Life After Graduation- Dealing with the Stress of Not Yet Having a Job

 Written by Lauren Lind

Life is about to change drastically if you are graduating this week. You are about to enter the real world, where nine to fives are the norm and mid-day naps are no longer acceptable. The real world can seem daunting and you might feel like you need to have your whole life figured out. The stress of not having a job or a plan figured out after graduating can be overwhelming to say the least, but let’s not forget that you have just spent the last four years working hard to earn your bachelors degree. You will now join 30% of the US population by having your diploma. That is a huge accomplishment! Be proud, take the time to celebrate, and realize that the world is open to you.

Here are some tips to help you make it through hard post-graduation times:

• Take a deep breath. No really…do it. Everything is going to be okay. You, like many other recent college grads, also do not have jobs lined up yet.  What will ultimately set you apart is your resilience and determination when it comes to finding a job.

• Make a bucket list. You aren’t tied down to a job yet, which can be a beautiful thing for the time being. This is the time to figure out what it is you want to do and do it. You can try on different career hats by interning after college or even volunteering for a cause close to your heart.

• Schedule an appointment with a career counselor at Career Services. This can be a really great starting place when it comes to figuring out what your options are and you can begin to come up with a plan.  Career Services will be free to you as an alumnus for the first two appointments (and $30 each appointment thereafter), so take full advantage of the wonderful services we have to offer.

• Tailor your resume and cover letter. Ditch the generic resume and cover letter and set yourself apart from your competition with a tailored resume and cover.  For the best results, tailor both of these documents to each job you are applying to and hit on the keywords listed in the job description.

• Use your online job searching tools.  You can start looking on Career Buffs, Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn and other job searching sites for opportunities. Set a goal for yourself of applying to at least a certain amount per week and follow up with those you have applied to.

• Network. Find networking events in your area and have your parents and family friends spread the word that you are looking for a job.  You never know who will

• Make a spreadsheet for jobs applied to and connections you have made. A great way to stay organized in your job search is to keep track of the jobs you’ve applied.  Make a spreadsheet with the jobs you have applied to, the dates and who you have followed up with on specific dates. You can also track people emailed or connections that you need to follow up with from networking.

• Find your stress outlet. It could be running, painting, making music, journaling,  but whatever it is, make sure you set time aside in your day to give your mind a rest from job searching.

I know these times are exciting and terrifying all at the same time if you are graduating this week. Be proud of yourself and realize that with some hard work and determination, you can and will find a job. Don’t forget to enjoy life in the process. Call Career Services to schedule an appointment at 303.492.6541 or make an appointment online if you’ve graduated less than a year ago.

Googling Yourself: Why Should You Do It and How to Clean up Your Image

Have you ever Googled yourself?  Try it – you might be surprised by what comes up.  When I Google myself, I get 3,650,000 results of which approximately 20 are directly related to me.  The results I immediately noticed were my professional pictures, my LinkedIn account, my personal website, and a Spokeo search on me.  Seeing my professional pictures, LinkedIn account, and my personal website be among the first 10 searches was exactly what I wanted to see.  These are positive online sites about me that will enhance my professional image for recruiters and employers searching for me online.  On the other hand the Spokeo account can be a little disturbing and is something everyone should be aware of. 

Nowadays, there are sites such as Spokeo, whose purpose is to seek out intimate information about individuals including: personal addresses, phone numbers, email accounts, etc.  It is important to be aware of what personal information is on these sites and always try to minimize this information by privatizing personal social networks and acting with caution with your online presence.   

Nonetheless, Googling yourself is the first step to identifying what is online about you.  Once you know what is out there, you can minimize the negative things; and more importantly, enhance the positive things.   

MINIMIZING A NEGATIVE ONLINE PRESENCE

1. Scrutinize anything personal online, including your posts on Facebook and Twitter.
2.  Don’t post ANYTHING you could potentially be embarrassed about – once it’s online it’s hard to really remove it forever. 
3. Screen your friends’ postings about you (this can be customized in your account and privacy settings).
4. Separate your personal and professional online presence by not linking the two together and privatizing your personal account. 

ENHANCING A POSITIVE ONLINE PRESENCE

1. Create at least one professional online profile (Twitter, Facebook, Blog, Personal Website, Info-graphic Resume, LinkedIn, etc.).
2. Quality over quantity:  Just because there are many social networking sites to choose from, doesn't mean you have to be on all of them.  It’s better to master one and then move on to more social media sites rather than be on all sites and not put that much effort into them.
3. Sign up  for a LinkedInProfile.  
4.  Although you don’t want to completely privatize your professional profiles (since you want people to see it), make sure you don’t put personal addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses online unless you don’t mind the whole world having access to that information.
5.  Consistently update your statuses.  Social media won’t be useful if you don’t make an effort to update your profiles and engage with other people on the social networks.

For more information about creating a professional online presence visit the following web pages:

1. Create an Online Presence 
2. Leverage Social Media 
3. Linkin’It Up  Presentation

How to Market Yourself Through Social Networking

In light of our ever-changing technological society, the Peer Career Advisers facilitate an innovative workshop to share resources and opportunities to market yourself using social media. The workshop will focus on the primary social media tools and how to incorporate a professional edge when using these sites. The first half of the workshop will review best practices for Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and personal/professional websites to further your knowledge on the sites and how to use them to attract employers. The second half of the program will focus on LinkedIn with a demonstration and thorough review of the website and its benefits for students. LinkedIn is the primary professional networking site and is extremely useful and easy to use. Linkin’It Up is a great way to keep up with new digital media and learn how to adequately market yourself in a professional manner! Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops to follow along for a hands-on learning experience.

