The Full-Time Job Search Starts Junior Year - Five Key Strategies to Prepare
In a tough economy, competition will be fierce for entry-level positions.
For college sophomores and juniors, there is no time to wait: many employers begin the recruiting process for full-time positions 18 months in advance of graduation-with the recruiting process for internships as a "test run for full-time employment.
" According to a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers converted over 50% of interns to full-time employment in 2008-an increase of 15% from 2001.
In the face of such tight timelines, you must know what you want and prepare for your search early.
Here are five strategies to make it happen: 1.
Know Yourself, Know Your Interests Many companies invest a great deal of time and money into the on-campus recruiting process; opportunities at these organizations can be highly visible-and very popular among students.
That being said, be sure to evaluate positions carefully, and take into consideration your interests, skills, and desired work environments.
If you need help identifying your strengths and interests, talk to your Career Services offices or a private practitioner-they can help you explore opportunities that "fit.
" 2.
Choose Your Area of Expertise One common myth in the internship search is that you should demonstrate active involvement in many organizations-the more, the better.
While many employers are impressed by campus activities, aim for depth: it is better to be in a leadership role with demonstrated results at one organization, than to have belonged to seven organizations for "only a semester.
" Participate in activities of interest to you--and remember that you don't have to be "President" of every organization to which you belong.
At the end of the day, a majority of employers are looking for team players who can follow directions as well as they can lead.
3.
Prepare for the Application Process Early A majority of U.
S.
colleges and universities offer students assistance with applying for jobs and internships through a dedicated office of Career Services staff.
These professionals generally have strong skills and expertise in helping students develop resumes and cover letters, and can also help you with interviewing.
These services are generally included as part of your tuition; at most schools, you can schedule a time to meet individually with a counselor with less than two weeks notice.
That being said, the work of Career Services professionals is very cyclical-and frequently counselors are in high demand prior to application deadlines.
Schedule an "off-season" appointment with a counselor during summer or winter break and prepare for deadlines in advance.
4.
Make Connections At some campuses, the competition to apply for on-campus interviews can be stiff--especially for positions in the sought after fields of investment banking or consulting.
Frequently, employers receive over 100 applications for each position advertised on one campus-and that's not taking into consideration other schools that are listing the position! Get a head start in the recruiting process by developing strong working relationships with university administrators, employers, and alumni starting in your sophomore year.
Schedule appointments with advisors, ask alumni in fields of interest for informational interviews, and educate yourself on companies and potential opportunities well in advance of application deadlines.
This way, you'll be well prepared to apply for the positions when it's your turn-and you'll be able to demonstrate that you have completed requisite coursework and participated in activities that strengthen your understanding of the industry/sector in which you hope to work.
5.
Have a Contingency Plan Employers generally recruit on-campus when they can safely anticipate three things:
It is possible that you may not find-or be selected for-your dream job through on-campus recruiting.
Expand your options by exploring and applying for positions outside of your school.
Again, your career services office-or another career professional-can help you make this happen.
By following these five strategies, you'll increase your chances of career success-regardless of whether you land your dream internship through on-campus recruiting or not!
For college sophomores and juniors, there is no time to wait: many employers begin the recruiting process for full-time positions 18 months in advance of graduation-with the recruiting process for internships as a "test run for full-time employment.
" According to a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers converted over 50% of interns to full-time employment in 2008-an increase of 15% from 2001.
In the face of such tight timelines, you must know what you want and prepare for your search early.
Here are five strategies to make it happen: 1.
Know Yourself, Know Your Interests Many companies invest a great deal of time and money into the on-campus recruiting process; opportunities at these organizations can be highly visible-and very popular among students.
That being said, be sure to evaluate positions carefully, and take into consideration your interests, skills, and desired work environments.
If you need help identifying your strengths and interests, talk to your Career Services offices or a private practitioner-they can help you explore opportunities that "fit.
" 2.
Choose Your Area of Expertise One common myth in the internship search is that you should demonstrate active involvement in many organizations-the more, the better.
While many employers are impressed by campus activities, aim for depth: it is better to be in a leadership role with demonstrated results at one organization, than to have belonged to seven organizations for "only a semester.
" Participate in activities of interest to you--and remember that you don't have to be "President" of every organization to which you belong.
At the end of the day, a majority of employers are looking for team players who can follow directions as well as they can lead.
3.
Prepare for the Application Process Early A majority of U.
S.
colleges and universities offer students assistance with applying for jobs and internships through a dedicated office of Career Services staff.
These professionals generally have strong skills and expertise in helping students develop resumes and cover letters, and can also help you with interviewing.
These services are generally included as part of your tuition; at most schools, you can schedule a time to meet individually with a counselor with less than two weeks notice.
That being said, the work of Career Services professionals is very cyclical-and frequently counselors are in high demand prior to application deadlines.
Schedule an "off-season" appointment with a counselor during summer or winter break and prepare for deadlines in advance.
4.
Make Connections At some campuses, the competition to apply for on-campus interviews can be stiff--especially for positions in the sought after fields of investment banking or consulting.
Frequently, employers receive over 100 applications for each position advertised on one campus-and that's not taking into consideration other schools that are listing the position! Get a head start in the recruiting process by developing strong working relationships with university administrators, employers, and alumni starting in your sophomore year.
Schedule appointments with advisors, ask alumni in fields of interest for informational interviews, and educate yourself on companies and potential opportunities well in advance of application deadlines.
This way, you'll be well prepared to apply for the positions when it's your turn-and you'll be able to demonstrate that you have completed requisite coursework and participated in activities that strengthen your understanding of the industry/sector in which you hope to work.
5.
Have a Contingency Plan Employers generally recruit on-campus when they can safely anticipate three things:
- They are able to project a need for new hires well in advance of their start dates,
- They are able to identify specific positions and job functions for these hires, and
- They have an approved budget to hire a specific number of students to meet these goals.
It is possible that you may not find-or be selected for-your dream job through on-campus recruiting.
Expand your options by exploring and applying for positions outside of your school.
Again, your career services office-or another career professional-can help you make this happen.
By following these five strategies, you'll increase your chances of career success-regardless of whether you land your dream internship through on-campus recruiting or not!
