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Black Collegian Career Center
The ABC's of 'Hire' Learning
Effective Job Search Strategies
by Pamela McBride
Recently published
articles have left collegians unsure of how to handle this unpredictable job
market. Some discuss extraordinary job offers, like Grammy Awards tickets,
$500-per-night hotel suites, signing bonuses and six-figure salaries. Others
tell how some graduates have been affected by a slumping market, including a
group who were recruited, hired and fired, given three months severance pay and
use of the company's outplacement services, all before they even put in a day's
work. But the effects of a new presidential administration and a downward
spiraling economy are finally beginning to stabilize, thereby creating a more
positive outlook for job hunters. "The job market will be better in the
next two to three years than it has been in the past two to three years. There
were some employers who were hiring a small, select group for outrageous
salaries and the impact was that it scared other employers away from hiring
college grads," says Steven Rothberg, president and founder of
CollegeRecruiter.com. "However, they didn't realize that the vast majority
of graduates were still willing to take the same salaries as usual. Fortunately,
many of those companies now have hiring freezes or no longer exist." So,
what's in store for African-American collegians who are planning to begin their
professional lives upon graduation? Notwithstanding the positive outlook for
employment possibilities, the job market may still be somewhat unpredictable.
But never fear scholars, you can conduct an effective job search campaign, as
long as you become well-versed in the ABC's of 'hire' learning.
Assessment
Brings Clear Direction
Figuring
out the right job objective requires looking both ways (inward and outward)
before you cross over from the academic world into the professional one.
Self-assessment (looking inward) and labor market research (looking outward) are
the two most important steps of making this transition, and should therefore not
be done haphazardly. "Too many job seekers do not take the time to properly
assess their competencies, interests and values. Career Services Offices are
staffed with career counselors who are trained to help job seekers better
understand the kinds of positions that would best suit them," says Rothberg.
Self-assessment instruments like the Strong Interest Inventory, the Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Business Careers Interest Inventory (BCII) can
help you narrow down which careers and industries you might want to explore more
fully.
Equally
important, labor market research helps you see where these newly identified
interests, skills and values fit into the professional world. For example, if
you love working with numbers and with people, being an accountant who crunches
numbers behind a desk all day will certainly crush your zest for work. By
researching the market, you might find more interesting accounting careers such
as teaching budgeting courses, training accounting assistants, or being a
college financial aid officer. Or, you might find that you'd be a better match
for the banking or financial services industry, rather than for the accounting
industry. For a closer look at career and industry reports, visit
www.black-collegian.com or the occupational outlook handbook at
www.bls.gov/ocohome.htm?H2.
Establish
Feasible Goals
Simply
put, you have to know where you are going, in order to plan how you'll get
there. Collegiate job hunters should take full advantage of the career
development center and all its associated activities to find out what the job
search process will entail. Career counselors can help make sense of the
process, assist with establishing short and long-terms goals, and help develop a
strategic plan. Then, the time management and planning strategies you have
already developed in juggling your current load of academics, extra-curricular
activities, and work will come in handy. "The way that students prepare for
exams or presentations is the same way that they should look at the planning
process for job search success," says Terri Moore, assistant director for
Career Outreach Services at the University of Virginia. "Starting the
process early definitely has its advantages," she advises.
Halt
Interview Jitters with Knowledge
The
more you know about potential employers, the better prepared you will be for
successful interviews. "Actively researching companies you are interested
in, and that are interested in you, will give you more control of interview
sessions, help you decide whether that company is going to be right for you, and
learn about other opportunities available with them," said Jeremiah
Jackson, an executive assistant buyer with Kaufmann's. Jackson used a variety of
ways to research companies beginning in his sophomore year at Miami University
in Ohio. "I used the Internet, interviewed current
employees who went through the executive training program and informally spoke
with members of other national retailers," he said. But, pace yourself; be
careful not to overwhelm yourself with too much information. "I made sure
that I didn't contact too many companies at once because it would be easier to
manage two to three interviews a week rather than five or more," says Karla
Carter, who had three offers at the time she accepted her position as an audit
assistant for the state of Missouri. Once you've prepared for job interviews,
practice, practice and practice some more. "And remember after all that
prepping to pamper yourself. A good treat makes you feel special before the big
day," said Chie Davis, (right) who graduated from Sarah Lawrence
College in New York.
