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Kick-start Your Career After College

By Caleb Yen on Tuesday, May 2, 2017

You’ve finally graduated; now what?

After graduation, it’s a whole new ballgame. You’ve landed your first job, and it’s time to put everything you learned in college to the test. Now instead of your grade, your career is on the line. And let’s face it — launching into a career can be daunting.

But try not to forget that you’re still learning and figuring out this thing called life. Here are some tips for all you fresh grads on how to take what you learned in college and apply it to your career.

1. Set career goals

Your career dreams probably won’t happen right away. Your first job out of college doesn’t have to be your dream job — take a few years to gain experience, meet those milestones, and learn what it takes to achieve your dream career.

You don’t have to play the interview game and ask yourself where you see yourself in five years, but you should be aware of the goal you’re working toward. What career are you working toward now that college is over, and is what you’re doing now progressing toward that goal? Review courses you took towards your major and apply what you learned toward your new career.

2. Keep learning

In order to learn more about your career path, take as many opportunities to expand your knowledge as you can. Just because you aren’t being graded doesn’t mean you can stop learning. Jump on new projects, volunteer for events, and really get a feel for your company. Constantly brush up on the best ways to present yourself, and make sure you’re always prepared for the next job opportunity.

3. Avoid locking yourself into ‘traditional’ career options

You may have learned things studying for your major that are applicable to an entirely different subject matter. So don’t worry if your job after graduation isn’t in your major’s career field immediately.

You can learn a ton from your first job, and then apply that to a job you really want later.

4. Don’t compare your career path progress to to that of your friends

Everyone is different, and everyone’s path is different. Your professional network, experience, and even hopes and dreams are different from those of your friends. Especially your work friends. As a result, they’re probably going to have a different career than you. And that’s okay. Congratulate them on their success and be supportive! That’s what friends are for.

5. Get out of a job you hate

If you truly hate your job, odds are you’re not learning from it. And if you can’t learn to at least tolerate what you’re doing, you’re better off in a different position. When you hated a new class, you dropped it immediately right? Time spent hating your boss or coworkers would be better spent learning new skills. So get out there and find a job you love.

If you’re still looking for that first (or second) job, you might want to consider checking out a staffing agency. Recruiters can connect you with job opportunities tailored to your skillset. Here at Express Employment Professional, we have more than 34 years of experience placing job seekers in a variety of short- and long-term positions. Feel free to contact your local Express office or fill out our online contact form.

Are you a new grad getting started with your career? Let us know about it in the comments below!

Reader Surveys

The Results Are In: How Soon After Graduation Did You Get a Job?

By Job Journey on Monday, May 11, 2015

Education and experience are hot topics when it comes to your chances of finding a job. Since professional opinions are mixed on whether or not your education plays a primary role in your search for employment, we asked Movin’ On Up readers how soon after graduation they secured a job.

What the Survey Revealed
With 167 votes, the survey revealed that 27% of readers were hired immediately, or even had a job lined up before graduation. The rest of the respondents who found work after graduation reported their time table as follows:

Less than three months – 15%
Three to six months – 10%
Six months to a year – 11%
More than a year – 14%

While the largest majority of readers found a job immediately after or before graduation, those who found work a few months after graduation were mixed in their responses. According to the results of the survey, it could take anywhere from one month to one year to secure a job after earning your degree.

Additionally, 16%, the second largest group of respondents to our poll, reported that they are still looking for a job after graduation.

Respondents could also select the “Other” option and provide their own responses to the poll. Of the 7% who selected “Other,” responses included:

I got hired before finishing my degree
I went to USMC Boot Camp the next day
Three years
Seven years
10 years
15 years and still looking
I found work, but not in my field

Keep Focusing On Your Goals
The results of the poll are a mixture of graduates who found work right away and those who are still looking after several years. While it’s easy to feel discouraged by long job searches, it’s important not to give up. Recent surveys from universities and other institutions suggest that hiring is on the rise for recent graduates, and there are ways you can help yourself stand out from the competition.

If you got a job after graduation, what tips do you have for other recent graduates? Let us know in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

My Entry-Level Life

Make Your Move: Life After Graduation

By Job Journey on Wednesday, May 6, 2015

For many, graduation day is around the corner. While graduating from college or high school can be an intimidating time, there’s hope for recent graduates in the job search. According to a survey by Michigan State University, 97% of employers plan to hire at least one new college graduate this year. While the odds are in your favor, you have to put in the effort to land the job of your dreams. To help you join the workforce, check out these five tips for making your move after graduation.

