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Job Hunter Newsletter Real World Experience Disclaimer: please note that all of the links were active as of the newsletter publication, but some may become inactive over time. Previous | View 2006 Newsletters | -------------------- IN THIS ISSUE:
-Help Spread The Word! -Job Search Links -Free Job Search Book -Sponsor: Free Career Analysis -------------------- - Job Search Tip of the Week, by Brian Krueger, author of "College Grad Job Hunter," the #1 book for entry level job search: "Real World Experience" A recurring theme in entry level job search is the lack of experience factor. "Where do I get experience if no one is willing to hire me?" Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines? Possibly for some, but there are other alternatives. Many students focus exclusively on seeking paid work experience as their only alternative. Be careful not to box yourself into this limited focus. As a Hiring Manager, I look at any and all experience you may have accumulated to date, whether full-time or part-time, paid or unpaid. Work experience makes you more marketable as a job candidate; it also gives you the opportunity to gain greater understanding about your chosen field. You will be able to find out in advance what many of the positives and negatives are, then truly enter your field with your eyes wide open. Or step back early from what could have been a major career mistake. So as you approach the task of gaining real world experience, do it from a "sponge" perspective--be ready to soak up every bit of information that comes your way. Full-time or part-time. Paid or unpaid. Worker or observer. An internship and co-ops is often considered to be nirvana for the college student seeking work experience. The original "co-op" idea--combining classroom study with practical work experience--has evolved into a universally accepted program for gaining work experience. The experience gained in an internship/co-op has become the key differentiator for many new college grads. Make no mistake--a successful internship can be your ticket to locking down a job offer (or several job offers) early in your final year. But it can come at a price. Most schools offer classroom credit for formal internships taken during the school year. But it is usually only six to nine credit hours, not the standard fifteen-plus that most students require per semester to graduate on a "normal" schedule. In addition to standard work hours, you may be required to write formal term papers to report on your internship/co-op experience. The net effect of the lower credits earned while school is in session may require many interns to go an extra semester or through a summer session to make up for the lost credit hours. Another adaptation of the "internship" term is to refer to summer employment as an "internship." This experience in the field also plays well in your job search, although you should not be concerned with finding work that is specifically listed as an internship. If you ask an employer if they offer summer internships, the answer will often be "No." However, if you ask the employer if they offer summer jobs in your field, the answer may be "Yes." Why the difference? Because most employers consider internships to be formal training programs in preparation for real work, while summer jobs are simply doing the real work. Which would you rather do? The real work is always the best experience. Next newsletter: "What They Never Tell You About Internships" -------------------- - Help Spread The Word! Do you know of someone who can benefit from the information in this newsletter? Simply forward this e-mail to them and tell them to subscribe at http://www.CollegeGrad.com/newsletter. Thanks for spreading the good word! -------------------- Job Search Links:
-------------------- - Job Search Book Online There are at least two other entry level Web sites that offer books on job searching, proclaming that they will tell you everything you need to know about entry level job search. However, there is a very important point about these books they don't mention up front: they cost money. At CollegeGrad.com, we give you two things they don't:
2. It's free. It's that simple. So don't buy the hype. Read the real information you need for FREE: Don't ever pay for books or reports or resources of lower quality when you can access the very best quality information for free. P.S. Yes, you can buy "College Grad Job Hunter" in hardcopy format as well at Amazon.com for $15 (actually, 30% off that price), but the online version is better. Why? Because the version at Amazon.com (the 2003 edition) is being continually updated at CollegeGrad.com. So the most current version of the book is actually the online, free version. -------------------- - Sponsor: Free Career Analysis Searching for the right career? Get a FREE Career Analysis using the MAPP (Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential). This career analysis will show you the top 11-20 jobs with your greatest potential for success, including 5 free job matches: Previous | View 2006 Newsletters | |  | |
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