By Katie Leimkuehler
GlobaLinks New Media Manager
Not too long ago I remember the day I graduated from college–convinced I was ready to conquer the world and my career. Through the years, I’ve gained more experience and insights on how to transition from a new grad to a young professional. Looking back, I wish there were a few key pieces of career advice someone would have told me. I’m sharing them here In hopes of helping the next generation of college graduates down their career path.
1. Find a job your passionate about even if it pays less. Most new grads are ready to jump at the first high paying job they get out of college, even if it’s not a career or field they really want to be in. Don’t do it. Why? Because eventually you will quit that job and you’ll have to start the process all over again. Not only will you be job hunting, but you won’t have the experience you need to get into the career you really want to be in. It will just make it harder for you to make the jump to a different career path later. And it’s not an easy road.
2. Learn how to tell your story. An important thing to remember is that employers want to know that you have the right skills for the position, but more importantly they want to like you. The person sitting across from you in that interview wants to know if they could sit next to you for at least 40 hours a week and actually enjoy your company. Skills can be taught, but if you don’t have the right personality match, it won’t ever work. Learn how to tell your story–what you’re passionate about, why you want to work there and what makes you more fun than the candidate in the waiting room.
3. Never underestimate the power of relationships. It’s a much smaller world than you believe. Your professors, friends’ parents, internship supervisors to your sibling’s coworkers all know people. And those people know people. If you’re looking for a job this is a great place to start. And not asking for them to pass along your resume, but sit down with several of these “lose tie” connections and do an informational interview with them–face to face. Career Tip: It’s much easier to ignore an email than a person sitting and smiling in front of you. (Click to Tweet!)
4. Practice interviewing. This may seem obvious, but it should be something you prepare for just as hard as you would prepare for a final. Look up the most commonly asked interview questions and write our your answers. Then have a friend interview you or practice saying them out loud. Don’t sounds rehearsed, but know the stories you will tell. When a company asks–tell me about a difficult person you worked with and how you handled that situation—have your answer ready. If you stumble or seem unprepared you’re essentially saying you don’t care enough to do the work. And if you’re not willing to put in the time to prep for an interview, the employer will most likely think that applies to your work as well. Make the time to be ready.
5. Demonstrate value. What can you bring to your future employer? Not just the skills you learned in your graphic design class–the qualities that set you apart. Are you a go-getter? Can you solve problems on your own? Career Tip: before a job interview visit your potential employer’s website and analyze something that they could improve. Can you give 5 recommendations to make their website more visually appealing or 10 ways they could improve their SEO results? Think not only how you can help them, but show them!
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