| Mike Aquino MPA CAREER PLANS 800-928-5850 http://www.mpacareers.vpweb.com Meet Your Coach |
Find My Coach Read More Articles Email Article |
Resume
Make sure your resume is updated and list your part time, intern and co op jobs.
Don't Look for the Ultimate Career Job
Plan your career strategically, just like you planned your education. Look at jobs that are stepping stones to the ultimate career path you desire. Example, if you want to be a CPA, consider bookkeeping or general accounting jobs as career door openers.
Network -Network-Network
A huge percentage of job openings aren't advertised because employers prefer to hire people through word of mouth. Developing relationships with people working in your field, then, means that you're top of mind whenever they hear of a new opportunity. Learn about new contacts by researching firms in your industry, joining social networking sites like LinkedIn, asking your parents' friends, and joining relevant professional associations. Approach individuals by e-mail first, and don't put them on the defensive by asking for a job outright. Instead, show curiosity about their career path and see if they'll agree to lunch or coffee.
Create a Reputation as a Can-Do, Enthusiastic Employee
Co-op, intern, part time or temporary work is an opportunity to develop some career skills.
Don't have a sense of entitlement - a prospective company isn't responsible for your career growth: you are. Make people take notice of you by being an over achiever.
Don't Think of Your First Job as the Be All, End All to Career Stardom
How can you master the skills it takes to get ahead without putting any time in the trenches? That's like saying you could win an Olympic medal in swimming without learning to doggie paddle first. Look at your first post-college positions as temporary stops on your career path instead of permanent ones. Don't be in such a rush to get promoted either -- you have a long career life ahead of you to shoulder the heavy burden of being on top. In the meantime, keep networking and developing potential career relationships.
If you like this career article, please consider sharing with a friend or colleague. They'll thank you for it!