Quintessential Careers:
Real-World Pearls of Wisdom for this Year's Graduating Class
by Rachel L. DiCaro
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After another stressful day at work, I daydream about my college days when I would sleep in the middle of the afternoon and set my alarm to wake up for a TLC Wedding Story. Boy, have things changed. If I could give advice to the next class of budding young professionals, I would tell you these five pearls of wisdom.
Pearl No. 1: Nothing in college prepared you for this
OK, get over the initial, "I am college graduate; why wouldn’t they hire me?" Think
about it. According to the Department of Education, more than a million college students
graduate each spring. So, what does this mean to you? Differentiating yourself from other
graduates is extremely important because if you don’t, you will find job-hunting difficult.
Pearl No. 2: Sell yourself
The key to marketing yourself is to market what makes you more qualified than average
college graduate? Did you do an internship? Are you a computer whiz? Companies want
employees who are computer literate and bring something to the team. Think about
previous jobs that you have held. Do you have presentation skills, Web site development
skills, or database management experience? Every experience you have can be a unique
skill that could get you that job.
Pearl No. 3: Just do it! Go and get an internship
OK, your professors have mentioned it. Some of your friends have participated in an internship
program or two. Maybe the only thing you every heard about it was that it was not a fun
experience. Joking aside, internships provide a wealth of avenues for college graduates.
One advantage about an internship is that it provides a way for student to connect with
professionals. Two, it allows you to get you feet wet within your field of study. It is also
the best way to try out a career without sacrificing too much. [Editor’s note: While this
advice might seem too late for college graduates, there’s no rule that says you can’t do
an internship after you graduate.]
Pearl No. 4: Practice interview questions By now you should be aware there are general questions asked during an interview. Questions about your abilities, interests, and why you are the best for the job will come up in a job interview. Why not have a game plan? Have a general idea how you would respond. You don’t have to memorize your response, but rather have an idea how you would address certain questions. [Editor’s note: For questions you can use for practice, see our Quintessential Careers Job Interview Questions Database.]
Pearl No. 5: Be prepared for rejection
OK, we all want to be accepted, but sometimes that doesn’t happen. The first thing is
to find out why you were not hired. (Warning: Asking takes some guts on your part,
but if it helps you get the next job, isn’t it worth it?) Next, give yourself some time to
sulk, but not long. After you allow yourself to have pity party, get back out there. If you
were not accepted for the position, chances are it's for the better.
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.
Rachel DiCaro, a 2000 graduate from Stetson University, DeLand, FL, in marketing with a minor in psychology, is a sales and marketing coordinator for Environmental Tectonics Corp., Orlando, FL.
Here are some key resources to go with Rachel's pearls of wisdom:
- Quintessential Careers: Real World Section
- College Student & College Grad Resources
- Internship Resources for College Students
- Guide to Job Interviewing Resources
Here are some key articles to go with Rachel's pearls of wisdom:
- How to Find Your Ideal Internship
- It’s Never Too Early -- or Too Late -- to Visit Your College Career Office
- Making the Most of Your Internship(s)
- Using Key Marketing Tools to Position Yourself on the Job Market
- Your Senior Year in College: 15 Activities that are Pivotal to Your Job-Search Success
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