Salute to Spouses Blog

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Job Outlook 2016: Finding the doors that lead to real opportunity

Worried that you may have to hang your cap and gown in mom and dad’s closet after you get your college degree this spring? Don’t be, the job market continues to be on the upswing.

“The job outlook for college grads has been improving every year since 2009 and 2016 appears to be no different,” said Steven Rothberg, president and founder of College Recruiter (www.collegerecruiter.com).

Furthermore, 42 percent of the employers who participated in the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Job Outlook 2016 survey characterized the job market for class of 2016 graduates as very good or excellent. In 2014, only 18 percent of them felt that positive about the job market for graduates.

Despite the positive outlook and a large number of job openings though, declaring your financial independence won’t be a cakewalk. Graduates will have to be strategic and creative.

“There are about 5.5 million jobs open nationwide, according to the (Bureau of Labor Statistics’) Job Opening and Labor Turnover Report, but employers would rather let their vacancy announcements expire than to hire a candidate who cannot prove his or her value,” said Robert Meier, president of Job Market Experts (www.jobmarketexperts.org).

Meier believes the key to proving your worth is effectively using CAR statements whether you are describing your school projects, internships, part-time work, full-time work or military experience.

“In a few compelling sentences, give employers something to be impressed with. Your story should include the (C)hallenges of the job, the (A)ctions you took and the (R)esults of your actions,” he said.

So how do you land an opportunity to tell your story? Networking. But again, be strategic and creative. Don’t just start calling or emailing everyone you know asking for a job.

Instead, put yourself in a position to have jobs come to you.

“Volunteer at a non-profit and get yourself on some committees or boards. The other members will likely be further along in their careers and often are business owners or executives who are looking for ways to give back to their communities,” Rothberg said. “By working shoulder-to-shoulder with them, they’ll get to know you and hopefully will either offer you a job or connect you to someone they know who will offer you a job.”

Also, check with your alumni association and college career center to see what ‘connections’ they may have; establish your own contacts by becoming an active member of a professional organization; and ask people who work in your intended profession for advice and support (not a job!).

So, while this year’s job market may not have you worrying so much about the closet in which you’ll hang your cap and gown, don’t just glide through the job search. Put extra effort into being strategic and creative to find doors that may have plenty of career opportunities behind them.

 

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