Get your head out of the sand!

My fellow career center directors keep telling me to stop spreading gloom and doom... they say it's not so bad out there. Well, I disagree. It is bad out there; but that doesn't mean YOU (yes you!) can't find a job.



On Sunday I was listening to National Public Radio (NPR... it's all I listen to); specifically Marketplace Money and heard a story that gave some good advice.



Basically it was about people being too scared to open their 401K statements (retirement accounts) being equal to hiding your head in the sand. We need to know what is going on in order to effectively survive and navigate through it. This economic mess isn't going to magically go away. We need to be armed with the right tools to succeed.



The same is true for the college job seeker. Don't hide in the sand, instead, be prepared. Know what is going on, know how it affects you, know what you need to do to move through it.



Here are four actions you can take RIGHT now to be more successful in your job search:

1. Clarify your career goal... you MUST know what you want. When asked you need to be able to tell anyone what you are seeking.


2. Know your skills... you have hundreds of them... pick the top ten, make them relevant to your career goal, and be able to give an example that would demonstrate each one.


3. Communicate your skills and experiences effectively... this means be a pro at interviewing... this takes practice!


4. Master networking... this is the key to finding a job right now.

Each of these actions can be developed by anyone... including you! The Career Services Center have resources, services, and coaching for each of these.

Get your head out of the sand and get out there.

Next week I'll tackle each action item individually...until then