Hey Grads, Want a Job?
“It’s certainly the hottest job market for grads in the past five years,” says John Challenger, chief executive officer of outplacement consulting firm Challenge, Gray & Christmas. “Students are receiving multiple offers, there are companies offering more perks — even some signing bonuses — that we haven’t seen for some time.” That’s welcome news, no doubt, but it doesn’t mean that today’s grads don’t have to compete. The best jobs will go to the crème of the 2006 crop.
Below are five common job hunting mistakes to avoid:
1. Searching for Jobs
The wrong way: Limiting yourself to the Internet.
The right way: Network, network, network.
So used to the almighty Internet, college grads often forget they need to cast a wider web if they want to get ahead in their job search. Big mistake. The best resource to tap, though, is right at home: mom and dad. The fact that your parents know people in the adult world who are working and might be willing to see you is really valuable.
2. Landing an Interview
The wrong way: Dear hiring manager…
The right way: Research and personalize.
It’s not uncommon that a job listing doesn’t mention a specific person to whom cover letters should be addressed. But that’s no excuse for starting your letter with “Dear Hiring Manager” or, worse yet, “Dear Sir,” says Lauren Kahn, founder All About Careers.
3. Dressing the part
The wrong way: Flip-flops and skimpy tops.
The right way: Overdress.
Many twenty-somethings take their trendy outfits to job interviews: a fashion faux-pas that could take you out of contention before you even sit down for the interview, says Levit. “You’ve only got three seconds to make a first impression,” she says.
4. Acing the Interview
The wrong way: Rambling on about yourself.
The right way: Listen, listen, listen.
When you’ve just graduated from college, you don’t have that much job experience to talk about. Still, a lot of young job candidates don’t stop talking during the interview. “Grads have a hard time putting their ego in check,” notes Challenger. “A lot of times students come in and want to talk too much.” Questions about career growth and opportunities always make a good impression.
5. The Aftermath
The wrong way: Leave the interview and forget about it.
The right way: Send a thank you note.
Career experts disagree on the topic of thank you notes. Some advocate the typed letter that succinctly outlines the major points mentioned during the interview and why you’d be a good fit for the job.
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