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Posts Tagged ‘Real World’

Are you finally seeing the end of the education train? I bet you are feeling extremely anxious about finding a job. College graduate job searches are time consuming and stressful. You have waited so long and studied so hard to qualify for the career you want, but it does not get easier when you are graduating college. Instead, you have a lot to contend with when finding a job in your field. You are now going out into the real world, you have to go to work every day, there is no more skipping a day cause you partied to hard without having consequences.

Often college does not give you the real life experience that you need to feel comfortable in the job environment you have chosen. Sure, you have the education, but now you do not have someone grading you and telling you just how to do a project. There are many reasons why college graduate job searches can be stressful, but there are also several tools at your disposal.

First off, the Internet is a great way to begin your job search. Places like NoMoreHeadHunters.com, America’s Job Bank, and similar websites exist for the professional searching for their dream job. You can either upload your resume or have the website help you create a resume that should help you get the job. These websites post every job available so knowing the key words to search for is very important.

If you already have a company in mind for your career, you will also want to apply. Make sure you know what they need from you to apply. It might just be going online to their company website and filling in the application or you may need to send them information about yourself. The websites most often make it very clear what they expect to see on a job application. You need to make sure you have everything you need for the job and make it stand out.

You may find during your job search that specific requirements like three years experience is required. Many times, if an employer does not see at least three or more years of experience, they will dismiss your application for lack of experience.

Another tip for college graduate job searches is to keep in mind just because you think you qualify does not mean you will. You need to apply to as many companies as possible and as early as possible. You do not want to wait for the day you graduate, but start several months before you graduate. The hiring process takes a great deal of time and unless the job states you must start by a certain date, it is best to apply beforehand. Some jobs may have a specific start date and if you can work around your last few classes then apply. The company may even work around your schedule at first if you are desirable enough for the position.

Jobs rarely fall into your lap so it is important when you do a college graduate job search to realize it may take a few months after you graduate to find the best job. You may find that you are starting out as low as possible at a company in order to attain your goals a few years down the line. Being smart when you are searching for a job is important. You need to realize the potential of a job before discounting it. Many individuals wait until the last minute to find jobs and end up feeling disappointed. Do not join these ranks; instead be proactive in your job search. It pays to be on top of things rather than waiting until the last minute when your life is just beginning.

For additional information on this Job Article and to find out more about Job Searches, Career Bank and Employment Resources.

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Students often wonder whether it is worth seeking an internship while still in college, as most students believe that they cannot handle the rigors of school combined with the responsibilities a part-time job will bring. These students often miss out, however, on a very valuable opportunity to expand their horizons and meet new people. And an internship usually will not interfere with schoolwork, studying and reading assignments college students are bothered with every semester.

With a college internship under their belt, students are able to see the world in a way they may have never seen it before. They will have gone through a little bit of an introduction to the real world and the challenges it may hold for them as they embark on the beginning of their career. Expanding their horizons through a college internship, students are able to meet new people and expose themselves to new ideas they may have never considered in the past. Being able to expand their ways of thinking and consider different ways of doing business, students become more well-rounded, something that many employers are looking for in their applicants and potential new employees.

A world of experience and knowledge now at their disposal, students who have gone through a college internship program are often much better prepared for the real world than their peers who may not have taken advantage of the opportunity. Employers will often notice that a student is better prepared when he or she has had some experience working in the real world, outside the usual classroom setting that students limit themselves to. Professors may try to recreate real world scenarios, situations and scenes, but when it is done in the confines of a classroom, or in a classroom setting, it is not the same. Getting out and finding a new understanding of the world is important for college students.

This will allow them to see the way the world works and what challenges it may have in store for them once they graduate college. Graduation is a fun time for many students and their families, as it is a time to reflect and celebrate their accomplishments. It can also be a scary, uncertain time. Looking back and wondering if they prepared themselves enough is never a fun situation to find themselves in. When a student has a college internship behind them, they can enter the job market with a little more confidence and self-assurance. They will know that they possess the proper skills and experience to impress interviewers and succeed in their new job.

So when it comes time to decide whether a college internship is the right move, consider the value it holds and what it can do for a student’s confidence and leadership ability. Entering a job interview with these qualities will put the student at an advantage. And it does not cut into study time as much as many students believe. It can actually be a bit refreshing to get out of the dorm and off campus for a few hours a week.

our financial future after college, through your twenties and beyond.

By Pete Glocker DMCC

A new car is the first purchase most college graduates want to make directly after graduation. You may ask yourself, what is the matter with being rewarded with something nice after completing such a hard task that you have been working towards your whole life? Depending on what your entry-level job pays; it would be wise to spend accordingly with your available income. Many graduates think they are getting better paying jobs than they actually get after college, so they purchase a vehicle way out of their price range. “I know when I graduate in December, it will be nice to get a new car, but I know there will be student loans and other living expenses to pay off first,” says Jayne Santucci, a senior at Florida Atlantic University. “When recent college graduates get their first job, they see their co-workers with brand new cars, so they think they should get one also, not knowing the co-workers experience and salary,” Santucci adds.

If you are going into a career that coincides with your college major, you may want to consider starting with an entry level position rather than taking a higher paying job in an unrelated field. The entry level job will be better for you in the long run because it will give you more opportunities to advance in a field that you were trained in. If you start with a higher paid job in a different career, you might lose interest quickly and have little room for advancement. Stick with your career, and the money will eventually come.

