This document provides advice for recent college graduates on navigating their career search. It discusses mapping out goals and leveraging experience, crafting customized resumes, the importance of networking, and resources for identifying opportunities. Tips include considering contracting to build skills, thoroughly preparing for interviews, seeking career mentors, and evaluating each new position to ensure it aligns with long-term goals. The presentation aims to help new graduates develop a strategic job search roadmap and approach to career management after college.
2. AGENDA
MAPPING OUT YOUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
LEVERAGING YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE, POSITIONS, PROJECTS,
INTERNSHIPS AND EDUCATION
CRAFTING AND CUSTOMIZING YOUR RESUME(S)
NETWORKING AS PART OF YOUR JOB SEARCH
JOB POSTING SITES AND OTHER RESOURCES TO USE TO HELP
YOU IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES
CONSIDER CONTRACTING TO BUILD YOUR SKILLS AND
EXPERIENCE
DO’S AND DON’TS
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3. WHERE DO YOU START?
FIRST KNOW YOUR OWN INVENTORY: ABILITIES, INTERESTS,
PERSONAL STYLE AND VALUES
EVALUATE THE WORK REQUIREMENTS OF CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES YOU DESIRE
DO YOU WANT TO SPECIALIZE OR BE A GENERALIST?
ARE YOU AT POINT WHERE YOU CAN MAKE THAT
DETERMINATION?
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4. Create a Job Search Roadmap
TITLE
FUNCTIONAL INTEREST
LOCATION-COMMUTING TIME
SALARY
TYPE OF INDUSTRY
SIZE OF COMPANY
CULTURE
COMPANIES YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK FOR?
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5. ASK YOURSELF?
WHAT DO YOU LIKE/WANT TO DO IN THE HUMAN RESOURCE
SPACE?
WHAT ARE YOU BEST AT?
WHAT DO YOU VALUE, WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU?
WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIAL ASSETS, SKILLS AND ABILITIES?
WHO NEEDS THE TALENTS, SKILLS AND ABILITIES YOU CAN
PROVIDE?
WHAT WORK ENVIRONMENT MAKES SENSE FOR YOU?
WHAT ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND OR EDUCATION DO YOU NEED OR
WANT TO DEVELOP OR ACQUIRE?
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6. Create Resume(s)
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL
CREATE A RESUME TEMPLATE THAT CAN BE FINE TUNED
ELECTRONIC RESUMES POSTED ON A SOCIAL MEDIA SITE OR
JOB BOARD LIMIT YOU FROM CUSTOMIZING
USE YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE TO SUMMARIZE YOUR
EXPERIENCE BUT TAILOR YOUR RESUME TO THE JOB YOU ARE
APPLYING FOR WITH EACH ORGANIZATION-THE TWO ARE NOT
MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE BUT YOU WANT EDITORIAL FREEDOM ON
YOUR RESUME TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU CAN OFFER SPECIFIC
TO THE ROLE(S) YOU ARE PURSUING
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7. NETWORKING
RELATIONSHIPS ARE VITAL, STAY ACTIVE AND ALWAYS
NETWORK
BUILD A LARGE AND DIVERSE NETWORK-MAKE SURE YOU ARE
ALLOWING TIME TO WORK ON THIS EVEN WHEN YOU ARE
EMPLOYED
MEETING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HOLD POSITIONS THAT ARE OF
INTEREST TO YOU LONG TERM
REMEMBER, MOST QUALITY POSITIONS ARE NOT
ADVERTISED
EXPLORE USING E-NETWORKING
DEVELOP A TRACKING SYSTEM THAT WILL WORK FOR YOU
PAY IT FORWARD
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9. PLANNING
SET GOALS BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT JOB AND WHEN
TARGET POSITIONS AND COMPANIES
NETWORK: TALK TO PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRIES AND
COMPANIES YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BOTH NOW AND LONG
TERM-BUILD YOUR TREE
RECRUITERS: FIND THOSE WHO ARE SEASONED AND WELL
CONNECTED AND SPECIALIZE IN YOUR FIELD
JOB BOARDS AND GROUPS WHERE YOU WILL FIND HR
OPENINGS
FIND A MENTOR/COACH TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR JOB SEARCH
PROCESS
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10. Prepare Thoroughly For Interviews
TWO TYPES: JOB SPECIFIC AND INFORMATIONAL
DO YOUR RESEARCH
PREPARE QUESTIONS
PREPARE RESPONSES
NOTE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS & FOLLOW THE STAR MODEL:
SITUATION, TASK, ACTION, RESULT(S)
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11. The 4-D’s of Career Management
DISCOVERY-IDENTIFY WHAT YOU VALUE, WHAT YOU WISH TO AVOID
AND WHAT COMPONENTS MUST BE PRESENT
DIRECTION-IDENTIFY COMPANIES, PEOPLE AND POSITIONS THAT ALIGN
WITH YOUR WORK PREFERENCES AND CAREER GOALS
DISCUSSION-NETWORKING, CONTINUE TO FACILITATE NETWORKING
CONTACTS AND MEETINGS THAT ALLOW YOU TO GAIN INFORMATION
AROUND COMPANIES AND POSITIONS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
WHETHER CURRENTLY EMPLOYED OR IN TRANSITION
DECISION-WITH EACH NEW ROLE EVALUATE THE WORK
CONTRIBUTION AND HOW IT FITS IN WITH YOUR SHORT AND LONG
TERM CAREER GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS IN HR
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12. Seek Out Career Mentors
SHOULD HAVE A SIMILAR CAREER TRACK OR BACKGROUND
SOMEONE WHO HAS THE TIME TO DEDICATE TO THE
RELATIONSHIP
SHOULD BE HELPFUL IN FACILITATING INTRODUCTIONS AND
HELPING SET THE DIRECTION, ROADMAP AND TIMELINE
CAN BE DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN YOUR
CAREER-LEADERS, TECHNICAL MENTORS, PEERS, PROFESSORS,
CONSULTANTS
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13. Do’s
DO CONSIDER CONTRACTING AS A WAY TO GAIN EXPERIENCE AND
ROLE/INDUSTRY EXPOSURE
DO CONSIDER INTERNSHIPS THAT ALLOW YOU TO EXPLORE
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF HR
DO CONTINUE TO UPDATE AND REFINE YOUR RESUME AS YOU GAIN
NEW SKILLS, EXPERIENCES
DO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, QUANTIFY THEM
WHENEVER POSSIBLE
DO NETWORK AND STAY ACTIVE IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
DO CONSIDER OBTAINING ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING
DO SEEK OUT MENTORS WHO CAN PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND ADVICE
THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER
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14. Don'ts
DON’T LET COMPENSATION BE THE PRIMARY REASON YOU
ACCEPT YOUR FIRST HR POSITION
EVALUATE EACH POSITION YOU HOLD WITH AN EYE ON YOUR
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH GOALS
DON’T ASK FOR A JOB WHEN CONDUCTING INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEWS
DON’T POST YOUR RESUME ON JOB BOARDS, APPLY ON LINE
BUT TAILOR FOR EACH ROLE AND COMPANY
DON’T WALK INTO AN INTERVIEW WITHOUT PREPARING AHEAD
OF TIME
DON’T STAY IN A ROLE IF YOU ARE NOT GAINING EXPERIENCE
THAT ALIGNS WITH YOUR LONGER TERM GOALS IN HR
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15. Questions?
Thank You!
Please feel free to contact me:
Wendy Kent
Kent Employment Solutions and Kent Staffing
wendy@kentemploymentsolutions.com
(503) 293-JOBS
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