A Message to Employers: Hire us!

If you have the potential to hire new persons, especially recent graduates, then don't take advantage of the recession. I'm not saying that you have to hire that recent graduate for a whopping $70,000 a year. But, if you give us a chance and acknowledge our work it will pay off for you and your company. Many of us are brimming with new ideas, are super efficient, and are well skilled in the art of social networking. If you want an employee who can think big and who wants to be actively involved in growing a company then you should hire a "Generation Y." We have more energy than you know what to do with.

Here it is once again: If you can afford to hire then you should. If you can pay your interns then you should. Don't take advantage of the recession!

Should I Apply for this Job?

So, you have signed up for email alerts from many different job search engines. Your inbox has 30+ alert emails coming through everyday in addition to all of your regular emails. It is a lot to sort through. Which jobs should you apply for?

Some people apply for anything and everything online. Some people are more selective about which jobs they apply for online. While you will not know how many people may be applying for a specific job, you do know that there are lots of people looking for jobs at this time. My guess is that employers can probably find someone who has almost all of their required/requested skills. Personally, I tend to be more selective about which jobs I apply for online and have gotten pretty good at predicting who will call me back.

Now, on finances and job applications. These days the competition is stiff for un-paid internship positions and internship positions which clearly do not pay enough for one to live on their own or support anyone else. Sometimes it may be beneficial to take an un-paid or a low-paying internship. It depends on the organization and your financial situation. (Will it be a step towards full-time employment? How much is my health insurance going to cost? How will I pay my bills?)

Finally, as my brother says, "You can always tell them, 'no'." If the job sounds like a good fit but the salary or benefits make you uneasy, apply anyway. Salary and benefits may be negotiable.

Have spare time?

During an interview many potential employers are likely to ask, "What have you been doing since you graduated?" or "What have you been doing during your unemployment?". If you are unemployed, do something productive with your spare time. Potential employers do not want to hear your sob story or give you a pity party. Here are my suggestions:

+Volunteer at your favorite community organization---even if you can only volunteer once a week. This may provide the opportunity to make connections and gain experience.

+Attend community festivals in addition to job fairs. Visit tables or booths of sponsoring organizations to learn how you may become involved.

+Want to work for a company or organization that is not hiring? See if they need volunteers or if they would be willing to negotiable an internship.