The Learning Curve of Graduate to Employed

As our Come Recommended intern team wraps up its last week, I find the most striking aspect of this job has been just how much I’ve learned about finding employment. Every day in my internship with Come Recommended, I’ve learned something new. Here are some of the most important aspects of finding your transition from college to employment that I’ve picked up:

Finding a job after college is a marathon not a sprint. The journey from classroom to desk will take time, and you need to take care and patience lest you burn out before you begin. The economy could be better, but don’t get discouraged – you will find a job.

Individualize your cover letters and tailor your resumes. With mass job search websites, the temptation to send out 30 identical resumes with the touch of a button is tempting, but there are just so many people like you doing the same. Before you send out an application, research the company, find what they are looking for in a candidate and use those same keywords in your resume. Also, although basic, proofread and edit, because a lot of applicants fail to.

Network, network, network. The fact of the matter is, the vast majority of jobs are found through networking. Use social networks sites like Come Recommended and find your former co-workers, employers, alumni and even those who have similar professional interests. Use the internet to your advantage by creating the foundations of your professional network.

Reach out and stay connected. Stay connected with former coworkers and employers – chances are these connections will continue to advance your career track. More importantly, take the initiative and create new connections with whatever you can. Even an information interview is a means of networking – the particular employer may not be hiring today, but when they are, you have a personal connection to reach out to.

Consider different opportunities. If you’re currently stuck between college and work, stay busy. Volunteer work experience or part time internships are a terrific way to develop leadership skills and work experience that will continue to push your resume to the top of the pile. Moreover, consider working for a small company. They may lack name recognition, but the amount of experience gained, professional growth and networking with your bosses and upper management are so much greater than finding yourself in a large corporation.

Keep in Contact

Bear with me, my post begins with a flashback.

February in Paris – I’m sitting in an Internet café talking to a Heather Huhman of Come Recommended for a position as editorial content intern. Our interview seems to be going alright, but in my head I’m dreading – the focal point of the website is to bring together the best employers and employees by making sure every individual comes to the table with three letters of recommendation. Surely, as a potential and would be employee, I should produce these same letters.

The problem is, up until my last job, I never kept in touch with my employers.

I know any of them would write me a raving review, but in my short-sightedness, I just never kept contact. I told myself I would, I kicked myself for being too timid to ask for a recommendation to keep on hold, and then I forgot.

Today’s blog is short but to the point: get on those recommendations. They can be such a vital way for recent grads to jump out from the piles of other applications. Find your former employers on professional networking sites and keep those channels of communication open. Even an occasional email giving your old boss a brief but positive summary of what you have been up to can be a great way to keep you fresh in their mind.

I’ve managed to find two employers in my email address book (thank you gmail for its automatic email storage), but the rest I can’t find. Even those professor recommendations: most of the professors who I connected with were visiting and since they’ve left I’m trying to figure out how to find them, but chances are they won’t remember me. In this day of instant communication, I don’t have an excuse. Sure I can boast on my resume, but so does everyone else. A letter of recommendation validates these claims and lets any future job know you are for real.

Tips for Summer Employment

One of the top perks of a viral internship is that I not only get to do what I enjoy, but also have time to find a second job. A few weeks ago, I started working at the front desk of a nearby salon. Typical beginning – spent a few days meeting the staff, getting used to the computer software, and memorizing the names of the long term clients.

I managed to secure a place before the usual stampede of like-minded college students return home looking for summer employment, but already students are coming in with their resumes. I’ve never been in this position before – I’m typically the student on the other side of the desk bumping elbows with the rest. I’ve noticed a lot about the summer employment hopefuls, but one thing stands out:

Improper attitude and attire

I figured at this point everyone knows how to dress for a job interview. T-shirts, sandals, mini skirts – I know it’s a salon and not a high-end corporate office, but still. No matter the job, dress as if you are serious about the job. If you take yourself seriously, then the employer will as well.

General tips

• Try to cover tattoos and if possible remove face piercings.
• Dress as if you are walking into an office: skirts at the knees, smart shoes, no shorts or t-shirts, and avoid showing too much skin.
• Yes you may have an impressive internship on your CV, but try to keep the most relevant work experience at the top. Experience means less time spent training and picking up after mistakes.
• Be friendly and polite to everyone you talk to. You don’t know if the general manager happens to be sitting nearby.
• Don’t be afraid to follow-up with a call. Managers and staff alike get caught up in the day to day and a quick ring to inquire about the status of your application can easily bump you to the top of the list.

Lastly, if your previous employer doesn’t need a new employee, they can still be a great resource. When I called my old job, they didn’t need anyone but since many of the salons in my area are owned by the same corporation, my manager knew all the names and numbers of the other store managers. With her help and recommendation, I had a list of names and numbers of other businesses potentially looking for new employees.

