College kids learn everything, except how to get a job -- Career Center Blog

November 15, 2012

College kids learn everything, except how to get a job

2 Comments |
E-mail |
Print
- Share:

By Randy Woods
NWjobs

Today's tech-savvy college students have access to more knowledge at their fingertips than ever before. Most of Generation Y grew up with the Internet, so social media to them is as much a part of life as eating and sleeping. But for all their education, are these so-called "millennials" really prepared for the job search ahead of them in the real world? Perhaps not as much as you'd think.

A recent poll taken by Millennial Branding, a Gen Y research and consulting firm, and Student Advisor, an online education resource, suggests that very few college kids have bothered to start a professional network or learn how to harness their prodigious social media appetite to find employment. In their Student Career Development Study, the two groups asked a random sampling of 200 college undergrads nationwide about their career preparations; the results were not encouraging.

I contacted Dan Schawbel, a personal branding expert and managing partner of Millennial Branding, who passed along some advice for undergrads so they don't get a rude surprise after they collect their diplomas.

Branding should begin well before graduation. According to the study, 95 percent of the respondents said they have Facebook accounts, but just a third of them have LinkedIn profiles, which are taken far more seriously by hiring managers. Also, few had invested in basic networking tools such as business cards or personal domain names. Only 11 percent reported that they used Word Press, which suggests that not enough students are getting their name out on the web via personal blogs.

"Students should be more professional on social media sites because more recruiters are using them to find candidates and conduct background checks," Schawbel says. "You should have a consistent brand on all social networks you join that depicts your desired profession and skill set. Don't make employers guess as to what type of position you're looking for. Also, don't join every network because you'll end up spreading yourself too thin."

Cast a wider net for qualified mentors. A majority of respondents (65 percent) said they looked to either their parents or professors as mentors, and another 21 percent said they turned to friends or other family members for career advice. Only 10 percent said they found a professional mentor through social networking.

"Students shouldn't rely on their parents and teachers to be mentors," Schawbel advises. "Instead, they should locate mentors through social networking and special interest groups in order to find someone who they aspire to be, at least in the short term. This way, they will get targeted advice they can use from someone who has been there and done that."

Get experience first, money second. For those who want to hold out for a paying job right after college, Schawbel says the internship route may be the better option in the long run. Eighty-five percent of respondents in the survey said that having an internship was "very important" for their careers, yet only 40 percent said they had completed at least one internship during their time in college.

"If you haven't had an internship, it's worthwhile to bite the bullet and work for free in order to have experience you can leverage into a paid internship," he says. "This is what entrepreneurs do when first trying to establish credibility, so it's something students should consider, too."

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.

2 Comments |
E-mail |
Print
- Share:

2 Comments

| Leave a comment

JD | November 18, 2012 9:58 PM | Reply

"For those who want to hold out for a paying job right after college, Schawbel says the internship route may be the better option in the long run"

Do not take an unpaid internship unless it's at a non-profit. It is illegal for a company to use an unpaid intern to replace an entry-level worker. Non-profits need the free help more than for-profits do.

Jo | November 27, 2012 9:48 PM | Reply

In college teach them to go for hours without a smoke break. Teach them to abide by a businesslike dress code - every single day -- or no credit for that day. Teach them to be on time and there daily. Teach them to be invisible on social network places and in public. Then tell them to accept any foot-in-the-door job to start with and stay there for a year or two, then go for the career improving move.

Unfortunately they think they're going to get paid big bucks for minimal effort because they "are smart and have a degree." Sorry, graduates, real life requires a work ethic too.