This will be an ongoing blog - I'll just simply add to it in the coming weeks.
I'm working with BE, who will graduate from a small, private college in December. His major is accounting and accounting graduates from this school are told they will be highly recruited (when they enroll - - they're told this). He graduates in December and has had little, actually no, success in securing either an internship or a "real job" with a paycheck to look forward to once he changes the tassel on his cap.
He has attended job fairs, had interviews - 2 of which led to a 2nd interview. But no job offers. I found it fascinating that he was on LinkedIn - but not fully engaged. We're working on his profile and the groups he should join.
The next step will be identifying key alumni from his school who live in the area where he wants to live. Once they're identified, I'll help him reach out to them to establish a connection, start a relationship and begin his "networking worth" before he leaves school.
Stay tuned - for more
Next Chapter 1/27/11)
BE found email addresses for 6 alumni - - but it took some digging. There doesn't appear to be a central place where he, as a student, can get access to alumni (who've agreed to help - of course). Now his next step is to write an appropriate referral email to each of them - asking for a few minutes of their time. His goal should be to learn about where they work, what do they like most and least about their jobs. And the $64,000.00 question - If you were me, where would you focus your efforts?"
It is amazing that college graduates seem so ill-equipped to start their marketing campaign to find a job. Working with a bright, young, professional is fun. He is willing to listen, willing to try and knows it is very important that he be employed as quickly as possible following graduation.
Those universities who do not have a robust career center and are not utilizing alumni will face real challenges in about 10 - 15 years when they beging to court today's graduate to give back to the university. If the student's last memory is how hard they struggled to find a job, it will be reflected in the check they write.
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