Job Search Tips for Gen Y College Grads

BusinessWeek’s October 2009 issue highlighted “The Lost Generation” and the job search woes of young college graduates. With unemployment rates now at a staggering 10.2 per cent, the highest in 26 years, college grads are finding it especially difficult to secure their first career gig. In fact, many are unemployed or employed in jobs not requiring a college degree.

So how does a Gen Y college grad, with little experience, make a smooth transition to gainful, and perhaps even meaningful, employment? Join William Arruda, found of Reach Personal Branding, as he interviews Lindsey Pollak about her best-selling book Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World (HarperCollins).

The November 2009 Reach Personal Branding Interview is on Thursday, November 12 at noon EDT and will be recorded for download if you cannot attend the live event. You will learn:

- Why careers for Gen Y are different than previous generations’ careers,
- How college students and recent grads can avoid the biggest job-hunting mistakes,
- Tips for parents to assist their children,
- What universities can do to help, and
- Why social media is changing job hunting and career development.

Lindsey Pollak’s blog is consistently top-rated; she writes as well for The Huffington Post and FastCompany.com, heavy hitters in thought leadership. A graduate of Yale University, Lindsey is a sought-after speaker and college-to-career expert for media outlets such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Cross-posted at Career Goddess Blog

Comments

[Glenda]

Nowadays, most employers are spending time researching potential job candidates on the internet before hiring them or even offering an interview. Because this practice is becoming so prevalent, it is more important than ever for Gen Y college grads to build a positive personal brand on the internet.

One of the most important things to consider is that it is nearly impossible to separate the "working" you brand from the "night-time, partying" you brand. Don't post stuff on the internet that you wouldn't want an employer to see.

For additional guidelines and tips to creating a positive personal brand, I found this article:

http://www.psycray.com/tips-for-building-personal-brand.html

Remember, many employers will make hiring decisions solely based upon what they find out about applicants on the internet. So clean up your image or completely reform it so that you can be given a competitive edge over other applicants.