Career TOOLBox #10: You’ve Graduated. Now What?

Recent grads, local professors and a family share job hunt concerns & strategies. (Original article from 2011)

“Skill is fine, and genius is splendid, but the right contacts are more valuable than either.” – Arthur Conan Doyle, Sr.

According to Mark Whitehouse’s May 7, 2011 WSJ article, “The Class of 2011 will graduate this spring from America’s colleges and universities with a dubious distinction: the most indebted ever.” The average student debt has climbed to $23K. And, while Ohio’s unemployment figures, as of April, year-over-year, have decreased by nearly 2 to 8.6%, the reality of the current job market – as banks and corporations sit on cash and wait for consumers to spend money that they can’t yet earn – the situation can feel hopeless and confusing to experienced professionals, and much more so to a generation receiving diplomas and commencing their career path.

“As a parent of four kids, with one in college and another taking the big step in a year, my biggest concern is how they will adapt to the real world after college. As you go through your education, hopefully you’re able to train during that time in your field. Then you graduate and ideally either already have a job or get a job after graduation. (But) there’s no training for real-life experience and the uncertainty can be overwhelming. It’s the adjustment to that which I think about,” shared Janet Gowan, a concerned Lakewood mom and wife who also works full time.

While there’s no substitute for working hard and earning a respectable GPA, there’s one key responsibility that college grads must take on and the earlier in their education process, the better: networking.

“My advice is to take advantage of internship programs and the connections that can be made by your professors, well before graduation day. If you haven’t done that, be prepared to work as a low-paid intern, or even as a volunteer, even if you think your degree gives you the right to a ‘good job,’” says Dr. Deborah Schulman, who is a full-time Assistant Professor of Biology at Lake Erie College.

Kim Ruggeri, a marketing professor at Cleveland State University, who brings thirteen years of advertising agency experience into her classroom, agrees with Deborah. According to Kim, “The most important tool you have in searching for a job is your network. Tell everyone you know that you are graduating and you are looking for a job – from your professors to the person sitting next to you on the bus.”

The key is, obviously, to get started as early as possible. Kim recently developed and now teaches an International Business and Marketing Consulting class at CSU. According to Kim, “We work with a real client from the beginning of the semester to the end and the course is built around that client’s marketing problem. At the end of the semester, the (students) present the marketing plan to the client, in both written and oral form… I think it will be a great class to prepare students for work in the professional realm.”

Marc Rothenberg, who graduated from CSU with a B.B.A. in International Business, successfully completed and thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on methodology of Kim’s class. He offers his job hunt strategy: “To maintain my competitive edge, I am doing a few things. First, I am contacting people that I already have a proven record with and seeing if they are hiring or are aware of anyone that is. They are able to vouch for my ability to deliver on what I promise. I am also working on improving myself through reading books and continually networking. This helps me fine-tune my skills. (Additionally), I am focusing on my real world experience. I have a drive like I believe very few truly have.”

This level of aggressiveness may seem over the top, but with at least five other people competing for the same spot, long gone are the days of viewing a college degree as a career insurance policy.

And, the more genuine this assertive approach, the better the success rate. Cleveland’s Miguelle Edmondson, who already earned his B.A. at the University of Toledo and an M.S.A. from the University of Notre Dame, just accepted his third diploma – an M.B.A. from the Tuck School at Dartmouth College. In addition to his impressive academic pedigree, he’s also put in time as an auditor and consultant. With a consistent echo chamber of everyone interviewed, Miguelle advises current college grads, “What you need to do is network. Every opportunity I have had in my life has come through a friend or colleague. While you may enjoy success in getting a job through classified and job postings, you are more likely to find life changing experiences through people that know you and can therefore align you with the BEST opportunities.

Miguelle, who last summer interned at Exxon Mobile and who accepted an offer as a Financial Analyst in the conglomerate’s New Orleans location, continues, “Networking can be exhausting but it is a high yield investment. Make it a part of your daily activities by setting aside an hour each day to catch up with old friends or connect with new contacts. That will make it feel a little less burdensome to those introverts. I wrapped up my full-time M.B.A. program last month and I am headed to my dream job. How did I find it? Not through the school, which has an excellent career development office, but through the network.”

During the networking process, make sure to use all the tools available. In addition to social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter), have pre-printed business cards that provide your contact information and a short title or statement that says something about yourself, so that people can identify you with an industry or skill set. Also, include a professional head shot as part of the card and, for consistency, use the same photo on your LinkedIn page, blog, website, etc. Join professional associations and don’t limit your connections to the virtual world – go out there and physically meet people.

Another important idea to keep in mind is karma. Realize that while people want to help you succeed, the networking and relationship building must work both ways. If a professor has done something meaningful for you, write them a LinkedIn recommendation. Send thoughtful thank you notes to people who have extended a hand. Offer your help to people who are climbing up behind you. The reciprocity builds an energy and, long term, people will know that they can count on you.

Additionally, and specifically regarding Gen Y and their helicopter parents, have the people looking for the job do their own homework. At a certain point, it’s time to let go and let the kids make their own mistakes, all part of growing up and becoming an adult. It’s a tremendous turn-off to perspective employers when parents show up in interview rooms. Graduating college is a right of passage, and, even in a tough economy, it calls for tremendous independence and self-navigation.

Janet’s son Seamus, who plans on switching schools to better his long term chances, reveals, “As I prepare for my second year of college I learned a lot from the first. I know I must study more and prepare better for the tests. I did well my first year but need to do better in order to excel in my field. (Also,) by earning a lot of practice hours under current physical therapists, this will best prepare me for my job search when I first graduate from physical therapy school.”

Janet adds, as her biggest hope for all her kids, “Simply that they are happy in whatever they do – not to sell themselves short and be true to themselves.”

Kim’s philosophy supports this. “In searching for your first job, try to find one that you love. If you can’t find a job that you love, find a job that will lead you to a job that you love. It’s important to take a long-term look at your career path. Don’t just think about the short-term implications of your first job, but also plan for your longer-term career path.”

Regardless of where you are in the process – in college, recent graduate or in a graduate program – the biggest contribution you can make to the success of your job placement is showcasing your talents to others via frequent and sincere communication. This is your life. What are you going to do with it?

First written in July 2011.  

Reprinted with permission and gratitude from CoolCleveland.com.

Next CareerTOOLBOX Column: Your Resume – The Film Trailer of Your Career