According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs requiring an associate degree are projected to grow by 32 percent over the 2000-10 period. While that’s good news, the job market in the here and now is tight and probably will remain so as you begin your search for employment after graduation. So, given these conditions, how should you approach your job search?
First of all, keep in mind that no matter what your major is, when it comes to finding your first job after graduation, you must become an expert in sales and the product is you. What are your selling points? What can you do to make yourself more marketable upon graduation?
Besides your work in the classroom, experiential education assignments (internships and co-op assignments); your involvement with campus, professional, and community organizations; and the positive image you present during the hiring process all are factors that could encourage an employer to extend an offer to you.
Just how important is it to have practical work experience on your resume? As many students of two-year schools know, having practical work experience, whether through a co-op or internship, or a full- or part-time job, provides them with a chance to take an employer for a “test drive” to see if they are a good fit.
The key is to logically and compellingly relate your classroom work and employment/experiential experience to the available position. But, how should you do this?
An advantage that you, as a student, have in securing your first job after earning your new degree or certificate is your school’s career center/job placement office, which has many services to help guide you in your search.
Go there early and often, and build a relationship with the career counselors. Seek advice about your resume. Inquire about your field of interest and the employers that work with your school’s career center. Ask for a mock interview with a career counselor/job placement specialist. Solicit constructive criticism and improve. Remember, practice doesn’t make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect.
Not every graduate of a two-year school will struggle, especially those in technical fields. Many of the most “in-demand” majors are in the scientific, technical, and healthcare fields. According to BLS, eight of the 10 fastest growing occupations are computer-related (the other two are healthcare related) and nine of the 20 fastest growing occupations are in the health services.
“Right now, all medical careers are in demand, especially registered nurses,” explains Dolores Gatley of Bunker Hill Community College in Boston. “We have standing orders from six area hospitals and a waitlist of 400 students. Radiology and medical imaging, pharmaceutical and surgical technicians—they are all hot majors.”
Harvey Ideus, director of cooperative education and placement at El Paso Community College in Texas, also finds healthcare to be a hot major, “Especially anything in home healthcare. We’re also seeing demand for computer networking and drafting majors, and legal secretaries.”
The legal profession also is hot in the Northwest, according to Alicia Gaskievicz, career services coordinator at Spokane Community College in Washington.
“Paralegal is a pretty hot occupation right now,” she explains. “However, with the conditions of the current job market being what they are, we’re seeing a lot of those available positions being taken by attorneys who have not been able to find jobs.”
It’s important to stay on top of the job market—check with your career center regularly for updates and to keep abreast of which employers are scheduled to visit your campus and who’s posting jobs through the career center/job placement office. Many employers have well-established college recruiting programs, and will maintain their ties with your career center to continue to hire new college graduates.
Gatley says that in the current market, it is critical that students work through their career centers, because they are the first place many employers turn to when they have a job opening to fill.
“Because of the high cost of advertising, many employers contact their local community college career centers before taking out an ad,” she says. “That way, if you’re in contact with the career center, you would have access to these positions.”
Another outstanding source of job market information at two-year schools are the instructors.
“Knowledge about the job market is part of the culture of a two-year school,” explains Ideus. “Many of the faculty are part-time instructors who work full-time in the labor force. Information about the job market is often mentioned in class. At a four-year school, students have to seek out career and job market information.”
What can you do to make yourself stand out to employers? Ideus recommends that students highlight work experience in detail to complement a solid academic performance. For instance, students in computerrelated programs should emphasize the computer languages they have learned. He also notes that students should give examples of community service because employers want to see a history of civic and social awareness.
Gatley advises students to join a professional association. Search on the Internet or at the library for a national association in your field, and see if it has a state or local chapter and where and when it meets.
“Joining a professional association is like putting both feet into the shallow end of the pool rather than simply walking around the edge,” she explains. “This is a tremendous opportunity to network at a higher level than just simply passing out a business card. You might even meet a mentor. To an employer, joining a professional association will distinguish you from the people who might not have the courage to do so.”
Gaskievicz suggests networking with “everyone you know because you never know where you might find an opportunity. Also be flexible and keep your options open.”
Indeed, flexibility at this point in your career is critical. You must understand that your first job with your new degree or certificate most likely will not be your dream job and have everything you hoped for. Instead, look at the developmental opportunities, job responsibilities, and career satisfaction the employer provides. You should consider the total compensation package—salary and benefits—and have a realistic bottom line that works for you.
“Because we recommend students be flexible in the jobs they are applying for, I believe it’s important for students to have focused resumes for each position,” Gaskievicz explains. “One resume can’t cover everything. You want to make it easier for the employer to see how they can use your skills. It’s up to you to make your experience match their desires.”
Most of this information can be culled from research of the employer and industry. This sounds like a nobrainer, but it may be the most important factor in a successful job search. Effective, thorough research pays off in a number of ways: It will help you identify potential employers and opportunities that fit your qualifications (giving you direction for your search), and provide you with the information you need to tailor your resume to the employer and opportunity (improving your chances of being invited to interview).
Perhaps most importantly, research can mean the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful interview, and can give you a decided edge over your competition in a tight job market. Research the profession and the firms with which you have interviews. Be able to reference recent news of the industry or the particular employer to show that you’re paying attention. Be an active listener during interviews. Use the words your interviewer uses in your responses to make the explicit connection between the question asked and your reply. Always send a thank you note. E-mail notes are OK, but a traditional handwritten or typed letter may resonate better.
It is important to dress and behave appropriately at all times during this process. Furthermore, many students don’t realize how their actions seemingly outside of their search for employment can have an impact on it.
“These days, there are more challenges in the way of background checks, such as credit history and criminal checks” Gately says. “Students need to know that these are now commonplace.”
Gatley said that she knows of two students who were denied jobs at banks because of a glitch on their criminal records. It seems that in Massachusetts failure to show up for jury duty is included on a criminal record.
“That alone is enough for any bank or financial institution to not hire you,” says Gatley.
Ideus agrees. “The advice I give to students from middle school to college is that having a police record of any kind or having bad credit really hampers your job search,” he says. This illustrates how important it is to make good decisions, and how those decisions are tied to your future.
Start your job search with the understanding that your job search is your job. Put in the time and effort you need to show an employer you’re the right candidate for the job. Begin today.