When you get hired for your first job in the “real world,” find out what kinds of retirement plans are available. The majority of employers offer 401(k) plans or other tax-deferred retirement options. With every paycheck you receive, you can contribute money into the 401(k) and many employers will match some part of your contribution. This will help you save for your future. Start your savings account immediately and if at all possible have your money directly deposited into your account. Learn to pay yourself first!

According to CNN Money, college graduates of 2005 are being paid more in starting salaries than the class of 2003-2004. Here is a list of the average salaries for college graduates.

Accounting – $41,039; Management – $35,811;Teaching – $29,733; Sales – $37,130;Nurse – $38,775;Financial /Treasury – $45,596; Software -Design – $53,729; Consulting – $49,781;Source: CNN Money 2005

After obtaining their landing your first job, many college graduates think it may be a good idea to move back home with their parents so they can save money. Saving money is not always the case when moving home. Having the feeling of fewer bills can provide you more freedom for going out and buying an expensive car, stereo or designer clothes. So, instead of saving your money, graduates could be spending it on items they do not really need. It might be a smarter idea to actually stay independent because you will grow and may learn faster what it means to be self-reliant. As a college graduate, you may struggle starting out at first, but it will be beneficial to you in the long run.

The most important word to you, a recent college graduate, should be “b-u-d-g-e-t.” By creating a budget, it will give you the opportunity to design a method to pay your bills and save for something you really want. The better you are at sticking to a budget, the more peace of mind you will have when it comes to your personal finances.

A person’s twenties could be the most important years to start achieving your financial goals. The earlier you invest the better. If a 25-year-old who invests $2,000 a year at a 6 percent compound interest annually for fifteen years and never invests another dollar, after the age of 40, the 25-year-old will earn more by the age of 65 than a 35-year-old who invests $2,000 a year at 6 percent compound interest annually for 30 years, even though the 35-year-old would have invested twice as long.

Last but not least, it is important to identify a short, medium and long-term goal for yourself. A short-term goal may be a new car, a vacation or a television. A medium-term goal could be buying a business, a house or paying for your child’s education. A long-term goal can be retirement and traveling.

Managing money as a young adult can be the most important in terms of your financial situation. It is best to do research and want to learn about how to manage your credit, bills, and any extra expenditure before it is too late. Be smart with your money.

Well, you’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars on your student’s education, and now they’re ready to head out into the real world, but there’s one course they don’t seem to teach in college: ‘How to Land a Real Job in the Real World,’ so students often make a number of mistakes that slow their progress down and make it harder for them to find employment than it has to be.

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Well, you’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars on your student’s education, and now they’re ready to head out into the real world, but there’s one course they don’t seem to teach in college: ‘How to Land a Real Job in the Real World,’ so students often make a number of mistakes that slow their progress down and make it harder for them to find employment than it has to be.

With that in mind, I’ve prepared this list of the most common mistakes that students make so you can avoid them. Consider this your crash course on what NOT to do when you are looking for a job:

Don’t start without a plan. This means spending time actually researching fields and careers that you’re thinking about working in and making a list of places you’ll contact. Then, you need to methodically work your way through this list.

Don’t let your major limit you. Remember to look for things that interest you that might fall outside the narrow confines of your exact major. Much of what you do in a position can often be learned on the job, so don’t worry too much about it matching perfectly. Think of your degree as what gets you in the door, not what defines what you’ll be doing for the rest of your life.

Don’t ignore your school’s career center when looking for job leads. Some schools are more helpful than others, but you can always learn something there. And their job is to help place you, so don’t be shy about asking them for help.

Don’t look only for jobs that are listed on the major search engines. This is an easy, but lazy way to look for work. Be sure to look at your local classifieds and Craig’s List (www.CraigsList.org) for general leads, but also look up the trade associations of the fields you’re looking in for more specific job listings.

Don’t rely just on the internet or email to communicate. It is often too easy to delete or ignore, especially if you’re an employer that gets inundated with email. Be sure to hard copy resumes as well as emailing them. Also, it is too easy to be ‘casual’ with an email. Remember, anything you write is permanent communication, so always be professional.

Don’t be afraid to start with an entry-level position. You’re new to the job market, so you’re not entitled to anything. Like I said above, your degree often will just get you in the door, then it’s up to you to prove yourself and make yourself indispensible from there.

Don’t send a resume or an email from the account of a place that you are already working at. First off, this will not impress your new employer, and may make them question your integrity since it might appear that you’re taking advantage of your existing company. Plus, if you lose your job, that email account will vanish, and you will no longer be able to contact anyone from it.

Don’t wing it on job interviews. I’m always shocked at how little time in preparation most people spend once they’ve finally landed an actual interview. Once you have an interview set up, spend some time researching their website. Learn about what they do, and their company history, and who founded them and when.

If nothing else, it will show that you’re serious, and it is a step that most other applicants (read: almost all) won’t take. Also, review the common questions that employers ask and give thought to how you will answer them.

Don’t dress casually. Always be dressed for business with your clothes neat and pressed, and your shoes shined. Little things speak volumes about a person, and this can make a huge difference. Also, if there’s a doubt about how to dress, you’re better off being over-dressed than under-dressed.

Lastly, don’t treat your job search like a part time endeavor. You can overcome a lot of handicaps like not having job experience by simply being willing to outwork everybody else. Treat it like a 40 hour a week job, and actually hustle. Don’t sleep in. Get up early. And make each day count. Now, while these tips don’t cover everything, they’ll get you started and give you a leg up on everybody else, so you can land that job in no time.