Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Happy New Year, etc.

I've been holding this article titled, "New Year, New Rules" from the Wall Street Journal for awhile because I've been busy. The content isn't news to me but at least we (the jobless graduates) haven't been forgotten. For those of you who are still searching for jobs here are the highlights with my two cents:

1. "The unemployment rate among recent college graduates hit 10.6% in the third quarter, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics." Don't forget that those college graduates who are employed may very well be underemployed and working for very little money.

2. "More employers are holding as many as nine or 10 interviews..." I do not know anyone who has experienced this. Personally, I'm accustomed to Round 1 Phone Interview and Round 2 In-Person Interview.

3. "Some applicants are being asked to prepare oral presentations..." I have been asked to give an oral presentation for an interview. It actually helped me A LOT. A presentation without an effective presenter is worthless.

4. "...a large portion of people hired recently have personal connections to a company..." I've been writing about this over and over again. So, you better get out there and talk with people---anywhere---churches, community centers, family friends, friends of friends, relatives, friends of relatives, recreational clubs (hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, sailing, basketball, etc.), your local bar and/or coffee shop, your favorite restaurant hang-out, etc.

5. "Connections you make could be more effective than sending out mass job applications online..." See #4

6. You should emphasize your skills, not your college major, particularly if your college major doesn't seem very useful these days.

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