I enjoyed reading your article and I would like to offer some advice to all “Struggling College Students”. First, a college degree will provide you with many opportunities. It gives you tools that will help you land your first job. For many students, the college experience is a time to grow and develop as an individual and explore new interests. Next, what is the magic formula for landing a job? There isn’t one but you can make yourself more marketable to an employer. I have listed a few suggestions below.

1. Make sure your resume is in order and professional. Have you had your resume reviewed by another person? Is your resume easy to read? Would your resume catch the attention of a prospective employer in 15 seconds or less?

2. Obtain experience before you graduate. According to a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, “…19.7 percent of the Class of 2009 who had applied for jobs had one by the end of April. In contrast, 23 percent of graduates with an internship under their belt had a job in hand by the end of April. For those [students] who didn’t do an internship, the job market was especially unwelcoming: just 14 percent of those [students] who hadn’t been interns landed jobs as of April.”

3. Be involved! Gain leadership experience on campus through student activities and organizations.

4. Network! Network! Network! My advice would be to network with other professionals in your field of interest. Personally, I would feel more confident hiring an individual who is known by others in the field and has gained a basic understanding of the field through internships, informational interviews, and job shadowing.

5. Be creative. In a bad economy, a job seeker must be creative with his or her job search. The traditional method of online job hunting and reading the employment section of the newspaper does not guarantee a job. A job seeker must be willing to reach out to his/her professional network, attend job fairs, follow up on job leads, make cold calls and personal visits, prepare a portfolio showcasing his/her accomplishments, and much more. Every interaction with an employer is significant. The goal is to have as many positive encounters with an employer as possible. Networking and creativity do pay off but the timeframe could be short term or long term. So don’t become discouraged if your email or phone call doesn’t result in a job or interview immediately. Your efforts will be rewarded over time.

Good luck!

Sincerely,
The Office of Career Development at TWC