Know what employers are looking for.
A recent Movin’ On Up article compiled survey results from a variety of institutions who conducted research on the 2015 job outlook for recent college graduates. These results included a look at the job forecast, which revealed that employers plan to hire 9.6% more graduates in the United States than they did in 2014, and lists of the most in-demand college degrees and skills for new hires. Before you start your post-graduation job search, check out the statistics to better understand what employers want.

Use the power of social media.
Whether you’re graduating from high school or college, it’s never too early to create a LinkedIn profile. Even if you don’t have much to add to your profile yet, go ahead and get started on your account so you can use it to network with potential employers and get noticed. Forbes states that only one-third of college students have a LinkedIn profile, so creating one of your own is a quick and easy way to stand out from the competition.

Include any jobs you’ve had, from babysitting to retail, and list the skills you gained from those jobs. Make sure you also list your educational achievements, including any degrees, diplomas, and extra-curricular activities like newspaper or debate club. If you received any awards in school or your community, like volunteer or academic honors, list those too.

It’s important to remember that while employers are primarily searching LinkedIn for potential candidates, they can also find your other social media accounts too. So, keep your Facebook, Twitter, and other public profiles clean and professional at all times.

Get an internship, or volunteer in your community.
According to a study by Millennial Branding, a research firm, 85% of college students believe having an internship is either important or very important for their career. Furthermore, 52% said they hope to have had three or more internships before graduating, and 40% have already completed one internship. Since so many college graduates are looking to internships to gain experience, skills, and networking opportunities, you want to make sure you’re one of them. Try to find companies that are easily recognizable, either in the community or nationally, to help your resume stand out.

In addition to internships, you can also get ahead of the competition by actively volunteering in your community. There are numerous volunteer opportunities to consider, from working at a food pantry to helping build houses for the needy. By volunteering, you not only add valuable skills to your resume, but you also have the opportunity to network with others and do something charitable in the process.

Find a mentor.
We’ve talked about the importance of having a mentor, and the results of Millennial Branding’s survey support our stance. In fact, the survey revealed that 70% of college students have at least one mentor. Among the mentors listed were parents, professors, family, friends, and employers. Having a mentor can help you grow both professionally and personally, and can even help you on your job search. But, finding the right mentor is important to making sure you’re learning all you can. When you’re ready to pick a mentor, check out these five traits of a great mentor first.

Call on your school for help.
If you’re a college student, your school’s career services office can help you with the next step in your job search. Career offices can assist with resumes, cover letters, job interviewers, and more, but Millennial Branding reveals that only 29% of students use these offices. Be part of that group by visiting your school’s office and asking about what resources they can offer. In addition to workforce preparation, many offices also have an alumni database, which can help put you in contact with recent graduates in your field of study. Those graduates have already been in the workforce for a few years and may have tips of the trade you could learn, so take advantage of those resources.

Congratulations to the class of 2015, and good luck with your job search! Remember, even if you’re not a recent graduate, these tips can help you with your job search goals. It’s never too early to get started!

How do you plan to make your move after graduation? Let us know in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Career Options

Attention 2015 Graduates! Check Out These Statistics

By Job Journey on Friday, May 1, 2015

Are you graduating from college this year? If so, there’s some good news. According to a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers are planning to hire 9.6% more graduates in the United States than they did in 2014. Additionally, 55% of survey respondents plan to increase their hiring numbers this year, up from 46% in the fall of 2014. Michigan State University also conducted a survey that revealed 97% of employers will hire at least one new college graduate in 2015.

The Degrees That Get You Hired
Employers are hiring more, but who are they hiring? According to NACE’s survey, which also asked employers to rate the college degrees they most desire in new hires, the top 10 most in-demand degrees are as follows:

Engineering
Business
Computer Sciences
Accounting
Miscellaneous Majors
Economics
Physical Sciences
Communications
Humanities
Social Sciences

The Skills That Get You Hired
The same survey also reported the skills that employers value most in recent graduates. Based on a 5-point scale, the skills employers want to see most often are:

Critical thinking/problem solving – 4.7
Teamwork – 4.6
Professionalism/work ethic – 4.5
Oral/written communication – 4.4
Information technology application – 3.9
Leadership – 3.9
Career management – 3.6

Top Places to Start Your Career
Businessweek.com compiled a list of the top cities to start your career. The findings are based on job availability, affordability, and average income. The results are:

Houston
Washington D.C.
Dallas
Atlanta
Austin

Express Employment Professionals recently released a study on the top 10 cities with the most unfilled job openings. To find out which cities made the list, click here.

Where to Go From Here
Now that you know the careers and skills employers are looking for, how do you make yourself the top candidate for open jobs? Forbes advises that you visit your school’s career services offices before graduation and ask for advice on networking, internships, and organizations within your field of study. Networking with students from your school who have already graduated in the field you’re interested in can also be beneficial in your job search efforts. Those graduates have already been in the workforce for a few years and may have tips of the trade you could learn. Visit your school’s career services offices for assistance finding alumni who can help.

