1) Here’s a secret: Careers don’t just happen, they
are made. If you want to have the job and career that you want and need,
it will take an enormous amount of work on your part. Many graduating
seniors mistakenly believe that it is the responsibility of their career
service officers to get them a job. Not true. Until you are ready to
take charge of, and own, your career, you won’t have one.
Owning your career takes discipline and true commitment. Sending 20 standard cover letters and résumés to Monster.com
and hoping for a response isn’t enough. To land the job you want, you
need to make it your full-time job. Yes, this is hard – you have finals
and papers to write, and friends to party with – but if you don’t work
hard, you won’t get a job. Guaranteed.
Make a
commitment to yourself and to your job search by claiming your career as
your own. By pledging to do this, you will stop being a victim of the
job market and will begin to take control over your future. This may
sound hokey, but this symbolic act will help you accelerate your job
search. Raise your hand and make the pledge.
2) Take a moment and think about what kind of car you
drive. Or if you don’t drive a car, what you’d like to drive if you had
one? What adjectives or characteristics do you associate with your car?
Safe? Well-engineered? Versatile? Eco-friendly? Car companies spend
gazillions of dollars crafting the brands of the cars they sell. Looking
for safety? Buy a Volvo. Superior engineering? Audi. Versatile? How about a Ford minivan? Want to save the planet? You better drive a Toyota Prius.
When
we decide to purchase a car, we consciously or subconsciously have
certain attributes in mind that will make the car “feel like me.” That
is exactly why car companies pour money into brand development, brand
marketing, and advertising.
You are no
different. As you go out and try to “sell” yourself to future employers,
it’s essential that you know exactly who you are and what you want to
be. By being clear about what you can offer to hiring managers, you will
be able to get people to buy into the brand that is you.
Discovering your own brand
is an essential component of differentiating yourself from other hungry
job seekers. Think about what makes you different, what skills you have
to offer, what you’re passionate about, and what you can bring to an
employer that will make them want to pick you. If you were a car, what
would be your best selling points? If you don’t know what they are, ask a
counselor, a parent, or friend to help you uncover what makes you a
great product for employers to buy.
Read the rest of the tips at the CSM.
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