Last Week's Poll Results

Last week we asked "Is the job market better than last year?"



After 152 votes, here are the results:

Yes 38%

No 45%

                            Not sure 18%

What do you think? Comment below!

Weekly Recap

For those of you that were a little too busy this week to read all of New Grad Life's content, here's a nice recap of everything that was published.



News

• Last Week's Poll Results

• Weekly Poll: Is the job market better than last year?

• Health Insurance Resources for New Grads

• Better job market for college grads

• Weekly Grad Star: Chelsey Orlikowski

• Internship or Entry-Level Job?: New grads weigh options



Job Hunting



• 5 Reasons Your Job Hunting Isn't Going Well

• 7 Deadly Mindsets and Ineffective Job Search Habits

• 10 Big Tips for Recent College Grads

• KA-BOOM! A Dozen Dynamite Online Job Hunting Tips!



Resumes



• How to Write a Resume With Fast Food Experience

• 5 Reasons Your Job Hunting Isn't Going Well

• Resume Keyword Optimization: Set your resume on fire!



Interviews



• Job Interview Questions: "Can You Work Under Pressure?"

• 8 Dumb Interview Mistakes New Grads Make

Networking

• The Art of Networking for College Grads

Internship or Entry-Level Job?: New grads weigh options

College grads making big decisions

While students graduate from local schools like SUNY Purchase and Manhattanville College they will now almost immediately turn to the still unforgiving job markets across northeast.



Students from recent graduating classes have faced the same problem, as the slow economy is now no longer a new issue. Other recent graduates have tried internships, unrelated jobs and going back to school, all with mixed results.



Although working for free might not sound like a fruitful option right now, other recent graduates are realizing that it might be the best way to make something out of a bad situation. Returning to school has proved to be a roll of the dice, as some students who made that decision in 2008 are now returning to the job market and having many of the same issues.



With the economy still putting many people in a tough position, many are taking creative turns to earn a living. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) recently conducted a study that revealed that new graduates who had completed internship programs are more likely to receive job offers than those who did not.



So if students missed out on an internship as an undergrad, now might be the time.



Jonathan Caro, who moved from the tri-state area to the UK last year, agreed.



"You have to expect to do free work [starting out]. In some industries, specifically mine which is visual effects, companies are willing to take the chance on green college grads over the vets. So be willing to 'bend over backwards' in order to make a name for yourself."



Institutions have seen an increase in applications since the start of the recession. Joe Guarneiri from the Culinary Institute of America sees fellow chefs-in-training following their passion despite financial hardship.



"Honestly, the job market right now for chefs and bakers is slim pickings, but we are not limited to just these jobs. Many people here won't even work in a kitchen when they get out of school. We become writers, photographers, food scientists, and basically anything we want involving food. So there are ways to do what you really want, you may just have to pay a lot up front, given the competitiveness of the market right now."



Others are less optimistic. Courtney Parent, a recent recipient of the Masters degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University, found the prospective job outlook not much different from 2008.



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Resume Keyword Optimization: Set your resume on fire!

A resume writing strategy that makes a difference

   Share    



Online searches for resumes are becoming more popular as employers are becoming less attracted to the idea of paying for employee resumes. Often an employer types in keywords that are common to the position that they are trying to fill. Therefore, to get your posted resume noticed numerous keywords are imperative. It is also important to use various forms of the same word to address many different searches. Searched words that are often used describe needed qualifications including experience and skills. A useful tool that enhances your possibility of getting a higher rank on the result list is a keyword summary at the top of your resume. Using these tactics, you are more likely to get noticed.



     Optimizing the words on your resume is critical if you intend to apply for work online. Even small companies are using scanning technology and searching the Web for resumes when in need to fill a position. These days, it is essential that you consider tailoring your resume to meet the functions of Web search engines such as Google, because employers and recruiters are more often than not using the Web to find worthy candidates via their online resumes. Some employers are attracted to the no-cost nature of searching the Web for resumes as opposed to paying job sites like Monster.com. And sometimes it's more effective for them to search on their own other than posting an ad somewhere and have to sift through scores of submissions. Scanning software can no recognize text in bold, italics, and various fonts throughout your resume, so that you don't have to worry about altering the appearance of your already well-polished resume.



It is said that up to 80% of employers use this search technology to establish certain essential keywords that highlight their needs. When scanned, your resume may receive some ''hits.'' Based on that sum, your resume is ranked and sent to an employer for further review or decline. The ranking, of course, is based on the number of keyword hits.



