Congratulations graduate on earning that college degree! Now that you have it, what are your next steps? Have you thought about your future and what you will do next? If you have, that’s wonderful! You’re off to a great start!
For those who need a plan, here are some ideas to get you started. When I first graduated from college, I was 22 years old and wanted to live on my own with friends. But with no job, money, place to stay and plan of action my dream quickly fell apart. At the urging of my parents, who had just finished paying my tuition, I returned to my native New York City, where work was plentiful. However, jobs in journalism, my field of study, were very competitive and I was unprepared for the job market.
Soul search and research.
What do you want to do 5, 10 or 20 years from now? Do you want to pursue a career in your field of study, or are there related careers of interest? A great resource is the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Once available only in libraries, the OOH is now searchable online. It can help you learn about job duties, education and training requirements and most importantly the future outlook for hundreds of occupations. You can also find a job summary and the median pay on the website. The OOH can also put you ahead of the game by giving you the information needed to negotiate a competitive salary with potential employers.
Visit your local library.
Does your library have a career information center? During my job search, I found the library to be a valuable resource. In addition to articles and books, I found free courses on resume writing, interviewing techniques and crafting my elevator pitch—a brief statement about my experience. Oftentimes, they will bring in local experts who can help you tighten up your resume, boost your confidence for interviews and more. If your library has a website with a calendar of events or industry-related books and articles, use it. All you need is a library card to access books online. After a recent job loss, my local business and science library helped me to make a career change by helping me to shorten my 2-page resume and reconnect with employers and programs in education, my new field of interest.
Get on LinkedIn, Indeed and Monster.com.
As the largest social networking site for business people, I learned that LinkedIn is where most employers meet and find potential employees.
Most employers hire someone they know or heard about from a colleague. On LinkedIn, you can create a profile, upload your resume and search for jobs while remaining connected to people in your industry. It is also a professional way to reach out to friends, family and former classmates to see if they are aware of potential job openings in your area. Also, check out Monster.com and Indeed.com for job listings and descriptions. You can post your resume on both sites and on Monster.com, you can get a free resume assessment, job fit scoring and career advice.
Network, network, network.
To connect with local people in your industry, try joining meetup groups (check meetup.com). Focus on joining professional groups that are related to your job search first as there are groups for yoga lovers, runners, hikers and more. Consider other groups, if time permits, but try to attend events where you can get out and talk to people. Networking is a great way to practice your elevator pitch or answer questions about yourself if you are shy. Carry business cards and a few copies of your resume so you can avoid rewriting your information for the dozens of potential employers and colleagues you might meet.
Thinking of starting a business…visit the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).
For free business mentoring and education, visit score.org. A non-profit organization, that is supported, in part, by the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE offers free live and recorded webinars and interactive courses on small business topics. They also host in-person business workshops and events. With 300 chapters nationwide, they can also help you search for and find a mentor.
Get an internship or work abroad.
If you are in a competitive field, consider becoming an intern or working abroad. Internships were invaluable for me as a potential journalist and I once spent my summer volunteering to write articles for small Brooklyn newspaper that served the African-American community. In addition, my niece, an engineering student, just completed a work/study program in Australia. Internships and study/work abroad can boost your professional growth and show potential employers that you are excited about your field.
Consider relocating.
When job searching consider looking out of state. My first “real job” after college came when an agency recruiter sent me to Secaucus, NJ for an interview. I remember thinking “I don’t want to go to Secaucus!” Thankfully, I took the 10-minute ride from New York City’s Port Authority bus station. Although I did not land the job I interviewed for, I met my potential employer in the lobby of the building while asking for directions home. I worked as her editorial assistant for five years even after the company’s relocation to New York. While the salary was not ideal, I gained invaluable work experience and my name was published in a major trade journal for physicians.
Don’t give up!
Whatever you do, don’t relax too long. You want to appear motivated to potential employers and limit gaps in your resume. If you are unemployed, join professional associations, volunteer for organizations you love and attend meetings regularly. Find out what your college is doing to connect graduates to the job market. Do they host career fairs or have an online or physical bulletin board with job postings? Who is in charge of alumni relations? Don’t be afraid to ask for help and tell everyone that you know about your career goals as you never know from where your next opportunity will emerge.
About the author:
Demetria Harvin-Shomala developed her passion for youth and education while working with at-risk youth at a large NYC non-profit. She was also inspired by her mother, a former educator and her father, a retired sports writer for the New York Times. Ms. Shomala earned her degreein journalism at Howard University, and her Masters of Science Degree from the Hunter College School of Education. Demetria is a NYC public high school teacher who loves the arts, writing, travelling and dancing.
