Graduation is quickly approaching for many college seniors, and they’re probably hesitant to leave the safety of college to head into an uneasy job market. With only a little over a month left to connect with these students on-campus, here are a few things you should do for your soon-to-be-graduates:
Introduce seniors to freelancing or contracting
With the shift to virtual workplaces or employing staff across the country, some jobs recent college grads will be looking at might involve freelancing or becoming a contractor. Do your students even know what this entails? In whatever way makes the most sense (webinar, blog post, workshop, etc.), provide your seniors information on the different types of employment, the pros and cons, and why they should consider taking a less traditional opportunity as opposed to a 9-to-5 desk job.
Talk with students about getting a job vs. going to graduate school
In some professions, it can definitely help a person to have a graduate degree — in others, not so much. Many students are facing the dilemma of staying at school to further their education or head out into the job market. Perhaps you have a few former students who each took a different path at graduation. Bring them in for a panel discussion to get your college seniors thinking about what’s right for them at this stage in their life.
Help seniors create a solid job search plan before they commit to searching full-time
Many students feel like they know how to search for a job on their own, but that’s simply not true. Often times, students figure it out as they go along and end up wasting a lot of time being unemployed. If they can create a job search plan before leaving college, they’ll certainly be off to a better start than several thousand other job seekers. Things to include:
- Creating a professional portfolio website
- Keeping up with professional presence on networking sites (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
- Combing job boards, company career sites and niche job sites for opportunities
- Attending conferences, networking events and meetups to connect with other professionals in their field
- Growing and tapping their network
- Looking at less traditional roles, such as internships, volunteer positions, etc.
Encourage students to start NOW
Many aspects of the job search – networking, informational interviews, deciding on where to relocate, etc. – can and should be something seniors are doing before they graduate. Provide information to students about signing up on professional networking sites (and the benefits of doing so), setting up informational interviews and relocating for a job. We even offer several e-books dedicated to each of these topics!
Prepare seniors for a marathon
Students need to know that the days of graduating with a college degree and effortlessly landing a job are gone. However, with hard work, dedication, and the right mindset, students can still get a job in their field once they’ve graduated. Be sure that your students realize the importance of utilizing every job search tool available to them (especially networking!).
Students – what else are you doing to prepare for graduation? If you’re a career center employee, do you have specific programs and advice for college seniors?