    Keywords are usually nouns and verbs that state experience and skills. They are the words searchers type into search engines to find want they want. In resumes, these can include action verbs such as ''analyzed'' and ''managed,'' which are just as important for standard human review. But you want to also focus mainly on keyword nouns (''leadership'' and ''Adobe Photoshop'') for technology selection before an actual person reads your resume. The more essential the resume keyword, the more likely your resume will be found— and ranked higher. And the higher the rank, the sooner your resume will be read.



Examples of Keywords



Job Titles: Sales Manager, Laboratory Assistant, Customer Service Representative



Education: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, M.A. in English Literature, Juris Doctor



Skills: Business Consulting, Legal Research, Marketing Development



Certification: CPA, CNA



Computer Terms: Microsoft Access, C#, AutoCAD



Regardless if you submit a hardcopy of your resume to be scanned into an applicant tracking system, or if you submit it in ASCII form in an email (or simply cut and paste it into the box of an online application form), your resume needs to become a keyword resume first and foremost.



Your way to an interview could be simply a matter of which keywords you select for your resume.



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Akhtaboot Participates in King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Job Fair in Dahran, KSA

As part of Akhtaboot’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its presence as the leading recruitment solution provider for the Middle East and GCC region, Akhtaboot has participated in King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Open Day for Employment, which was held on KFUPM campus during the period 17th - 20th of May, 2010, in Dahran, KSA.

The annual job fair was organized by KFUPM and was held under the Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Fahad Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Governor of the Eastern Province. For the 27th year in a row, around 120 government organizations, private companies and institutions were invited to exhibit their field of activity, offer employment and training opportunities as well as to become acquainted with the University and its range of specializations.

The job fair was attended by 2,500 university students and job seekers, as the first 2 days were dedicated for KFUPM students only and the other 2 days were open for the public. Akhtaboot’s booth was approached by about 1,000 high caliber job seekers who truly reflected the high educational standards that KFUPM is known for.
Akhtaboot’s participation in this event marks its commitment to establishing a cooperative partnership between Akhtaboot and KFUPM, while maintaining an ongoing presence within KFUPM campus through the Akhtaboot Cares Initiative – Akhtaboot’s CSR arm.

Akhtaboot’s recruitment services were described by both companies and job seekers as unique and effective due to the user-friendly website, unique brand and excellent team, which as a result attracted a number of major companies who were looking to recruit high caliber candidates through Akhtaboot.

Weekly Grad Star: Chelsey Orlikowski

Name: Chelsey Orlikowski

School: University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (Oshkosh, WI)

Major: Journalism with an emphasis in Visual Media

Graduation date: May 2010

Job desired: An amazing job in Marketing, Graphic Design, Advertising/PR, Social Media, Media/Community Relations and/or Radio.

Contact info: chelseyorlikowski@gmail.com

                         www.chelseyorlikowski.com



Why should you be hired?

I am one of the most hard-working people you will ever know. I am not afraid to learn new things, and I am not afraid to ask for help when I don’t know how to do something. However, once I am told how to do something, I almost never have to ask again! Finding a job is #1 on my list of priorities, and I am willing to start out at the bottom and work my way up (as I have done in the past). I would love a job where every day is different, and I would have the opportunity to not only showcase my strengths and talents, but help my company be extremely successful at the same time!



Bio

I currently work for a radio station in Oshkosh, where I started as an intern and worked my way up to part-time on-air personality. I have been able to do more than just radio at my job – I do event photography, website updates, graphic design, social media management, community events, celebrity news and more! I love being busy, so I always make sure to ask for additional work when it is available. I am the go-to girl when the morning show or afternoon DJs take time off.



In college, I was the president of our photography club, president of the Society of Professional Journalists, a member of the Journalism and Mass Communications honor society Kappa Tau Alpha, a member of the Greek honor society Order of Omega, and I was webmaster and vice president of my sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha. I don’t like being bored, so I always make sure that I have plenty of things to do, and I am always sure to give 110%! I strive for continuous improvement; I want to be the best “me” I can be.

Better job market for college grads

Job market's silver lining

This post was written by Lyra Manning at http://www.foxcharlotte.com.







The job market for recent college grads is improving slightly, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.



NACE’s 2010 Student Survey shows nearly 25% of 2010 graduates who applied for a job have one waiting. Additionally, employers surveyed said they plan to hire 5.3% more new college graduates than they did in 2009.



