Job Search Calendar for Seniors

 THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Staff

You are about to enter into the “real” world — a world of paychecks, commutes and bosses. Getting your first job after graduation is an opportunity to gain new experiences and learn about yourself. While the job search may be a stressful experience, it will be one of the most rewarding. Just like anything that is worth having, it takes preparation. Although, you've spent years earning your education, it is time to kick that prep into high gear to get your first job after graduation. As your mother would say, “That job isn't going to find itself!” Below are the steps you should take during your senior year to land that first job.

OCTOBER

October begins the all important on-campus recruiting season, so take this opportunity to interview, interview, interview. During the month of October, you should have 10 or more interviews, especially since recruiters are coming to campus looking for talent. You want to make sure they know your name. Attend job fairs, and on-campus interviews with employers. If you are uncomfortable with the interview process, schedule a mock interview with your career services counselor. Some people think that job fairs are only looking for certain majors, but companies actually need people from all types of backgrounds with all types of degrees. If nothing else, you’ll gain valuable practice and learn how to sell yourself in the interview. Don’t limit your interviews to those on campus. If you see something that matches your skills and abilities, send in your resume. You should be checking in to the Career Services Center on a regular basis. Your job search should include taking advantage of what’s on campus, the Internet, and through organizations. After all of your interviews, be sure to get business cards and send thank you notes.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

After a world wind of interviews, take a moment to exhale. Between mid-term exams and travel home, take a moment to assess where you are in your job search. Remember that travel home for the holidays is an excellent time to seek out local employment. While you are gathering with your family and friends be sure to make sure that everyone knows that you are graduating and are seeking employment. Some of the best job leads come through networking with people who know you well. You may be surprised what opportunities are available in or near your home. Take some time to do personal assessments about how you’ve done on previous interviews and areas you would like to improve upon. Do you have a clear idea of what you want to do? Were you able to express yourself clearly in your interviews? Should you look for work or volunteer opportunities over the break to boost your resume? Have you gotten feedback from interviews. Based on your assessment, take this opportunity to schedule more interviews for January.

JANUARY

This is a very important month in your job search. You can’t afford to waste any time. Evaluate your previous activities, and tie up any loose ends. Focus on companies that have a strong interest in you and those you have heard from. As on-site interviews are scheduled, make sure that you research companies and prepare yourself for differences in interviewing at the employer’s location. Be prepared and on time. If graduate school is a serious option for you, by now you should have narrowed your choices and applied for admission. Pull your information together — research programs, take your tests, gather recommendation letters and fill out applications. When requesting your recommendation letters, be sure to discuss your goals and what you hope to gain from grad school. You will want them to tailor your recommendation to that information. In addition, have your personal statement critiqued before sending it in.

FEBRUARY

By now, the results of second interviews may be coming in. It’s decision time. Make sure job offers are evaluated not on salary alone. Be sure to get offers in writing. If you haven’t found a job yet don’t be discouraged. Recruiting season begins again in February, so visit your Career Services Center often to stay abreast of workshops, job fairs and on-site recruiting events. Take this opportunity to network by contacting your alumni association and local professional organizations. Use the Internet to your advantage by visiting message boards, career chat rooms, and online job search websites. If you haven’t already, be sure to contact your references to make sure they are prepared when they get the call from a prospective employer.

MARCH/APRIL

It’s crunch time! By this point you should be comfortable with all of the facets of the job search — career services resources, online resources, your resume is tight, and your interview skills are improved. You have a clear idea of the type of job you want. It is time to kick all of that into overdrive. If you haven’t already, treat your job search like one of your classes. In fact, treat it like the class you need to graduate. At this point, you need to know that you are doing everything that you can to get a job! If you already have an offer, or two, congratulations. This will be the time that you weigh the offers against your goals in life — besides money, take into consideration geographic location, ability to grow and quality of life. If you have trouble with this decision, there are resources in the career services department to guide you. If you haven’t received an offer, don’t give up. Take the time to meet with a career counselor to discuss options, review your resume and interview skills. All is not lost. There are still more career fairs to attend. Make sure you are keeping track of the companies you have sent your resume to, interviewed with and plan to pursue. Just like getting your degree took time and effort, so does the job search. Don’t give up!