What have you learned this semester that will help you with your career decision? Was there a class or a professor that inspired a new career direction? Did you work with a community organization? Perhaps you had an internship or a part time job. With each experience you add to your portfolio of skills. You also learn more about yourself and your strengths and weaknesses. And, you learn more about what you still don’t know.

Here are a couple of things to help you catalog your experience and plan for your next step.

Start with an inventory of the skills and talents you have acquired over the past three months. What do you consider your strengths?  Did you improve your research and writing skills as part of a class? Are you a better leader after holding an office in your fraternity? Did your internship project improve your teamwork competency? Are you more confident as a public speaker after delivering a presentation to the board of a community organization?

Next, consider your weaknesses. In the classroom or at your internship what feedback have you received that will help you improve your grades or job performance? Do you need to pay more attention to detail? Are you waiting to be told what to do, rather than be proactive and offer to help? Maybe your communication skills need some refining or it may be that you just need more experience.

Ask your friends to look at your list of strengths and weaknesses and add their input. The folks close to you are a good reality test of your list.

Finally, come up with a list of skills that you still want to develop. Where is the best place to gain more experience? Do you need additional courses, another internship or an advanced degree?  Build from your strong points and seek out opportunities to challenge your flaws.

Over the past week I have heard stories of a number of seniors who have yet to make post graduation plans. It may be the media stories of an abysmal job market have caused you to cocoon or it may be normal end of semester denial. If you have not started your job search, there are two things to know: it is never too late and employers are hiring.

The final weeks of the semester will pass quickly as you deliver final projects and presentations, write papers and study for exams. Even in a challenging job market, it is hard to focus on post semester plans when the academic demands take priority.

Many of us are quite proud of our success at procrastination. Although we would not include it as a skill on our resume, we have a complete menu of excuses to choose from to avoid taking action. Here is the compromise; open your calendar and commit to a date when you will start your job search.

Increasing numbers of students are balancing part time work and internships with their academic program. When you are stuck in traffic on your way back to campus after your internship and it looks like you may not make your 3:30 class, it is hard to think beyond today. However, on the day you are moving out of your residence hall or apartment it will hit you that you need to do something. It is not too late to start. In fact, you timing might be perfect for many employers.

Employers in accounting, engineering and financial services are the most visible on-campus recruiters. They represent Fortune 500 companies with sizeable hiring needs each year. But most organizations never step on campus due to resource constraints or the reality that they need someone to fill a position tomorrow.

When that moment of realization comes that it is time to start your job search, start with a list of the resources available to help. Begin with the career center. Open the calendar one more time and schedule an appointment with a career advisor.

Why do we work? The answer to this question may be unique to each individual. As you consider your career options, it is important to understand your motivation to work.

Up to this point, you may have worked to gain experience, pay bills or fund college. What next? As you write resumes, craft cover letters and schedule interviews have you considered why?

If you will be paying down significant debt after graduation, your goal in finding work might be to find the highest paying position, without consideration of the skill set you might acquire. If your first priority is learning more about a particular career field, you may decide to relocate, take a position at a lower salary or enroll in a graduate program. Or, you may want to work to support a different career goal: acting, writing or travel.

In a recent CNN interview, John Roberts asked former President Clinton why he worked. His response: “I have to go to work. I’m too much of a Calvinist. If I don’t work every day I get nervous.”

Asking ‘why?’ is a good place to start your job search. The answer may help you clarify your choice. It may help you prioritize your goals and begin to create a timeline to integrate what you do for fun with what you do to live.

This is the time of year when everyone, including the President is selecting who they believe will advance to the final four in the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball championships. With a little imagination, you can apply the bracket concept as a way to narrow down your career interests.

Let’s say you are totally undecided. Where do you begin? Try categorizing your interests using the bracket system. Instead of four regions, fill in four career fields that might interest you. Next, identify sixteen possible employers in each field. Go to the websites to view job openings. Log on to connect SC for possible listings. As you progress with your research, you will begin to eliminate some organizations in favor of others. Once you get to your ‘elite eight’ employers, start your information interviews. As you talk to people you will begin to establish a realistic assessment of your chances for success in an organization.

This ‘elite eight’ forms your target list. By the time you have narrowed your selection to eight, you should feel comfortable that each employer presents a realistic starting point to your career.

As with any selection process, you do not have total control of the process. The employer extends the offer and you have the choice to accept or continue to explore other options.

The NCAA tournament lasts three weeks. If you start filling in your career fields now, you will advance the exploration process at a pace to be ready for interviews by ‘tip-off’ in the championship game.

When considering career options we tend to be comfortable with the familiar. This year, some of these options have closed and we are forced to seek out alternatives. One you might not have explored is a management development program. Most large organizations have a program designed to develop their future leaders. Depending on the industry, these rotational assignments can last two to three years. Think of it as a ‘fast track’ to a leadership position in management.