It’s Not Too Early to Start
Even if you’re not graduating in 2015, it’s never too early to get a head-start on finding a job after graduation. As early as your freshman year, you should consider visiting your school’s career services offices and begin networking. Remember to keep your grades up and try to find internships and extra-curricular activities that would interest an employer. Joining the debate team, helping with a political campaign, or being part of the advertising club can help you stand out on your resume. Additionally, volunteering your free time in your community can also set you apart from the rest of new graduates.

The hiring outlook is bright for new graduates, so how do you plan to land a job after graduation? Share with us in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Career Options The Job Search

Learning About the Job Market Forecast Before Graduation

By Job Journey on Monday, April 27, 2015

The Job Genius program from Express Employment Professionals is an educational video series that offers insights on the job market and how to get a job. The video series includes information on everything from writing your resume, finding job opportunities, interviewing, and more.

As summer approaches, many high school students start thinking about getting a job after graduation. If you’re one of those job seekers, it’s important to understand what industries are trending, pay ranges in growing fields, and the education required for those jobs.

So, where do you start? Before you can determine the job you’d like to have, it’s important to first understand the education required for certain jobs as well as the jobs that are in demand or short supply.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 20 million jobs will be created over the next 10 or so years. In Canada, an additional six million jobs are expected to open. A lot of these jobs will be in industries like industrial trades, office services, healthcare, and sales.

With these jobs experiencing a rise in demand, it’s important to understand what it takes to start working in these fields. Check out the Job Genius video below for more information on in-demand jobs, salaries, education, and more.

To check out other videos in this educational series, visit ExpressPros.com/JobGenius.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Reader Surveys

Poll: How Soon After Graduation Did You Get a Job?

By Job Journey on Thursday, March 26, 2015

Which is more important: education or experience? It’s an age-old question that has been researched and debated for decades, but one that doesn’t necessarily have a clear-cut answer. While the results from Glassdoor’s recent 2014 Employment Confidence Survey suggest that 82% of U.S. college graduates who were employed on a full or part time basis believed that their level of education has been an asset to their careers, 72% believe that specialized training outside of a traditional college degree is more valuable when it comes to the workplace.

Last year, we asked Movin’ On Up readers how their education has affected their career path. While the results of this poll were illuminating in the education vs. experience debate, we want to know how quickly recent graduates are being added to the workforce. To help determine how long a graduate typically spends looking for a job after going through the higher education process, we want to know how soon after graduation you landed a job. Let us know by voting in our poll!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Career Advancement

Hired Today, Gone Tomorrow: Recent Grads Don’t Stay in First Jobs Very Long

By Job Journey on Wednesday, October 29, 2014

For college graduates, the first job after graduation may be just a stepping stone on the way to bigger and better things, and if you’re a company that’s hired that perfect graduate, you may lose him or her quicker than you think.

A recent Express Employment Professionals survey found that most employers – 77 percent – do not expect recent college graduates to stay more than a year in his or her first job. Of the franchises surveyed, only 23 percent believed the average graduate would spend more than a year with the company.

That means all that time you spent recruiting vibrant college grads is for naught, if you can’t keep them.

The Grass May Not Be Greener, but Who Cares
Express released the 2014 edition of the “America Employed” survey of 115 Express franchises across the nation. Respondents to the survey were asked how long the average graduate stayed in their first job following graduation, and the results were pretty clear. Graduates are looking for new or better jobs less than 12 months after being hired.

“These survey results bring to mind a couple of trends that we’ve seen for years now,” said Bob Funk, CEO of Express and a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

“First, many in the Millennial generation are taking jobs that they are over-qualified for and thus are eager to move on when something better appears. Second, we’ve seen a decrease in employees’ commitment to employers as a higher value is placed on personal advancement.”

So what does this mean for employers? First, companies need to find ways to attract young talent and make the company appealing enough for them to stay.

Keeping Your Talent
Competition for attracting talented college graduates is fierce, and studies show the battle will only get tougher for the high-demand skills that graduates have. One way businesses can keep those talented workers is to offer an opportunity for professional growth.

Professional development and the possibility of advancement may be the perfect carrots to dangle in front of your new hires, but investing in their future shows you want to keep them. Add on training and promotion, and you’ll make staying on your team more appealing.

“It’s true that the ‘grass isn’t always greener,’ but this generation seems plenty willing to go check out the grass on the other side,” Funk said. “Employers, take note!”

How long did you stay in your first job after college graduation? How long do you expect to stay in your first job? Let us know in the comment section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.