“It’s been hard, but a lot of them have found jobs. It’s just a tough market,” said UNC Graduate Jesse Snellings, who landed a job before graduation.



Amisha Wood graduated with a Masters Degree in Social Work, and is deciding between two offers. She says she expanded her search to have more possibilities. “Some of my fellow classmates are limited in their options – strictly to Charlotte – and I kind of branched out and went to the outskirts of Charlotte,” she said.



Students who majored in the following categories are more likely to get and accept offers, according to a NACE study: Accounting, Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.



While the employment numbers for college grads are up slightly, starting salaries are down from last year. NACE reports the average for a Bachelor’s candidate is $47.763. That’s down from $48,515.





Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tsmall/

Source: http://www.foxcharlotte.com/news/top-stories/93862339.html

Health Insurance Resources for New Grads

eHealth Insurance provides tips and a buyer's guide

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, May 17, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- eHealthInsurance (EHTH 12.35, -0.31, -2.45%) , the leading online source of health insurance for individuals and families, today released a series of consumer tips to help 2010 college grads navigate their health insurance opportunities and make an informed decision. The company also released an updated version of its "Health Insurance 101" buyer's guide for college students and recent graduates.





This year's grads will face special challenges -- and special opportunities -- when it comes to obtaining employer-sponsored health insurance. Hiring of new college graduates is expected to increase this year compared to last, but the National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that employers still plan to hire over 16% fewer college graduates in 2009-2010 than they did two years ago in 2007-2008(1). At the same time, provisions of health reform legislation scheduled to become effective in 2010 will provide new protections for college students, graduates and other young adults:



-- Those who buy their own health insurance in the non-group health

insurance market will enjoy added consumer protections

-- Those under the age of 26 will also have the option to maintain health

insurance coverage through their parents' policies

-- Those with pre-existing medical conditions but without the option to

move onto a group or family plan may be able to join new high-risk

health insurance pools



The following health insurance shopping tips and the updated "Health Insurance 101" buyer's guide are designed to help this year's grads and college students better understand their choices and how to get the coverage they need at a price they can afford.



Health Insurance Tips for Grads:



1) Know your options before graduation -- Too many students wait until after graduation to research their health insurance options, when it can be too late. A Kelton Research survey showed 37% of graduating seniors were uninsured the day after graduation(2). Most 2010 grads have five basic health insurance options:



-- Get employer-based health insurance

-- Purchase health insurance on your own

-- Get back onto your parents' plan

-- Buy short-term health insurance -- Short-term insurance is a good

option if you are sure you'll have group coverage available by the

time your short-term coverage ends.

-- Go uninsured -- Without insurance you're still responsible for any

medical costs you incur; health reform does not eliminate your

responsibility to pay those bills. Avoid being uninsured.



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Akhtaboot Participates in Meydan Launch at Zara Expo on May 15th

Meydan, a new age accelerator for Business Start-ups with focus on reducing time from Idea to Revenue (I2R), announced its official launch at Zara Expo Hall B - on the 15th May, 2010. The non-traditional event gathered under one roof a number of pioneers, thinkers, entrepreneurs, businessmen, investors and other Meydan community members to celebrate what might just be Jordan’s platform to develop a growing economy that rivals the best in the near future.

Initiated in 2010 by Al Jude for Science Care, Meydan runs three programs almost in parallel; the Accelerator, Idea Space and Volunteer program(s). These programs provide the Jordanian creative and innovative minds with the platform and support system that enables them to generate ideas and build upon them.

The value created at Meydan is 80% from wisdom and knowhow, and 20% from money with major focus on creating value@speed using packaged knowledge, proven tools, smart and hard work and the passion to make a difference.

With Meydan’s focus on innovative companies that are not afraid to show their thinking muscles in public, Akhtaboot was chosen to participate in the whiteboarding session of Meydan’s launch, which is a tool presenters use to illustrate their big ideas, both its value and business model. Presenters use 2X3m white-boards, 4 pens, and an eraser.

Akhtaboot showcased its recent CSR service - Akhtaboot Microsite Solution - a fully integrated job board which will be provided to universities and educational institutions, free of charge, to enable their job seekers and site visitors to benefit from the full features and targeted job content of http://www.akhtaboot.com directly on the university website as part of the Akhtaboot Cares Initiative - Akhtaboot’s CSR arm.

Last Week's Poll Results

Last week we asked "Are campus career centers useful?"



