Successful Job Search Strategies

Students and Recent Graduates Share Their Secrets

By Mary Chapman

For all you college seniors and newly minted grads, there is good news about finding gainful employment. In fact, employers are expected to hire 8 percent more graduates from this year’s class than last year’s, and starting salaries are projected to be up 4 percent according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Here’s the rub: getting work takes work. It’s still not too late to line up a job before graduation. Even if you march across the stage without a job offer, there is still hope in landing the job that you want. If you are still searching, you will want to use all of your resources at hand, such as your college’s career services office, career fairs, friends and family. Remember, a tried and true formula for success is – Network. Network. Network. Follow up on good contacts made during internships and seek out mentors to help guide you. But most importantly, don’t give up!

Take it from some seniors and recent grads who are already working or have their gigs lined up: You get out of your job search what you put in.

Here are 12 seniors and recent graduates who shared successful job search strategies that landed them jobs.

Job Search Advice:

The recent Texas Southern University business administration grad is a territory sales associate for Coca-Cola in Sacramento, Calif. Because he was in constant contact with his school’s career services office, he got early wind of Coke’s planned recruitment visit, which gave him time to prepare. He polished his resume, participated in mock interviews, and practiced his interview presentation in front of a mirror. His attention to detail even extended to his crisp, professional, suited-up interview garb. What happened next?  “I nailed it,” he said. “I went in confident because I was prepared. Interviewers today are looking for very serious-minded people.”

DIANE ABRAHAMS Morgan State University School of Education, Urban Studies, 2007 Job Offer: Exhibitor Sales Rep - Aramark Co.

Job Search Advice:

Although she graduated last year from Morgan State University, Abrahams secured employment at leading food service provider Aramark Co. while still an Urban Studies student. The exhibitor sales representative at the New Orleans Convention Center already knew that she “wanted to graduate with a career,” and so stuck like glue to the school’s career development center. The center helped her to line up a spot in the company’s management training program. “It was a lot of interview research, networking, and knowing that I just wanted to work in sports and event planning,” explained Abrahams. She advised students not to start their job search too late, since some application processes can last months. “A lot of students think a job is going to fall out of the sky. I worked at it, and so I was in school knowing I had a job waiting for me.”

SKYE THOMPSON Bethune-Cookman University Nursing, 2008 Job Offer: R.N., University of Michigan Hospital

Job Search Advice:

Although she’s still a senior at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla., the nursing student already has her career on launch. The Ann Arbor, Mich., native returns home next month to work at the University of Michigan Hospital’s critical care unit. Thompson had been proactive. She knew where she wanted to work, so she regularly checked the hospital’s Web site, where she learned of a career fair in Ann Arbor, to be held during spring break. She sacrificed fun and sun and flew to the fair. “I had an eye on that hospital, went there and interviewed, and four days later I got a job offer.” Thompson said her outgoing personality, combined with student nursing experience at a Florida hospital, gave her the competitive edge. “Research the company and have questions prepared to ask during the interview,” she advised. “Talk with the recruiter before the interview. Afterward, make sure to send thank you notes.”

ANTHONIO BLACK North Carolina Central University Accounting, 2008 Job Offer: Accountant, Deloitte and Touche

Job Search Advice:

Set to graduate in May with an accounting degree from North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C., Black will start this fall at the prestigious financial firm of Deloitte and Touche, where he completed an internship last summer. The Washington, D.C., native found out about the opportunities when he attended a National Association of Black Accountants meeting in 2005. He said interviewers were impressed with his attitude. “In a way I was interviewing them, too,” Black explained. “You have to make sure you mesh with the company’s culture.” He said it’s important for students to be active. In addition to his NABA membership, Black is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and several business organizations. He also is an honor student. “I’ve had informal mentors but I try to learn something from everyone I meet,” he said. “And I’m not afraid to ask questions.”

SHANDRIAL HUDSON Clarion University of Pennsylvania Mass Media Arts and Journalism, 2007 Job Offer: Public Relations Assistant, On Wheels Inc.

Job Search Advice:

Hudson began looking for work several months before graduation. She knew she wanted to work in the Baltimore area, so she confined her search to that particular region. Because she had been active in several student organizations, including the Public Relations Student Society of America, and had completed an internship with United Way, Hudson wasn’t worried about her appeal as a candidate. “I knew I had the experience, and I had done my research,” she explained. “I also have the ability to work quickly and pick up on things.” Hudson advises students to start searching early so that you score the job you want. “You want to make sure you and the company are a good fit, that it’s something in your field that you want to be doing. Don’t settle.”

SEKELLE O'BRIEN Howard University Business Administration, 2008 Job Offer: Technology Analyst, Merrill Lynch

Job Search Advice:

A new magna cum laude business administration graduate of Howard University, O’Brien will begin work this summer at Merrill Lynch, where she will enter the prestigious firm’s technology analyst program. Among other things, the Trinidad native credits her rapport with Howard’s career services office for helping to secure her employment opportunity. Most helpful, she said, was an internship in her field. “Don’t spend that summer on a beach in Cancun,” she said. “An internship will also tell you whether you really like the field you’re in.” She researched top tips for phone interviews – including keeping comments succinct – and made certain she was up to date on the company prior to her interview. “There was a merger and I knew about it, and that impressed them,” she said.

