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IN THIS ISSUE:

-Job Search Tip of the Week - "The Special Project Technique"
-Help Spread The Word!
-Job Search Links
-Free Job Search Book
-Sponsor: Free Career Analysis

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Contents

- Job Search Tip of the Week, by Brian Krueger, author of "College Grad Job Hunter," the #1 book for entry level job search:

"The Special Project Technique"

Another excellent technique for filling in the gaps in the Experience section of your resume is the Special Project Technique. It works especially well if you can dovetail in a large project for one of your classes with a company you have a specific interest in.

Choose a project that will not only fulfill the requirements of a class project assignment, but will also serve as a real-life simulation of work in the field. If there are no special projects on your class docket, you might want to try talking one of your professors into using this as a substitute for your final, or as extra credit, or you might seek approval of the Department Chair to make it an Independent Study project (often worth one to three credit hours). Choose the company that you have your strongest interest in to study and then contact the company to gather as much basic information as possible. You have an open door for researching the company that no other student has access to since you are studying the company as a special project.

"I am in the process of completing a special project for my _____ class and have chosen your company to research. Could you please provide me with some information?"

It's a natural entry into almost any company. Your academic approach to the company will have the words flowing forth from otherwise tight-lipped employees. In the process of gathering company information, you will also gather names and titles of key individuals in the organization. Because you are likely the only college student to be using the company specifically as the focus for a special project, you will put yourself in good standing for any potential job openings that may occur. You will already have the inside track.

The net result is that you have killed three birds with one stone: you have met your academic needs via the project, you have greatly improved your resume (and your ability to talk about "real world" experience), and you have gained access to a company that you have an interest in. It's win-win-win in all three areas!

A recent grad used this technique in his Senior Financial Management class and did a case study on the role of a particular investment banking firm in the recently completed merger of one of its clients. He developed an entire case study from what he felt would be the client's perspective in the merger, including an exploration of all potential concerns. Then he developed answers for each one of these concerns from the perspective of the investment banking firm. As it turned out, his uncanny knack for research scored a direct hit with the investment banking firm and he was eventually offered a job after graduation in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group.

Next newsletter: "The Shadowing Technique"

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Contents

- 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!

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Contents

Job Search Links:

• Searching job postings:
  http://www.CollegeGrad.com/jobs
• Setting up a job alert:
  http://jobs.CollegeGrad.com/JS/Form/SearchForm.asp?alert=y
• Post your resume:
  http://jobs.CollegeGrad.com/JS/Form/SignUpForm.asp
• Update your posted resume:
  http://jobs.CollegeGrad.com/JS/Form/LoginForm.asp
• Creating your resume:
  http://www.CollegeGrad.com/resumes
• Quickstart resume templates:
  http://www.CollegeGrad.com/resumes/quickstart
• Creating your cover letter:
  http://www.CollegeGrad.com/coverletters
• Career information/exploration:
  http://www.CollegeGrad.com/careers
• Employer research:
  http://www.CollegeGrad.com/employers
• Top Entry Level Employers:
  http://www.CollegeGrad.com/topemployers
• Interviewing techniques:
  http://www.CollegeGrad.com/intv
• Salary info--how much are you worth?
  http://www.CollegeGrad.com/salaries
• Job offer negotiation:
  http://www.CollegeGrad.com/offer

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Contents

- 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:

1. The #1 entry level job search book ("College Grad Job Hunter").
2. It's free.

It's that simple. So don't buy the hype. Read the real information you need for FREE:

http://www.CollegeGrad.com/book

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.

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Contents

- 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:

http://www.CollegeGrad.com/careers/freecareeranalysis.shtml

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