In today’s job market, recent graduates face a plethora of challenges not only from a more experienced workforce, but also the fact that the jobs many of them will hold do not exist at the present time. The economic and labor market over the past five years has caused seasoned professionals to search and pursue positions which have normally be relegated for recent graduates and entry-level professionals. So current students should not only be focusing on student and academic success, they should also begin to build and establish a professional brand and image which can help them stand out in the crowded masses. Below are three things college students and recent graduates can begin to build and develop to position themselves the person to be hired for the job?
1. Professional Skills. I consistently hear hiring managers and executives criticize college students and recent graduates for not have the professional skills essential for success in the workforce. The fact is the majority of things students do in classes do very little to prepare them for the challenges they will face in today’s workforce. Executives are seeking employees that can solve problems and identify ways to solve problems before they arise in order to save the company money and move it forward. College students and recent graduates should seek out every opportunity they can to intern or volunteer for companies and organizations and do so for free if they have to. This will allow them to immerse themselves into the life of the corporate and business world and learn the different set of skills it takes to be an employee as opposed to a successful student. While on the job, take on the tough projects which will require you to analyze and utilize strategic planning. Moreover, you will be able to articulate to those during the interview that you have done more that write a research paper.
2. Networking. Many always make the obvious statement that sometimes it’s not what you know but who you know. At times, this is true in that if you have built a network of business connections you can maximize on your connections. I believe that you should always build it before you need it. As a college student, if you have not already done so, you should immediately build yourself a website or blog as well as get a business card. The blog can simply serve as a platform that you can build personally and professionally. Moreover, the business cards will provide you something you can exchange with professionals you meet. The business card can say something like “Student Success Professional” and contain your blog url, email addresses, and contact number. It is important that you begin to project the image as a professional. To build your network, join student and professional organization and most importantly take on leadership roles. Attend local toastmaster, rotary, and chamber of commerce events. Finally, reach out to alumni and play in the alumni golf tournament.
3. Build A Platform. Developing a platform has probably never been as important as it is today. If you haven’t it’s important that as a college student or recent graduate you begin to give considerable thought to who you would like to be known as. This is important because no matter what jobs you obtain and career fields you enter, if you ever leave and have to market and sell yourself to another employer, the thing that will always be with you is who you have are and the platform you have built for yourself. You may work a job as senior engineer for 8 years, however, you should always be developing the person of you. How you go about doing this depends and varies on many levels. If you don’t have any idea how to go about building you platform, look to someone you have in your network or someone you feel has been successful at building their platform.
While in college, students generally work very hard on their academic success as a student and they should. Yet, it is essentially important to begin building and developing professional skills; building a sustained network of professional associates; and establish a platform by which you would like to be known.
Source by Abdul Roux
