First job for college grads is to market themselves
According Tampa Bay online this spring, college seniors are entering a better job market than the class of 2009 faced. Unfortunately, that’s not saying much because 2009 was one of the worst years in the history of hiring.
Still, hiring of this year’s crop of graduates is up 5 percent over the previous year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
To employers, the most desirable majors include accounting, engineering, computing and mathematics, said Edwin Koc, research director of the association. Companies also seek evidence of communication and writing skills, analytical ability and teamwork, Koc said.
Whatever your strengths and weaknesses, you will need to “bring your A game” to this job market, said Katharine Brooks, director of liberal arts career services at the University of Texas at Austin and author of the career guide “You Majored in What?”
That means your resume, cover letter and interviewing skills must be top notch.
Above all, “you need to be able to articulate the value of your degree,” she said, especially if you are in liberal arts, and there isn’t a linear connection between your major and the job you are seeking.
Take philosophy majors. There aren’t a lot of jobs for philosophers. But people use logic to formulate and weigh ideas and reach conclusions. That can make philosophy training very effective in the business world, Brooks said. Being able to spell that out with specific examples, could be crucial to being hired.
English majors face similar hurdles. But in most fields, it is important to write and speak clearly and to see things from different perspectives.
An English major who tailors that strength to a certain job description can make a strong case for being hired.
An understanding of the human condition gained through great literature can be helpful in professions such as social work, Brooks said.
Beyond the major, graduates need to have stories to tell about how their experiences would make them good employees, suggested Nathan Bennett, the co-author of “Your Career Game” and a professor at the Georgia Tech College of Management.
And it doesn’t have to be work experience. For example, someone who has been a camp counselor will have leadership stories to tell, he said.
Source: Tampa Bay Online
