, with whom she keeps in touch. One gets the impression she’ll have her choice of jobs in two years because of her networking today.
Keep A Positive Attitude – Everyone knows we’re in a recession, just never get a negative attitude because of it. If the news is depressing, turn off the TV and work on some introductory letters and resumes. Believe it when we say a recruiter can sense a negative attitude before you walk through the door, and that’s a major strike against you. Companies always desire an upbeat disposition whenever possible, and will hire accordingly.
Stay Busy At All Costs – Companies don’t like people who are idle. They would love to see people working on an online degree. While you’re under-employed go out and work on a public cause. Get a part time job to pay the bills. Be productive, because that’s what recruiters want. Get more information about online education.
June 23, 2010 by Michelle Connor