As graduation gets closer and closer those of you who are graduating might be thinking more and more about what you are going to do after graduation. You may have been listening to the bad news about the economy and getting discouraged, but that doesn't mean that you should give up before you have even gotten started. It is good to stay informed about current events and the economy, but use that information for good, not as an excuse! There are still plenty of employers who are hiring. Ask yourself these questions to see how ready you are to get a job upon graduation:
Have you started your job search?- If not, start now! It takes new graduates up to six months to find a job, so the sooner you start looking the better.
How are you conducting your job search?- If you are spending the majority of time sitting in front of your computer then you need to shake things up a bit. Start by talking to everyone you know and letting them know you are looking for a job. Maybe they have some leads or can lead you to people who know people if you get my drift. That is called networking and it is the most effective way of finding a job so it is a good idea to make it a part of your job search.
Do you have a current resume?- If not, get one! If you don't know where to start, make an appointment with the Student Development Office to get help.
What does your resume look like? If you haven't updated your resume in a while or had someone else look at it, take the time to do so. Make sure you are presenting the employers with a document that is easy to read and really shows you in the best light.
Do you just have one resume that you send to everyone? If you answered Yes to that question then it is time to start tailoring your resume. Each time you send your resume to someone for a job opening you should tailor or tweak your resume to fit that position. it sounds like a lot of work, but it will pay off. If you have been sending out a generic resume to everyone it has most likely gotten passed over because it doesn't stand out to the employer.
If you have answered these questions and feel like you need some help, it might be time to make an appointment with a career advisor. You might want to try out one of the career exploration packages (see the post below).Call 972-780-3632 or e-mail
studentdevelopment@unt.edu.
Of course there is much more to finding a job that just these questions, but this is a good start. If you have any specific questions e-mail us and we will try to address them on the blog because most likely, other students have the same question.
Good Luck!
