For the rest of my life, this very special day, God help me... to labor with enthusiasm and love, no matter what the task at hand may be, realizing that if I cannot secure happiness out of my work I will never know what real happiness is.

Now is the time to gather your resources, focus your energy, and re-channel that anxiety into a positive plan of action.  Now is the time to make the decision that you will take charge of your destiny and demonstrate the type of initiative that gets things done.  Confucius said, "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life!"  Wouldn't it be nice to have a job that you would accept without pay, if you could afford to, because you enjoy the work so much?  The key is to identify what you are good at and what you enjoy doing and pursue that goal as if there were no tomorrow.  You need to have a dream so big that you can't sleep at night until you can get back to doing what you were doing a goal so strong that you never think of not succeeding a desire so real that you work towards it as if it depends on you, and pray for it as if it depends on God! 

Consider the following for a successful job search: 

Soul Searchers in the "Howse" 

As any experienced job-seeker will tell you, the starting point of a successful job search is a thorough self-assessment.  This means a complete analysis of your background, interests, and goals.  Some may call this taking a personal inventory; I like to think of it as "Soul Searching."  It's like your personal balance sheet of assets and liabilities. 

There are any number of elaborate techniques and methods that you might employ, such as the Strong Campbell Interest Inventory, and the computerized guidance program called SIGI Plus (System of Interactive Guidance and Information), but the bottom line is that you are the only person who can accurately examine your life.  Your Career Services Office will be more than happy to assist you by providing the instruments and advice necessary to accomplish this task. 

Few, if any, employers hire people on the basis of their resumes or applications alone.  What they really need is specific evidence that you have demonstrated the ability to perform assigned tasks in a superior manner.  They get that kind of collaborative evidence through personal interviews and even your references.  What they really want to know is what you are like in action. 

Realistically speaking, the total effect of an honest self-assessment extends well beyond preparing for a career; it may also significantly boost your confidence.  You'll be surprised at the increased certainty you will experience about your skills and abilities.  You'll be more conscious of the set of skills you own, and you will easily develop examples for your interview presentation.  The result will be an energized, invigorated, informed "new person," certain about your goals and confident of the strengths and skills you offer. 

Corporate Deadlines vs. University Deadlines 

If you are a student who has already interviewed for several positions and you still have not heard from any of these companies, take heart.  This does not necessarily mean that you are not being considered.  Some companies, such as Champion International, have a college recruitment program that is always sensitive to student/university timetables in terms of making offers to new hires.  This is normally not the case with most organizations, however.  Sometimes the best laid plans don't always work out.  An employer may have intended to send out job offers before your graduation date, but today's economy and circumstances - such as downsizing, restructuring, and corporate takeovers may have prevented the employer from doing so.  Ann Davis, Campus Manager for AT&T, suggests that when this happens students should consider the following options:

A. Revisit the opportunity by sending another copy of your resume with a cover letter assuring the employer of your continued interest.

B. Inquire about internship opportunities.  Many companies hire graduating seniors for internships and this could lead to a permanent position as well as provide experience and income while you continue your search.

C. Investigate contract employment with that same firm as this may also lead to a permanent position. 

The main thing is don't give up!  "No" doesn't always mean no; sometimes it just means "chill for now and check with me later."  Many companies keep lists of their top candidates, and if their first choice declines the offer and you are number two on the list, that job opportunity will fall to you. 

Continue to use your Career Services Office after graduation 

Let's face it, many job offers just won't come until after graduation, so the last thing you want to do is sit still and wait for an answer from that one interview or lead which you so dearly hope will come through.  Job announcements come continuously to your Career Services Office, so you will need to stay in touch with your counselor and use this time to enhance your interviewing skills and expand your research and networking base.  If by some chance you have not been to the Career Services Office, let them help you to develop the most important instruments in your job search arsenal: the resume and cover letter.  They have formats available, and they will show you how to create the type of professional resume that will get you that interview. 

Job Search Resources 

A. Your Career Services Center. Your greatest resource, your best job search friend, and your most ardent supporter is your Career Services Office, which is there for you.  You have paid for this service through the student activity fee, so why not use it?  Many HBCU Career Services Offices continue to work with their alumni and charge no fees for those services. 