TENISHA BROCK Alcorn State University Business Administration, 2008 Job Offer: Manager Training, Walgreens

Job Search Advice:

No job worries for Tenisha Brock. A senior at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Miss., Brock will take her business administration degree to Walgreen’s manager trainee program in nearby Natches. Just a couple of months ago Brock learned about the program through networking at an informational session that Walgreens hosted on campus. She attended, and was interviewed on the spot. “He said he didn’t want to lose me, so I got the job,” she explained. Brock said Walgreens reps particularly liked the way she responded to work-situation questions, and they liked that she had some management experience. It’s a long way from New Orleans, where Brock and her family suffered tremendous loss to Hurricane Katrina.  “Be persistent, and continue to follow your dreams,” she said. “"You can make it.” 

WENDELL JONES Langston University Physical Education and Recreation, 2008 Job Offer: Team Recreation Programmer, Sierra Montana Recreation Center

Job Search Advice:

Jones had a friend spruce up his resume, then he hired a headhunter, aka job placement recruiter, to polish it some more and help him with his interviewing skills. “They told me what to say, and what not to say,” he said. He posted that resume on several Web sites. He also put the word out among his friends. “You have to make sure you keep in contact with people who have already graduated, because they can help with the outside world. It’s hard to search all on your own.” He said Sierra recruiters were impressed with his academic grades and his experience working at a YMCA. “There’s no class on life after college, so you have to try a lot of different angles and listen to advice.”

BRIAN CHRISTIAN Marygrove College Business and Computer Information Systems, 2007 Job Offer: Systems Developer Designer, Compuware Corp.

Job Search Advice:

The Michigan resident had interned with Compuware Corp. the summer before he graduated. More than anything, that’s what nabbed him his full-time position as a systems developer designer, Christian said.

“Internships are actually interviews themselves, it’s a summer-long interview process,” he explained. “Don’t treat it as just something to do in the summer.” Because an internship can lead to full-time work, Christian said it’s vital to pick one with that in mind. He also advises students to network and learn how to interview. “You must make a conscious effort to present yourself in a good light,” he said. “Being prepared on paper is not enough.”

SHIVANI THAKER Rowan University Economics, 2008 Job Offer: Financial Adviser, Mid-Atlantic Research Group

Job Search Advice:

Thaker learned through Rowan’s Career and Academic Planning office about Mid-Atlantic Research Group’s planned visit to the university early this year.  Multiple interviews later, she got the job she'd wanted. "They saw that I was driven and very interested," she said. "I had kept in touch with recruiters, asking them questions to learn more about them." Thaker credits a couple of mentors with helping her along the way, and an internship with another financial planning company gave her a leg up. But Thaker's persistence was all her own. "Even when I was driving around if I saw a company's name that I thought I'd be interested in I'd remember it and look it up," she explained. "Just don't wait until you graduate to start looking. Everybody's applying for jobs then."

MAHADEO SINGH University of Maryland Baltimore County Information Systems, 2008 Job Offer: IT Tech, African Americans On Wheels Magazine

Job Search Advice:

For the son of a mechanic shop owner, Singh is enjoying the best of all worlds. He gets to test drive cars, write about them for a magazine, and apply his computer skills to the company’s Web site. “I know a lot about cars, so this is great,” he said. Singh said it’s important to connect with your college’s career placement office. He also believes in a multi-pronged search approach. “Put your resume out there on Monster.com, and be aggressive. The job market is so difficult.” He found his job the old fashioned way: through the classified ads. He also knew someone who knew the magazine’s publisher, proving once again that old adage, sometimes it is who you know.

TAMIKA RICHARDSON South Carolina State University Mechanical Engineering Technology, 2007 Job Offer: Engineer, Cummins, Inc.

Job Search Advice:

The South Carolina native had already done two internships for Cummins, so she had laid the groundwork for a full-time offer. But, Richardson earned it, too. She had a 3.4 grade point average, and had participated in mock interviews to prepare herself for the real thing. Richardson said it's also key to have a career counselor specific to your major. “That’s important because they really know about the field you want to go into,” she explained. “And start looking your sophomore year, at least with internships. And keep your GPA up. In this field they don't really look at you unless you have at least a 3.0.”

These seniors and recent graduates hail from a variety of schools, backgrounds and experiences. Most of them have different career goals. However, what they do have in common is a strong desire to succeed, and most of all – a strategy! Career planning takes deliberate, focused, persistent effort.

If you would like to share your successful job search strategies in a short article, send in your information to Robin@imdiversity.com.  Include your name, university, classification, title of job accepted, email, and a telephone number. You will be contacted with assignment details. Writers will be paid $50 for each accepted article.