Here are the results:

Yes 52%

No 48%

It was a close race, but after all of the votes it seems that the majority of our voters do strongly believe that career centers are helpful. What do you think? Comment below!

Weekly Recap

For those of you that were a little too busy this week to read all of New Grad Life's content, here's a nice recap of everything that was published.



News

• Last Week's Poll Results

• Weekly Poll: Are campus career centers useful?

• Recent grads boomerang back home

• Students choose post-grad service



Job Hunting



• 7 Ways to get a job using LinkedIn

• 3 Golden keys to job hunting for new grads

• 12 Deadly sins that kill your job search

• Hey grads! No experience? No problem! (Sort of)

• 7 Things college grads MUST do online to be employable



Resumes



• How to write your resume with quantifiable results



Interviews



• 5 Types of interviewers and how to prepare for them

• How to get a job through the phone interview

Weekly Grad Star

• Weekly Grad Star: Rachel Zuccarello

Students choose post-grad service

College grads try something new

Graduating senior Beth Neiman said the opportunity to volunteer after graduation just fell into her lap.



“I heard about Americorps through the [Center for Social Concerns],” Neiman said. “I’ll be teaching at an Indian reservation.”



Neiman is one of about 10 percent of seniors going into the volunteer force upon graduation and one of five Notre Dame students who will be teaching on the same reservation.



“This year-long program will give me time to decide what to do,” Neiman said.

Neiman said she hopes the time she will spend volunteering will teach her life lessons.



“This volunteering isn’t really in my field, but it will teach me good life skills,” Neiman said. “I’ll be more able to understand life.”



She said the Center for Social Concerns (CSC) aided her search for a volunteering spot.

“The CSC is so helpful in sending out lists. I applied to many different things,” Neiman said. “It was a lot of trial and error.”



Michael Hebbeler, director of Senior Transitions at the CSC, said volunteer service can be beneficial because it is a way to learn more about the world before pursuing a more permanent career path.



“Some students are pretty set on medical school, but they want to do some pretty meaningful work for a year, or they want to gain some sense of focus or direction with their work,” he said.



Hebbeler said he sees volunteer service as in agreement with Notre Dame’s mission statement.



“In the mission statement, there’s that line about service becoming learning and justice. We’re looking toward building a just world. This is a very hands-on, concrete way of doing it,” Hebbler said.



Senior Mary Kate Battle said she wants to go into international development, and her service work at Farm of the Child in Trujillo, Honduras will help.



“I wanted to do service before graduate school, not as a break, but as giving back,” Battle said. “The best way to do a job in [international development] is to do service in it.”

Battle said the Notre Dame atmosphere fosters a call to service.



“Notre Dame is educating the mind in the classroom and the heart through loving service,” Battle said.



http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/news/students-choose-post-grad-service-1.1478874





Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cubanrefugee/ / CC BY 2.0

Weekly Grad Star: Rachel Zuccarello

Name: Rachel Zuccarello

School: University of Missouri

Major: Textile and Apparel Management, Emphasis in Apparel Marketing and Merchandising

Graduation date: May 2010

Job desired: Public Relations or Marketing Coordinator

Contact info: rachel.zuccarello@gmail.com



Why should you be hired?

In every professional or academic endeavor I have encountered I am always will to go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure work is done on time and is of the highest quality. I have the ability to prioritize, plan and manage with the end result in mind in order to find the most efficient ways to work and to anticipate and avoid any obstacles. Additionally, I have the ability to understand the audience I am communicating with and tailor the material to their liking. Furthermore, I approach everything I do with excitement and never do anything halfway or halfheartedly. Based not only on my academic and professional experiences, but also my ability to maintain high productivity, act as a persuasive communicator and work with energy and enthusiasm, I feel I would be a great asset to your company.



Bio

Over the course of my undergraduate education I have gained a wealth of experience in the areas of public relations, marketing, e-commerce and event production and management. Over this past winter break I interned with CheresseINK, a public relations firm in Saint Louis where I was responsible for communicating with prospective clients, contacting media and assisting in the promotion, organization and execution of client events. While studying abroad in London during Spring 2009, I had the opportunity to intern for luxury British clothing brand Jaeger. Working as an assistant to the E-Commerce Marketing Manager, I learned important practices in the areas of e-marketing and communications. Given tasks such as compiling press reports to create feature articles for jaeger.co.uk, using Adobe Photoshop to edit images, and updating content on the Jaeger website, I have gained valuable experience in the timely execution of promotional material. Additionally, I have worked as a part of the Marketing Team and as a Marketing Coordinator for Career Specialist Selection at the MU Career Center. Through both involvements I had the opportunity to work in collaborative, team environments to successfully promote the MU Career Center through the use of fliers, social media table tents and on-campus television advertisements. Responsible for communicating with students across the University of Missouri campus about career center services and events, I have gained experience in teamwork, time management and the importance of meeting deadlines. I am confident, because of these experiences, that I could bring creativity, grace-under-pressure and motivation to any position.

