Setting Job Seeking Goals
Planning and goal-setting are the keys to success in every aspect of your life, including your career. A Harvard study revealed that 83 percent of those surveyed had no goals; 14 percent had goals, but no written plan; and 3 percent had written goals. The 14 percent with goals but no written plans earned three times more than those with no goals. The 3 percent with written goals earned ten times more than those with no goals!
Although many employers are seeing light at the end of the recession tunnel, it is still a tough market. Here are a few pointers:
Picture yourself a year from now. Write down what you need to do this year to get there. Get out there and do it, one step at a time. The goal is to get the interviews. Keep at it.
Identify employers you want to work for. List ways you can connect with them. Checking the job listings for their company on CareerShift. Look for people that work there on CareerShift. What associations are they active in? Try to make a personal connection in addition to applying through their website. Ask your parent’s friends, your friend’s parents, your career center.
Target the industries and companies that are hiring. A recent study completed by Michigan State University reported that companies with less than 500 employees project hiring increases for the class of 2010. The study also reported that the non- profit organizations, agriculture and manufacturing industries expect to increase hiring of college grads this year. Even if you don’t think those industries are right for you, consider that all industries need marketing, sales, public relations and finance.
Establish a proven track record of work experience in your chosen field of study, no matter how temporary, part time, or volunteer the opportunity may be. Explore and get appropriate volunteer experiences related to your major and skill sets. Research shows that “recession” graduates who pursued their chosen field and changed jobs often closed potential pay gaps 40% sooner than those grads who took the first job.