In recent years, the way to earn a large salary in a short period of time was to pursue a career in finance or real estate. These fields reward individual success very quickly based on individual results. What if your career plan is more long term? Do you think you have the skill set to manage multiple operations with large numbers of employees?

The typical management development program gives the new hire a chance to prove themselves in a relatively short term in a variety of work settings. In most cases the recruitment process seeks out candidates from all majors. Why?  The employer is looking for a generalist who can adapt to a variety of situations and learn quickly. Often the employer would rather teach you the aspects of how they do business than hire someone with a preconceived idea from a business curriculum. These programs are designed to create a corps of ‘elite’ potential leaders who receive supplemental training and access to senior management.

You will find that each organization has a unique label for their program ranging from trainee to leadership development. All have the common objective to provide a professional development experience across a number of functions. You may start in marketing and then move on to finance and end in manufacturing. The organization wants to provide the best education about their customer, product, pricing and distribution. In addition, you gain insight into the corporate culture and fundamental value system. Once you have completed a management development program successfully, you have the opportunity to choose your next step and be rewarded with a promotion.

If you would like to learn more, check out the Vault Guide on Management and Leadership Development Programs. This guide and a list of management development employers are available through connectSC. You will find the Vault Guide under Vault Employer Guides. You may also want to listen to a podcast of an employer panel discussion on these opportunities.

Last week the recruiter from NBC Universal described their Operations Mangement Leadership Program as a way to accelerate your career and accomplish in two years what it would take the average entry level employee to do in five. If you are looking for a challenge and the opportunity to learn a business across multiple areas, lead a team of people and gain immediate management experience consider the alternative of a management development program.

Is it the economy that has made this week’s transition to daylight savings time more difficult or was it midterm exam induced sleep deprivation? Fortunately we have a week for our circadian rhythms to catch up. And while your body clock adjusts to PDT, give yourself permission to rest.

Walking across campus you overhear conversations as people plan for the annual spring break. While many of you will head off campus for the week, a significant number of you will ‘staybreak’ in LA. Take a day or the week to recharge and renew.

Looking for a full time job or a summer internship can be a stressful process, and the stress may be magnified by uncertainty in the economy. You need to build your energy reserves. If you do not already have a regular fitness routine, use next week to create a pattern of daily exercise. Look at your calendar for the next two months and schedule exercise appointments so you can maintain your momentum post spring break. If you feel good, you elevate your confidence level. And, if you feel confident, you will reduce your stress.

Take at least one day next week for you. Turn off your blackberry or IPhone, avoid Facebook and don’t watch TV. (If you are a basketball fan you may want to do this on Monday or Tuesday) Take a drive or walk without GPS. Get lost. Yes, it is time for ’spring break detox’. You need a ‘time out’ from all the distractions that fog your brain on a daily basis. Why? Because spring is about new beginnings, a time for a fresh start.

When you return to campus it will be a seven-week sprint to the end of the spring semester. You will be using those stored energy reserves as you juggle your myriad of commitments. Take time to have fun. Come back refreshed and a little less intense.

Do your research, find your fit, demonstrate your passion, take the initiative and prepare. These five tips come from the employers who participated in panels last week during the semi annual Internship Week.

These suggestions also apply if you are currently seeking a full time job. The bottom line is you have to customize your job search for each individual position. Sending out a form letter with a change of name and address for the recipient will not set you apart.

You do your research to learn about the organization, the position and the person who will conduct the interview. The web site may give you a sense of the culture, but you will need more information to determine ‘fit’.  Do you prefer working with folks in your age group or do you prefer a range of generations in the workplace? You may want to work with people, but how? Who are the clients of the internship organization?

How do you demonstrate passion for a particular career field? If you have taken the time to do your research and can relate your experience to the job description in a cover letter you have an edge. Now, you need to follow up with the employer to be sure you get the interview.

What does taking the initiative really mean? It just means being impatient in a positive way. Follow up to get the interview, send a thank you note after the interview and don’t wait to be asked once you start. Employers seek self-starters who will volunteer for more work once they have completed an assignment. This is how you learn the business. Pay attention to detail from the cover letter, to the resume, to the quality of work you deliver at your internship.

As you start you job search, take the time to create the foundation for your professional reputation. Record a voice mail message that is short and identifies you as the mailbox owner. One recruiter gave up on a prospective candidate after listening to a combination of music and rant. Clean up your Facebook account. Employers do have access to social networking sites and will check your profile. Join a social network that links to your profession or one that has a broader professional membership such as LinkedIn.

If you missed any of the panels, you can listen to the podcasts and hear each of these employers discuss who gets the job and why.

It was a great interview. As you started to leave the office, your potential employer asks you for the names of two references.  Who do you ask?

