As the new year begins the message in the media is to take action. The holidays are over and it is time to make plans for the coming months. Let’s apply that theme to job search with a few things you can do before you return to campus: revise your resume, draft a cover letter and identify at least ten potential employers.

It is time to change that four page dossier you presented to the college admissions office into a short, clear document that accurately conveys your experience and accomplishments. The CPPC’s resume booklet provides examples on format. The best way to be noticed is to mirror words in your resume that appear in the job description. If the employer is seeking good communications skills, be sure your resume includes accomplishments that describe your ability to communicate effectively.

The cover letter is one of the most challenging documents in this age of email. Again, go to the job description. What are the qualifications of the position? Now, look at your resume. What are one or two things you have done that you would like to highlight?  That is the content for your cover letter.

Where do you want to work? You may have a few employers in mind. Do your research. Develop a list of at least ten potential employers. Start with the ones you know. Then, expand your list. Who is the competition? Now you have a few more names. Use the list of resources on the CPPC site for additional research. And, stop by your local library and talk with a reference librarian. Very often, they are your best regional resource on your hometown job market.

When you arrive back on campus, stop by the career center for a walk in appointment. Our advisers will review your resume and cover letter and will assist you in adding to your list of potential employers.

The new year will present new challenges in the job search. It may take longer to find a job than in previous years. Begin the new year prepared with your resume, cover letter and a well researched list of places you would like to work.

When the semester began in August, not even the experts could have predicted the level of change we would experience this fall. While each academic year provides opportunities to embrace challenge and celebrate success, these past four months have created historical moments with the potential to redefine our place in the world.
As you are writing your final papers and studying for exams, let’s take a minute to review what we have learned.
First, we are in an age of globalization. If you have been hiding under the covers for the past ten years, the economic downturn brought the reality of the global banking community to the forefront. In a few short months we have learned more than we may have wanted to know about real estate, mortgages, investment banking, insurance and the auto industry. And we now have a better sense of how our domestic economy depends on the health of these industries. For many of us, the impact of the downturn in the economy has hit close to home with friends and family out of work.
It has been a year of unprecedented engagement. Record numbers of voters went to the polls on November 4th and elected Barak Obama the first black president of the United States. The senator from Illinois ran on a platform of hope and change. Let’s take that message and personalize it for a minute as we plan for the new year.
Change can be difficult. If you are a freshman this year, your transition from high school to college is a fresh memory. There was the excitement of a new place mixed with missing friends and family. With every new opportunity to change there is a sentimental longing for the past. For seniors, there is the anticipation of the next step: graduate school, professional school, a new job or and entrepreneurial start up. It is a time of hope mixed with uncertainty.
You are a part of a historic moment in time. Become an active participant. If opportunities in a career field are limited, look toward the new careers emerging as a result of change. All you have learned this semester in your classes, organizations and internships have provided you with a solid foundation to adjust and adapt. This is your strength.

The last week of classes gives you an opportunity to reflect on your experiences of the past semester. As you write your final papers and study for exams, consider the skills you have acquired this fall. What were your major accomplishments this semester? Did you participate in an internship, lead a class project, support a community service agency or plan an event for your organization?  Are you a member of a sports team or an orchestra?

As you think about how you spent your time over the past fifteen weeks, begin to formulate answers to the following questions:

What challenges did you overcome to be successful?
What did you learn about yourself this fall?
What are three or four skills you have developed?
How might these skills transfer to an internship or full time job?
How has your fall semester positioned you for your next steps?

This quick inventory will help you develop content to update your resume and formulate answers to interview questions. Employers focus on communication, analytical and team competencies; skills that you gain in the variety of experiences of the semester.

As you sit in the library, writing the most articulate paper on the most important issue realize that the outcome of this effort does translate into more than a grade.