Learn
to Make Networking Opportunities Pay Off
When
networking to find a job, what you know and who you know are important. But,
it's the person who knows you who has the biggest pay-off. "The business
market is very competitive. When employers are evaluating a large number of very
similar-looking candidates, a personal recommendation from a respected colleague
can be the difference," said Jackson, who was first interviewed for his
current job because he attended a dinner to which a fraternity brother invited
him. But don't wait until you need a job to start networking. Now is the time to
build and nurture professional relationships in your field. "You have to
constantly cultivate these relationships. Strengthen and reinforce them by
staying in touch. People want to see you do well especially when they are
vouching for you based on their own reputation," said Jackson.
 So
where does one get networking contacts? "Black graduates need to use their
family contacts, fraternity and sorority contacts, professors and university
staff-whatever people resources they are able to tap into," says Camille
Franklin, (left) associate director of American University's Career
Center. "They can also get a head-start on making professional contacts by
joining professional associations as a student. Other good sources are your
school's career center, the alumni office, local business conventions, and
employment agencies, especially those that specialize in your intended field. Be
forewarned, though, you should never ask your contacts for a job. Instead, ask
for information, advice or referrals that will get you closer to the job you
want.
Quality
Resumes Shine Through
A
resume has many purposes, and one of them is not to tell your life story. Its
main purpose is to provide a snapshot of your professional and academic
backgrounds when networking and applying for jobs. Networking contacts use
resumes so they can decide to whom they will pass along your qualifications.
Hiring authorities use them to screen you out of the running for a job, not to
screen you in. In either case, don't give them a reason to toss your resume
aside.
"Generally,
a resume and cover letter are the first impression that an employer develops
about an applicant, so they must be effective and error-free. Even if a student
has a connection, and is referred directly, a resume and cover letter will be
requested before an interview is granted," says Moore. And, since there is
no such thing as "one size fits all" when it comes to resume writing,
collegians should regularly attend on-campus resume workshops and other job
search events, so they can tailor their documents as needed. "A good resume
includes key points that are specifically related to the job description, so a
student who is sending out resumes for different types of jobs should tailor
each resume and personalize each cover letter appropriately," adds Moore.
After researching, networking and working in your intended field, you should be
able to put together a well-developed, targeted resume that makes you shine!
Undertake
Valuable Work Experience
Chie
Davis, an assistant producer at CBS, feared graduating from college and feeling
as if she didn't have as much professional experience as she did academic, so
she made it a point to acquire relevant work experience while she was still in
school. During her senior year, internships and work as a freelance production
assistant on a trial basis at CBS eventually led to a full-time position and
$30,000 annually, plus benefits. When seeking work experience, a little strategy
goes a long way. According to Moore, successful students are those who develop
skills in more than one area of their career field in order to attract
employers. "In the financial services field, for example, it is not unusual
for an employee to be responsible for knowing about all financial products, so
this graduate must be well-versed in financial analyzing, financial forecasting,
customer service, communication within the company, as well as effective
communication with the customer," she advises.
 But,
as Ashia Sims, (right) a December 2000 journalism graduate of Florida
A& M University discovered, a degree and internships won't guarantee you
immediate employment. "I did five paid internships during my college career
but when I applied for entry-level positions in public relations, advertising
and marketing, I was constantly told by employers that I didn't have 'real
world' experience," she said. Job hunters should be ready to use a variety
of avenues to gain experience, like volunteering, seeking out and applying for
part-time jobs from vacancy announcements, and working at temporary agencies.
Since joining a temp agency that specializes in her field, Sims has been
networking to uncover potential work sites. "I started a part-time job in
July as assistant to the owner of a small PR firm and am hoping that by working
with a small firm, I'll have greater exposure to the field, have more
opportunities to work on all kinds of projects and be able to learn the business
from the inside-out," she says. She also plans to start her MBA in January
2002 and to do some consulting projects along the way, in hopes of opening her
own firm once she completes her degree.
You
"Black
college graduates are valuable assets. Do not underestimate your value in a
market where the world's growing diversity is forcing companies to diversify.
Those companies and persons who can best meet the demands of a changing global
and national market are going to do well," forecasts Jackson.
Zeal,
Zest, Zenith
Once
you understand and can zealously implement the ABC's of 'hire' learning, you'll
have a new zest for reaching the zenith of your aspirations.
Pamela McBride is a frequent contributing writer for THE BLACK COLLEGIAN. She is a career counselor and has managed career development programs.
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