B. The Internet.  Why not take advantage of all that modern technology has to offer and "let your fingers do the walking"?  Let your counselor help you identify programs such as Resume Expert Plus which will allow you to place your resume on the World Wide Web and thereby multiply your chances a hundredfold with just the touch of a button.  This very magazine offers THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Online, http://www.black-collegian.com and IMDIVERSITY.COM, http://www.imdiversity.com.  Job seeking students can use all three vehicles for job searches and career information.  Many companies put job announcements and company profiles on-line and numerous web-sites are available.  Jobtrak has hundreds of announcements daily as well as NBC Wild Web TV and ABC TV.com.  Be sure to take full advantage of this resource to maximize your time spent job hunting. 

C. On-campus recruitment.  Stay abreast of what companies are coming to campus in the fall and sign up early to interview.  You will no doubt find plenty of research materials available and your counselor will gladly teach you how to research and use this information to your advantage during the interview process. 

D. Locate job fairs in your area.  Again, your Career Services Office can be extremely helpful in identifying local fairs since many times the sponsoring organizations send announcements far in advance.  You might also con-tact your local Chamber of Commerce and Convention Center, since many national fair sponsors coordinate job fairs through these offices. 

E.  Network!  Network!  Network!  Perhaps we've all heard that adage, It's not what you know; it's who you know!  Well, that's more true today than ever before.  Research has repeatedly shown that most job opportunities aren't even listed in the newspapers.  Lillian Bjorseth, president of a networking organization and author of Breakthrough Networking:  Building Relationships That Last, says that, "Eighty-five percent of all jobs come through referrals and 80-90 percent of jobs are never listed publicly."  Some companies even pay a bonus to the person who refers an applicant whom it hires. What's most important is that you follow-up on your net-working leads and maintain your professionalism during your search.  People will be watching, and you'll never know which person in your networking web might remember the positive impression you made and decide later on that they have a position for which you are well-suited.  Remember to seek informational interviews from people who are doing what you would like to do and stay in touch through thank-you letters and phone calls along the way.  Don't be selective about networking.  You need not restrict your efforts to those who are in a position to hire you directly.  Anyone might know someone who knows someone else who may be aware of a potential job. 

F. Employment Agencies and Temporary Agencies.  One rule of thumb to remember if you decide to use an employment agency: find out first who pays the fee.  There is usually a fee associated with this kind of service and if the company which does the hiring does not pay, then this will mean that you will have to.  Consult your counselor for advice on using the most reputable agencies in your area. Temporary agencies provide a great way to develop skills.  Some appointments can lead to permanent positions and can also provide a clear picture of the job market in terms of which occupations are "hot" and which are not.  Not only will this help to increase your networking base, but it will also provide time and income to organize and expand your search. 

Keys to a Successful Interview 

There are two essential elements of an interview that you absolutely must master to succeed.  They are: preparation and communication.  Let's take a look at the major components of each and what they entail. 

PREPARATION 

• Concise resume
• Research company
• Correct attire 
• Job objective
• Anticipate key questions
• Thorough follow-up
• Should be brief and neat with a quality appearance.

Conservative business suit, no frills, clean and polished shoes, little jewelry, no perfume.

Keep your objective firmly in mind and refer to it often. 

Study the list of most frequently asked questions and avoid sounding rehearsed.  Always use examples from your work, academic, or character building experiences. 

Reply promptly and courteously after the interview.  Remember that "no" doesn't always mean "no"; it often means "later." 

COMMUNICATION 

• Speak up
• Eye contact
• Gestures
• Body language
• Enthusiasm

The Power of Self-Confidence 

Ever notice how some people seem to attract more than their fair share of attention from others and seem to get all the breaks coming their way?  How things seem to come to them with little or no effort, while you struggle just to break even?  No doubt these individuals are displaying that most magical of all human traits called self-confidence. 

Upon closer examination you will find that the secret to their success is of times no secret at all, but the result of years of attention to hard work  So make a commitment to becoming the best that you can be.  Michael Jordan and Michael Jackson are the best in their respective fields because they worked harder than anyone else.  They never stopped improving and perfecting their skills.  Make a commitment to life-long learning and you will always be on top. 

So, if you don't have a job by graduation, keep the following in mind: look for a career, not just any old job.  A job is what you do with your days; a career is what you do with your life.  Take the time now to reflect upon your circumstances and examine the energy and initiative you apply to your goals, realize that you are exchanging a part of your life, for the time you spend now, in search of a career to fulfill your life's dream.