Many new college grads are graduating without
a job or strong prospects for finding one. Rescinded job offers, delayed
start dates, and fewer opportunities are among the hurdles facing the class
of 2002.
According to Tony Lee, editor in chief of CollegeJournal.com,
www.CollegeJournal.com, The Wall Street Journal''s site for career-minded
college students, to counteract this gloomy picture, seniors are changing
their priorities and making themselves more marketable by considering
less-traditional industries and applying for a wider range of jobs than they
considered previously.
Even during a poor economy, there are jobs out there, says Lee. It will
require more effort to land a good position because employers aren''t as
likely to recruit recent graduates as they have in the past.
While the manufacturing industry is expected to reduce entry-level job
offers, other fields, such as security, defense, nonprofits and government,
are expected to pick up some of the slack. Manufacturers plan to hire 30%
fewer new graduates, while government and nonprofit organizations project a
20.5% increase in hiring. Demand for some health-care workers, such as nurses
and medical technicians, also remains strong.
To land a job in a poor economy you need to be flexible, says Lee. College
grads should consider taking a lower starting salary or relocating for a good
opportunity.
Tough times in the job market mean that new and recent grads need a strategic
approach for an effective job search. CollegeJournal.com offers these
job-hunting strategies to the Class of 2002:
Treat finding a job like it''s your job. Done right, a job search should
take most of your time and energy. If you''re not spending the bulk of your
time on your job hunt, you should be.
Pursue every lead you''re given. Never turn down an informational
interview and always follow up with contacts, even if they seem like long
shots. You never know where a random contact will lead you.
Tell everyone you know that you''re looking. It isn''t just whom you know;
it''s how many people you know. Every additional person who knows you''re
looking for a job exponentially increases your chances of uncovering the one
lead that works out.
Timing often is everything. Don''t put off a call you can make today until
tomorrow. Good jobs don''t stay open long.
Rely on your friends for emotional support. Spend time with them, relax
and also seek their advice and encouragement while you look.
Eat right, get enough sleep and exercise. You''ll be more mentally alert
if you take care of yourself physically. Don''t think of being unemployed as
an excuse to stay out late or lounge around in the afternoon. Use this time
to improve yourself professionally and physically.
Give yourself a break. Finding a challenging job is one of the most
difficult things you''ll ever do. Don''t be hard on yourself for not being
hired fast enough, earning enough money or having as much excitement in your
job as others might. It takes time.
Keep things in perspective. Searching for a job in an arena you don''t
know much about yet isn''t easy, but it isn''t supposed to be. Keep your eye on
the prize. Soon you''ll have to face the challenge of a new job -- not the
looking for it.
CollegeJournal.com Offers Advice For Jobless College Grads
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