Adapting to a New Work Environment

Akhtaboot presents a number of tips to help you overcome the challenges that might face you when starting a new job.

Have you ever been in a situation where your family had to move away and you were forced to change schools? Moving to a new job can have quite the same feeling. You will be going to a new position not knowing the kind of boss or colleagues you might face or the type of environment you might have to work in. Some companies may use the interview to brief potential candidates about their corporate culture, their policies and their work environment. However, you will not be able to fully understand the whole picture until you are actually put in the situation. The most difficult thing in getting a new job is the stress you might feel as a result of seeking a new support system within the new company while trying to fully comprehend the new rules and regulations.
It is very important to remember that it takes time to adjust to your new surroundings. The time span depends mostly on the people who comprise the organization; they might actually help you get accustomed to the new environment or may try to make it hard for you to cope. Here are a number of helpful tips to help you adapt to your new environment.

Prepare Yourself for Your First Day

Your first day will always leave an unforgettable and lasting impression on your coworkers and your boss. Start by getting a good night’s sleep in order to be well rested for the next day. Arrive to work ahead of time to show that you are organized and punctual. Moreover, dress professionally as people often judge you based on the way look. No matter how professional and experienced you think you are, many people will think less of you when you do not dress professionally. To learn more about workplace dress codes, read the article “Dressing for Success in the Workplace”.

Concentrate on Your Work

A great way to adapt to your new environment is by doing what you do best; work. Your colleagues will come to respect and admire you when they acknowledge that you are a well experienced, skillful person, they may even come to you for help in some areas where you are more knowledgeable than they are. Nevertheless, no one expects you to know everything, therefore, do not hesitate to ask questions when you feel there is a need to it. People usually like to help others and it generally makes them feel good about themselves.

Listen and Observe

Each organization differs in the way co-workers interact with one another and the way employees communicate with their managers. Therefore, spend the first few weeks observing and listening to your colleagues and managers in order to figure out the best way to function. By doing this, you may save yourself from making a public mistake. Do not try to impose new ideas and suggestions until you feel that the company has accepted you and that you fully understand the way they work. Otherwise, any comment from your side would be perceived negatively.

Make Friends

Making friends might not always be easy; it actually depends on the culture of the organization and on your own personality. If you have a shy personality, then you need to sharpen your people skills to actually get along. Be friendly, smile as much as you can even to people who you don’t know and initiate discussions about interesting topics. If you find resistance then stop trying too hard. Give it a break and mind your own business until your colleagues approach you.

Stay Away from Gossip

Gossip is very risky as it is almost always based on unverifiable information. You may gain a few friends through gossiping but you definitely do not want to start your career with a reputation for being a gossip. Remember that we live in a very small world where your reputation may follow you for many years. Therefore, you should ask yourself the question “Am I willing to trade my reputation for a few friends who might end up gossiping about me?” If not, make sure that you stay away from gossiping and do not give your feedback on something you are not sure about. Pretending to be busy with work when gossiping starts is a great way to survive a situation like this.

People prefer to stay in their comfort zone by staying in one company for many years and building upon their experience and seniority. Yet, if you feel unhappy, bored or unchallenged in your current job then you should realize that it is about time to start thinking about changing it. No matter how challenging the transition period may be, do not allow it to stop you from seizing new opportunities. Believe in yourself and follow the above tips in order to be able to start a new and exciting chapter in your life.

Recent grads boomerang back home

From dorms to bedrooms, college grads face change

It's that time of year; college students are graduating and getting ready to go out in the real world.



But this year, there are an increasing number of students who are delaying that independence and making their fist move- back home.



They're called boomerang kids, moving back in with mom and dad. The Pew Research Center says 20% of young adults ages 18 to 34 are moving back home.



After graduation Massachusetts native Kaitlyn Alemian is trading the William Woods horse stables for a job with her family's horse training business.



Alemian said, “I’m going to be moving back with my parents until I can find a place of my own."