If you are applying for a job or completing a graduate school application, at some point you will have to ask someone to provide a recommendation.

As a student, your list of references should include a faculty member, preferably in your major and an employer reference from an internship or part time job. Most graduate programs will require two faculty references and perhaps a non-academic reference.

Develop a list of 5-6 people who are potential references. Qualify each of these professionals in respect to your relationship. Is this someone who knows you well because of your participation in classes and who can comment on the academic quality of your work? Can they adequately predict your ability to succeed? As a former internship employer, will your reference be able to cite specific projects along with an assessment of your performance?

Arrange an appointment or stop by during office hours and meet face to face with each of the people on your list. Be prepared. Bring a copy of your resume and the job description or graduate program brochure. (Do not text a recommendation request with a link to a website.) Create a short list of why you are pursuing this job or graduate program and talk to your potential reference about what you would like them to emphasize. Does the employer require good communication skills? Ask if the faculty member could cite your final paper and presentation as an example of your skill match. Is the graduate school looking for people with a commitment to their community? Ask the reference to mention the time you spend tutoring in the local elementary school.

Selecting a reference takes time. You may have someone say no. Or, you may have someone agree and not follow up. Always have a back up. People forget. Provide deadlines and enough lead-time to avoid last minute panic. This is not a time to be shy. This is part of your marketing strategy. Your references should feel confident with both the information you have provided and their direct experience with you to recommend you without reservation.

Does the competitive nature of the new economy change the relationship between a prospective hire and the employer? Over the past few weeks I have heard from a number of students who are interviewing for entry level positions. Many have expressed concern over aspects of the recruiting process with fewer positions available. All seem to be looking for the ‘perfect’ solution to manage the process. Did I make the best impression?  How do I follow up and maintain contact with the employer? If I receive an offer, how quickly should I accept?

What has changed this year is the number of opportunities. What has not changed is the process of finding a job. It may take longer and you may have only one offer. The key is not to let the overlay of economic news shake your confidence.

You will make the best impression by being prepared. Do your research. Conduct information interviews. Practice interviewing. Don’t memorize answers or overthink the process. Be educated, but be yourself.

Once you have connected with an employer, always ask about next steps. Get a sense of decision points and timeframes. Always acknowledge the time a recruiter spends with you in an interview with a handwritten thank you note. Realize that most employers do not IM offers. Follow up within the timeline set by the employer.

Once an offer is made, give yourself time to consider all aspects of the position. Do not make a decision until you see the offer in writing. If there are aspects you wish to negotiate, schedule an appointment with the recruiter and have the conversation face to face. Your research gives you a sense of industry standards and your negotiation should be fall within those guidelines.

Economic conditions add an extra element of anxiety to the job search. Analyze your competition. Know your strengths. You cannot control an employer decision, but you can manage your role in the process.

Looking for work is not just about becoming expert in your field. You must also demonstrate an understanding of global issues. You have to be clear on where you want to be in five years and how this job will help you acquire the skills to get there. And you have to be clear on your definition of success or you won’t know it when you see it.

At this point you may be so focused on the economy and who will employ you that you may have neglected an aspect of your research that is not directly related to your job search. Here are my ‘cliff notes’ suggestions for catching up.

There are three authors whose name you should know: Thomas Friedman, Malcolm Gladwell and Po Bronson. The first two are authors with books on the NY Times bestseller list, ranked number nine and one respectively. The third is the author of an article included in the January issue of Fast Company magazine.

Let’s start with the issues around globalization and the environment. Thomas Friedman who writes a regular Op Ed column in the NY Times has written a book, ‘Hot, Flat and Crowded’. His main premise is that the United States in a unique position to recapture a role of global leadership by taking the lead on conservation issues. Take some time to read his article, ‘The Power of Green’ in the NY Times Magazine and you will be able to have a lively conversation on the issue with a potential employer.

Malcolm Gladwell is a name you may find familiar with his previous books, ‘The Tipping Point’ and ‘Blink’. Last month his new book ‘Outliers’ was published. In it, as in previous books, Gladwell takes complex academic research and translates it using anecdotes in this case, to help us understand why some people may be at an unfair advantage to succeed. In a November article for NY Magazine, ‘Geek Pop Star’, author Jason Zengerie summarizes the main points of the article , including the 10,000 hour rule.

Finally, Po Bronson, who wrote the bestselling ‘What Should I Do With My Life?’ in 2001, updates his concepts in a new article; ‘What Should I Do With My Life, Now?’ He challenges some popular myths of the downturn in the economy and challenges the job seeker to think about the future vs. what you are doing now.

Finding a job is more than a match of resume to job description. It is connecting on a variety of levels with the people who will make the hiring decision. Broaden your knowledge base and you will be more confident in your communication and a more competitive candidate in your job search.