New Years Resolution: Land a career before graduation

As finals come to an end, I am sure you are counting down the days to a well-deserved break. While it is important to enjoy the little time you get off, it is also vital to set goals for the next year.

If you plan to graduate this time next year then I highly suggest creating a strategic career plan. I read that you should give yourself a year to land a “career;” therefore, I began my job search at the beginning of 2012 because I anticipated graduating this month.

It took me about six months to wind up where I am now – happily working full-time as a director of marketing. Here are the steps I took to land my career.

1.   Go to Career Services.

Do not go to the Experiential Learning Center because they will set you up with more Co-ops and internships. Make an appointment at Career Services, and say you want to go over:

-Resume

-Cover letter

-References

-Interview (What to wear, FAQ, what to bring, etc.)

-Portfolio

2.    Network.

Have you dreamed about working for a certain company? If you have then began networking where the decision makers of that company network. Make yourself known in the community. You can do this by:

-Attending local MeetUps, clubs or events

-Attending free webinars & events

-Cold emailing and/or calling (Of course, do not be annoying with this)

3.   Clean up your online presence.

Establish your presence on LinkedIn. Begin making connections, getting endorsed for skills and asking for references. Also, make sure a Google search of your name does not lead to any negative photos or posts.

Additionally, remember, if you give employers the email you use to login into Facebook then they will find you regardless of the fact you set your name up as “Hollaur.”

4.   Prepare your pitch.

Landing a job or an internship is no different than making a sale. In this transaction, you are the seller and the employer is the purchaser. What are you selling? Well, yourself of course!

Tips:

-What’s your tagline?

I.E. Lauren Holliday is a journalist with a marketing mindset.

-What are you known for?

I.E. I am known for my motivation, passion and determination to succeed.

-In 10 seconds, how will I capture this employer’s attention?

I.E. Think of creative ways to send your resume and cover letter. Make it stand out from the inundation of black-and-white pdf files (YAWN).

Click here to download Freelanship’s “Branding yourself checklist.”

Dr. Paul Jarley: First generation college student turned dean

He is a first generation college student, who has now spent 25 years in higher education –behind the big desk as a PhD graduate. Paul Jarley, the Dean of the Lee Business School at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was the second candidate to meet with the new dean search committee at UCF and today, he is UCF’s College of Business Administration’s dean.

Among meetings, interviews and, well, his job Jarley blogs. He writes about current matters and informs students of changes that affect them, but in a way Generation Y can relate – through witty, Snooki references.

“I love to write. I especially like to write pieces, which challenges people’s view of the world and encourages them to think and act differently,” Jarley said in e-mail. “The blog is about how students can get the most out of their college experience and the challenges higher education faces in providing students with the knowledge, skills and experiences to compete in today’s world.” 

Personal:

Birthplace:  Norway Michigan, a small town about 100 miles north of Green Bay Wisconsin.

Education: Bachelors in economics, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor; Masters of public policy, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor; PhD Industrial Relations, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Fun, obscure fact: I once owned a white leisure suit. Every generation has the right to be badly dressed, but only for about five years.

Business

Basic philosophy: There is no substitute for actually knowing your customers, employees and stakeholders and listening to their needs and aspirations.

First job: As a stock-boy in a small grocery store growing up. I was sixteen.

Favorite quote:  It’s a three- way tie.

• “Fortune favors the bold,” Roman Poet Virgil;
• “The reason so many people miss opportunity is that it tends to be dressed in coveralls and looks like work,” Thomas Edison;
• “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” Albert Einstein.

Accomplishment you are most proud of: Achieving a state of positive restlessness among faculty, students and staff, regarding the nature and the quality of the student experience at the Lee Business School and how we might create a unique environment, which will differentiate us in the marketplace and in the minds of high achieving students. I know I just said a mouthful of dean-speak here, but changing an organization’s culture is the most difficult thing to do.  We still have a ways to go, but we have made great strides in getting people to talk about and help create a different student experience without eroding our research mission.

Definition of success: Earning a living doing what you love.

Future goal(s): Helping redefine the business model for American public research universities.  We have to find a financially viable and engaging way to expose all students to the benefits of being taught by research active faculty, who are shaping the future of professional practice and the world around them.  It is this type of student experience that will ensure we graduate people ready and able to ensure the U.S.A.’s position of leadership in the world.