Written by Brittany Moore

Kiley Kudrna's Internship in Publishing

By Kelsey McWilliams, Marketing Intern at CU-Boulder Career Services

Kiley Kudrna, CU-Boulder senior, just landed her first internship with the assistance of Boulder's Career Services office. Westview Press, a local publisher of undergraduate and graduate textbooks, hired her as an Editorial Assistant Intern.

As a Humanities major, emphasizing in English and Psychology with a minor in Italian, Kiley loves to read, write, and travel. Before pursuing this internship Kiley knew she wanted to do something in publishing or editing.

Kiley found her dream internship using Career Services Online, our online database for CU-Boulder students and alumni interested in jobs, internships, and career events. She did so by coming into our Career Services office on campus in the Center for Community to meet with Career Counselor Jodi Schneiderman.

During their first meeting Jodi talked about looking for jobs and internships as well as the process of applying to them. She then sent Kiley several follow-up emails to help track her progress, which included a link to her current internship.

Their second appointment entailed working on Kiley's cover letter and resume, which Jodi helped with significantly. Kiley applied and got the internship at Westview Press thanks to her many skills as well as the help from Career Services. She says about our office, “I love it and I wouldn't have been able to be where I am without their help.”

She spends her time at work proofreading, finding professors to review textbooks, and making competition grids comparing Westview's books to others. She also researches potential professors to use Westview's textbooks in their curriculum. The part of her internship that she enjoys most is getting to know her coworkers. “They are all so nice and I know I am learning a lot about the publishing industry, which is preparing me for the future,” Kiley said.

After she graduates Kiley hopes to live in New York with a job in either publishing or editing. She has already begun applying to future jobs, and she suggests that other CU students “Keep applying and don't give up. You will find something that is the perfect fit for you.”

Prepare for the Spring Career and Internship Fair this Wednesday!

Looking for a job or internship? Over 130 employers will be available to talk to students at CU's Spring Career and Internship Fair this Wednesday, January 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in UMC 235, Aspen Rooms, The Gallery and the Glenn Miller Ballroom. Make sure you're adequately prepared by following as many of these simple tips as you can!

• Register for Career Services Online. If you register in enough time, you'll get a printed nametag at the fair. In addition, you can upload your resume so that recruiters can view it as well as search for jobs and internships through our search database that is only available to CU students and alumni! 
• Update and print your resume. Read over your resume, add any new information, read over it again in order to catch any errors, and then have a friend proofread it before you print off multiple copies of the final version to bring to the career fair. You can also get your resume critiqued by actual recruiters on Monday, January 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. in UMC 235.
• Print off business cards. If you already have some business cards; great, but if not, don't stress! Career Services has some free templates you can use. Simply enter in your own information, print them off on card stock, and you're all set!
• Research the companies you're interested in. Recruiters are constantly telling Career Services' staff members that they can tell when students have taken the time to learn about their company. Check out the list of employers attending the Career Fair along with positions they're recruiting for and then visit the websites of the companies you're interested in. This way, you can learn more about how each company was founded, their ideals and values, and positions they're hiring for. A question recruiters like to ask during job interviews is why you're interested in their company rather than its competitors, so think about this as you gather information on their company and talk to employers at the fair.
• Get tips from recruiters before the fair. Want to know what makes job or internship candidates memorable in a recruiter's mind? Find out about recruiters' preferences and pet peeves at Recruiters Tell All on Tuesday, January 24 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Room S350 in the Center for Community. Recruiters will give their opinions on everything from the career fair to interviewing to salary negotiation.
• Get your folder and outfit together. Stick your copies of your resume, business cards, any research or notes you printed out, blank paper, pens, and your BuffOne card into a folder or small binder that you can easily carry around. On the day of the fair, leave your backpack at home. If you have one, wear a nice suit to the Career Fair, or a nice blazer and khaki or dress pants.
• Practice your elevator pitch. What would you say if you were in an elevator for 30 seconds with a recruiter from the company you want to work for? What would you say if a recruiter said, "Tell me about yourself"? Look at your resume, think about your major, skills and work/internship experiences, then put together a short, 30-second elevator pitch you can tell employers once you've shaken their hand and introduced yourself. When I'm at the career fair networking with an employer, I'll walk up, say “hello,” shake his/her hand, then give my elevator pitch but end on a note that explains my interest in their company; if you know the company is recruiting for a certain position and you're interested in it, mention that! Check out these example elevator pitches to get ideas as you craft your own.

Finally, make sure to get a good night's rest the night before, and we'll see you at the Spring Career Fair and Internship Fair! It’s the largest career fair of the spring semester so don’t miss it!

How to Use Career Services Online (CSO)

One of the main questions CU students ask is “Where can I find jobs and internships?” Career Services Online is the answer to this question as well as a resource for many other things. CSO is FREE for all CU Boulder students and alumni. Please use the following explanation to better navigate CSO! (more...)

Find out about opportunities abroad: International Career Panel and Career Services' International Opportunities website

Would you like to find an internship abroad, but don't know where to start? Career Services is here to help you look for the international internship of your dreams!

On November 3, Career Services is providing students with a chance to look into international careers. Career Services is hosting an International Career Panel on Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the Flatirons Room in the C4C. Come listen to individuals talk about their international careers and/or their expertise on finding international opportunities and learn about different employment, teaching, or volunteer opportunities abroad. In addition, find out about opportunities in Foreign Services and the State Department. If you're looking for opportunities abroad, this is just the event for you; don't miss out on this helpful panel! For more information about this panel, log on to Career Services Online and search for the event using the "Career Events" search engine.

Answer the following Career Services Trivia Question correctly to enter for a chance to win a free iTunes gift card: (more...)