Services: Job Search Preparation
Are you nervous about getting a job after graduation? Are you unsure about where to start? I can help you develop a plan and get prepared for your job search.
It’s true that getting your first job after graduation is hard work. However, it is much easier if you are prepared and know what to expect. While college offices of career services provide excellent resources to help with job searches, few can provide the individual assistance that many students need to fully market their strengths to potential employers. This is where Meeting of the Minds can help. I have years of experience helping college seniors optimize their job searches. Among other things, I can help you:
Formulate career goals
It’s difficult trying to achieve something when you don’t know what you are looking for. Knowing what you are looking for allows you to focus your energies on the openings that are a real a fit for you. Also, most employers want employees who have long-term goals and who see the first job as a step towards those goals. I will work with you one-on-one to help you determine your strengths, personal goals, etc and then formulate career goals that fit with these.
Write effective resumes
Many job candidates try to land jobs with cookie-cutter resumes copied from books or given to them by friends. The best resumes are ones that are designed uniquely for the individual candidate and then tweaked by that candidate for each particular job application. I will help you create a core resume customized for you. I will also show you how to adjust that resume for particular jobs and employers.
Write effective cover letters
Often the difference between a qualified candidate who gets an interview and a qualified candidate who does not is a good cover letter. Effective cover letters are ones written to address a specific employer’s unique needs and concerns. This means that writing good cover letters begins with researching the employer and determining the employer’s needs and concerns. I have helped many college seniors learn to do this. I will teach you how to do this research and then write letters and showcase your talents in ways that fit a particular employer's needs and concerns.
Create a professional portfolio highlighting your skills and experience
A professional portfolio demonstrates your talents and experience to potential employers. For some jobs, such those in advertising, graphic arts, journalism, film/television, architecture, etc., a professional portfolio is a must for the job search. In many other fields, it is something that can separate you from other candidates during the application process or at the interview stage. I will work with you to develop a portfolio that clearly showcases your unique strengths and talents.
Develop effective interview skills and gain interview practice
Ultimately, landing that first job necessitates shining in a job interview. Unfortunately, qualified candidates often lose offers because they do not have the interview skills necessary to promote and project themselves as capable professionals. I will conduct mock interviews with you and provide feedback on your interviewing skills. Then, using my background in interpersonal and non-verbal communication, I will help you develop the skills and confidence to succeed in your interviews.