CAREERS & EDUCATION SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2021  Lethbridge Herald – 7 GET THE JOB New Grad Job Advice


One of the biggest difficulties facing new college graduates is landing their first professional opportunity. How doyou get experience without having any?


If you’re a new grad trying to answer this question, it’s important to remember a few things.


UNDERSTAND YOUR GOALS Unfortunately, many young professionals do not start mapping out career goals early enough. The first step of landing a great first job is


knowing what you’re trying to achieve. Overall, you’re looking to set the foundation for a sustainable career that gives you chances for advancement. Ideally, your job search strategy starts in high school with the help of your guidance counselor. Starting early means you are more likely


to find internship or job shadowing oppor- tunities with professionals in your potential career field. And while it’s hard to predict your entire career path, it’s critical to start thinking about your first job targets as soon as possible.


Interview Confidence


Even if you’ve been on numerous job interviews, the experience never seems to get any easier. The prospect of putting ourselves out there to be judged by others is not a comfortable one — especially with a new position, salary and benefits on the line.


But let’s look at the positives these


experiences can bring. With each job interview, you are meeting new people, learning more about yourself and earning more confidence in your presentation skills. While every interview may not necessarily


lead to you landing the job, you should have the goal of feeling better about how to sell yourself in a professional, polished way. Just a little preparation time can go a long


way when it comes to the interview process. The more time you spend getting ready, the more comfortable you’ll feel during the actual experience. Don’t stress yourself out when it comes to


preparing. Simply research the company, understand the role for which they are hiring and practice discussing your relevant expe- rience, projects and achievements. Read on for more tips that will help you


knock your next interview — in-person or vir-tual — out of the park.


STUDY YOUR RESUME AND LINKEDIN So often, we slap a resume or LinkedIn


profile together and then never refer back to it. This is a big mistake. You should know your resume like the back of your hand. Read over your resume a handful of times before each interview and look for ways to tie your experience to the job announcement. If your prospective company is looking for


specific project experience, be ready to drill down on relatable details in your marketing materials. For example, if interviewing for a management position, it’s important to share how you have in the past either saved or made money for your company. Come to the interview prepared to share


two or three concrete examples with real financial figures and clear stories about how you made it happen. Leave the generalities for the resume. The interview is all about


specifics and facts.


THINK OFFENSE, NOT DEFENSE When interviewing for a job, it’s OK to


guide parts of the conversation. Think of how politicians debate. Do they actually ever answer a question headon? Most great debaters and interviewers look for windows to steer conversations back to a few key points they are hoping to communicate. Strike a good balance of answering and


asking questions. Your goal should be to facilitate a two way conversation with your interviewer through engagement and collaboration. Learn as much as you can about your interviewer, including their name, title and background. (Hint: You can likely learn about their experience by finding them on LinkedIn.) This will help break down the walls of awkwardness heading into your interview.


PREPARE IN ADVANCE Don’t wait until the last minute to pick out an interview outfit and print extra copies of your resume. This should all be done well in advance to lessen your stress on interview day.


In fact, have one good interview outfit


ready even before you have interviews lined up so you can take a meeting on short notice without stressing out about what to wear. Know what shoes you’ll wear and how much time you’ll need to leave yourself if driving to an in-person interview. Bring an organized portfolio with extra copies of your resume to give to your interviewer. Bring a pen and paper for note-taking. If you’re interviewing virtually, have all your meeting technology set and ready in advance. Do a trial run to be sure everything is working properly and make sure you have a neat, organized background for your meeting.


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Tips for


ASK THE EXPERTS What better way to find solid career advice than by reaching out to the people who have already “been there, done that?” Utilize alumni networking opportunities through your college or university. Ask your professors for guidance on how to turn your education into a strategic first career move. Leaning on the advice of experts will help give you a better idea of opportunities to attack immediately after college, or maybe even as an intern as you finish up your degree.


Set up virtual meetings with your connections, keep them informed of any new projects you’re working on and send them handwritten thankyou notes when your classes end. These small things can help you stay top of mind when it comes time to activate your networks for your job search.


AVOIDING UNDEREMPLOYMENT Researchers from the Strada Institute for the Future of Work and Burning Glass Technologies recently completed a study that found that 43% of new grads and first-time job seekers land jobs they’re overqualified for.


Their research also found that two-thirds of those job seekers were still underem- ployed five years later and 74% of those underemployed at the five-year mark were still underemployed 10 years after graduating. In terms of financial impact, underemployment can have serious financial


implications. Underemployed graduates earn about $10,000 less per year than those in jobs that match their credentials, according to the study.


This compounding effect underscores the importance of finding the right vocational fit right out of the gates.


FIND SOMETHING IN-DEMAND Business Insider recently released its list of top 30 career opportunities of 2021. See the list below and identify if there are any that align with your skillset or college experience.


•Marketing managers. •Industrial engineers.


•Computer support specialists. •Human resources specialists. •Elementary school teachers. •Vocational nurses. •Speech language pathologists. •Industry machinery mechanics •Electricians.


•Sales representatives. •Counselors.


•Ophthalmologists.


•Construction managers. •Lawyers.


•Information security analysts. •Physical therapists.


•Computer systems analysts. •Physician assistants. •Accountants.


•Health specialty teachers. •Project managers.


•Information system managers. •Management analysts. •Market research analysts. •Nurse practitioners. •Medical managers. •Financial managers.


•Operations managers. •Registered nurses. •Software developers.


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