The College-to-Career Path, Part 2 — Six Ways to Fix the Broken System

Leading up to graduation, most college grads kick their job search into high gear by scouring the Internet or job boards for open positions, updating their resumes, and scheduling interviews. Unfortunately, many of them find out that the job search process isn’t so straightforward, leaving them unsure where to turn and uncertain of their future.

Below are six possible solutions to the problem of an unclear roadmap to launching a career out of college:

• Understand the skills gap you need to fill for the job you are seeking. The good old days are long gone when all you had to do was earn good grades in college, graduate and apply to your dream job. Today, it’s all about having a skill set outside your major, and many colleges and universities don’t let you in on that little secret. Many job listings have hundreds of applicants for the same position, so to set yourself apart, you need to up-skill. Do research on what skills are in high demand in your target career. You can attend seminars, training sessions, and conferences, join an online discussion group, take to social media or take an online course. Spending time learning a new skill can give you the edge.
• Craft a compelling story about yourself. Companies are looking for graduates who not only have technical abilities but also have soft-skills — good communication, leadership skills, problem-solving skills, critical thinking — to work well in a team. Because every job opening attracts about 250 resumes and only four to six applicants are called in for an interview, you must highlight your skills and abilities on your resume as well as during the interview. You may only have a few minutes to sell yourself (both on paper and in the opening of an interview), so don’t sell yourself short. Take the time to craft a compelling story that highlights why you are a leader, problem-solver, and team player — all while demonstrating your communication skills. Just remember that it takes a lot of practice in this department.
• Develop stories of leadership by putting yourself in team building situations through clubs and organizations. College isn’t just about sitting in a lecture, taking notes and earning good grades. It’s also about getting involved. Some of the greatest lessons learned come from outside of the classroom, and some of the best examples of how you may have rallied a group of people toward a cause, got elected as president of a club, or even started your own organization only happen by getting involved on campus (or even in your local community).
• Create your business network early on. One of the biggest mistakes many students make is waiting until they graduate to create a professional network. By then, they realize it is too late, and wish they could go back a year or two at least. How many times have you heard that it’s all about who you know that will ultimately get you an interview? But remember, networking is much more than meeting someone at an event or exchanging emails. It’s about building and developing relationships. It is a long-term investment and some of the most successful graduates, particularly in business fields, have mastered this art since their freshmen year of college.
• Seek out internships or short work experiences that will enhance your skill set. Many graduates are taking positions where their full potential and long list of skills go unnoticed. They go home from work everyday unfulfilled. This is usually because they spent none of their four years of undergraduate time developing any discernable skills that the market wants. Get proactive, and don’t be afraid to apply for small jobs and internships that can give you a chance to develop a new skill. Make the case for why an employer should give you the internship, even if you don’t have all the immediate skills they are looking for. Over four years, you can pick up a lot, and be a competitive hire by the time you graduate.
• Leverage career coaching as an effective tool in determining your potential and skills. Few young people recognize the power of coaching because it sounds fluffy and can be hard to understand the outcome, but it can be transformative. No one expects recent college grads to be qualified or experienced in every aspect of a job. Many graduates don’t know their full potential. That’s why career coaching can be an effective means for realizing your potential and setting out an actionable plan for reaching your goals. Coaches are great for helping students learn how to make the connection between their interests and a possible career path, which makes it easier to determine if a job aligns with their goals. Career coaches with backgrounds in specific industries can also help students with resume improvement and mock interview training.

Once you have the tools to fix the broken college-to-career path, you will well ahead of most students and graduates when it comes to career preparation. The key is to start early. If you are looking for help with any of the above areas, don’t hesitate to reach out.