Summer is rolling in I wish everyone the best of luck landing that seasonal job!

Stranger to a New City

Last September, I moved to Hong Kong. Like many before me who have moved by themselves, I got a job, found an apartment, and developed a routine. Moving to a new city can be intimidating and over the next months, I had to figure out how to feel comfortable and make the city my home.

No matter where you move to, the question remains the same: after getting a job, an apartment and a routine, how do you make your relocated city your home?

1. Get to know your neighborhood: Make the effort to become familiar with your neighbors and local stores. Granted, you may not be inviting your local baker or older neighbor over for a drink, but when you’re solo in a strange city, knowing that you’re no longer a complete stranger in your neighborhood can do wonders to helping you feel welcome.

2. Contact your alumni office: Chances are, other alumni have also moved to your new city. Check to see if there are any upcoming alumni gatherings – meeting like-minded people when you first move out can help you not only network but also allow you to feel there is a ‘place’ for you in the city.

3. Social networking: Meeting people outside of the university setting is a real change, and something I’m still trying to understand. Social network sites are a terrific way to discover just how many people are in the same situation: recently out of school, moved to a new city for work, and also moved out alone. Through these city-based network sites, I could join book clubs, hiking groups, and even gatherings of people looking to watch a football game after work. Not only did I meet people that later developed into friends, but I also met a lot of different types of interesting people and realized that I was just one of many in the same new situation.

4. Take life at your own pace: I can’t stress enough how easy you can become burned out if you dive headfirst and try to force your new city to become a home. I’ll never forget my first day – I was so intimidated with the list of things that would have to be done, that all I could do was unpack my socks. When you first move in, even the smallest steps can feel like tangible accomplishments. You will make your new city your home, but always be sure to take time for yourself to avoid becoming overwhelmed.

What Are You Doing After Graduation?

I called my friend up at Haverford yesterday. Since I took the year off, I’ve taken pleasure in watching my friends experience and tell tales of senior year; first semester was about the initial elation of being the oldest, the joined camaraderie of their senior level classes, and enthusiasm for their long awaited senior thesis. Second semester, however, has been a different tale. Thesis research became 60 page deadlines, camaraderie replaced by the solitude of long study hours, and the welcome of senior year became graduation goodbye plans.

It’s incredible with all the amount of work they have had to do that seniors are also expected to apply for graduate schools and jobs. Some have it figured out, most still don’t know what direction they want to go. It’s not an easy market and the pressure to have your next step planned out is just as heavy.

My friend is the prime example of the stuck senior – I’ve known her since I was twelve, and I hope she’ll forgive the online analysis. Further education isn’t an option since she doesn’t know what professional route she wants to take, she has no desire to travel, and finding a rewarding job, like most students, is proving more difficult than planned. With six weeks until graduation, when I ask her for her plans, she in a few choice words tells me to change the subject.

For everyone who fits this category: consider volunteer work. Volunteer work is not only a terrific way to network inside your community, but can provide resume-boosting leadership experience. Volunteering opens doors to other opportunities, while helping others along the way. If you’re confused about what you want your future to look like, volunteering allows you to step outside your comfort and get a clearer picture of what you are passionate about. Volunteering will not only enhance your resume, it can give you a sense of purpose, of drive that will help you step up and step out.

Good Luck!

The New Intern

Hello to all! Today is my first of many posts, and I hope to use this space to write a bit about who I am, where I’ve been, and why I’m here.

My name is Annie Kohanek. I was born and raised in Washington DC, and last night was the first time in fourteen months I’ve slept in my bed. If you’ve been away from home for a while, you’ll understand when I quote a Chinese writer called Lin YuTang, “No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.”

Over the past year I have been traveling, studying and working in China and Vietnam. In Asia, I discovered my knack for meeting new people, my tendency to get into amusing situations, and the encouragement from friends and family back home for more letters of my adventures. These letters turned into a true passion for writing, landed me an editorial internship in Hong Kong, and led me to Come Recommended.

I couldn’t be more excited to begin this internship — not only to continue writing, but to become part of the Come Recommended team. It’s not very often you find a company whose mission is one you can really believe in. I consider myself to fit the target audience: young, intelligent students and graduates who are looking for challenging and meaningful employment. It isn’t easy, and it isn’t fun, but Come Recommended is looking to change the field— to find qualified employers and employees and create a space to connect the two.

I encourage anyone who has any particular questions or thoughts about articles they would like to see, to use this space and let me know. I’m excited to work, to write about my experience with the internship, and to learn about the experiences of others using the site!