Rent in New England isn't something she could afford right now.



Alemian said, "Probably double or triple what I've been spending to live here in Missouri."



Accounting major Matthew Denney has applied for dozens of jobs and nothing has come through.



Denney said, "When I started applying for jobs back in September, I thought I'd have it all lined up by the time of graduation. But it's a different economy now."



Matthew is moving home to Canada to continue his search.



Denney said, "When I graduate if I have $40,000 to $50,000 worth of student loans; I can't go out and spend everything I earn.”



Matthew is already estimating his monthly savings by living with his parents.



He thinks he'll save about $400 in rent, $100 in utilities, $100 in groceries, and another $100 in miscellaneous expenses. That adds up to what his monthly student loan bill payment will soon be.



Denney said, “It just makes financial sense."



Herman native Abbey Stock got a job as a personal trainer in St. Louis. She'll be living rent free with a family friend.



“It's going to help me save a lot of money in the long run because right now to try and find an apartment or a house especially coming right out of college is a big challenge."



As for Kaitlyn and Matthew they know the move will be an adjustment, but it's one they're happy to make.



Denney said, "One thing you miss when I moved away from home is your family and friends."



Alemian said, "I miss being at home and in my family's atmosphere, and with the barn. It was kind of an easy decision to make."







http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/story.aspx?id=455708



Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/ / CC BY 2.0

New "Grad Star" Program - get noticed, get a job

Helping those who want to start their careers, one college grad at a time

We at New Grad Life get many emails from college grads who tell us that by studying our content they finally landed jobs. That made us think - how else could we help new grads find work in this economy?



Introducing our brand new weekly Grad Star program!



Every day we get thousands of visitors to our blog, and sometimes they're recruiters, HR professionals, or employers - so why not use this traffic to help graduates find jobs?



Starting next Monday, April 26th, we will dedicate one blog post each week to a college grad or college senior who's looking for a job. This service is completely free. Just send an email to info@newgradlife.com with the following info:



• Your first and last name

• School

• Major

• Graduation year (2009 and 2010 graduates only)

• Type of job you're looking for (be specific; a job title beats "I'm open for anything")

• Picture of yourself (max size 175x175 pixels)

• Short bio about yourself (max 250 words)

     *Don't give your life story, just the basics! Work experience, skills, background, career goals, etc.

• Why should you be hired? (max 150 words)



Important Notes:



- The weekly Grad Star will be picked at random on a weekly basis from a pool of applicants

- One submission only please, duplicates will be ignored

- To be considered for this free service you must provide all the required info above

- Good luck!

Last Week's Poll Results

Last week we asked "How long is your resume?"



After 508 votes, here are the results:

1 page 24%

2 pages 53%

3+ pages 23%

Since over 75% of those who responded to the poll have resumes that are 2 or more pages, do you think this means single page resumes will stand out in the job market? Are longer, more detailed resumes better instead? Comment below!

Weekly Recap

   Share    





For those of you that were a little too busy this week to read all of New Grad Life's content, here's a nice recap of everything that was published.



Take some time to relax, browse the content, and most importantly, learn!



News

• Last Week's Poll Results

• Weekly Poll: How long is your resume?

• College Seniors Speak Out - are schools helpful for job hunting?

• College grads turn to paid internships during economic slump

• Fresh grads to have a better shot at scarce jobs than previous classes

• One Grad Faces Decisions in a Time of Recession



Job Hunting



• The 10 Biggest Job Hunt Myths



Resumes



• 6 Words That Kill Your Resume

• New Grad Life's Resume Writing/Distribution Service

• What Counts as Experience on a College Grad's Resume



Interviews



• Job Interview Preparation 101 for College Graduates

• 11 Things HR Won't Tell You

Networking

• 6 Tips for Successful Networking

Weekly Grad Star

• Keith Petri



Finance



• 7 Ways to conserve your cash

What Counts as Experience on a College Grad's Resume

You've worked more than you think!

This post was written by Brianna Raymond, a Content Writer and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) at PongoResume.com.

If you took advantage of an internship during your college years, you've already got something great to list under the Experience section of your first professional resume. Employers put a lot of weight on internships (if they're relevant) since they prove that you were interested in your career path well before you received your degree.



But what if you don't have an internship to vouch for your experience? What if the only jobs you've had involved manning a cash register or serving up pizzas? Fear not! Here are a few things you can add to your resume that count as experience:



1. Relevant Coursework



Only college students can get away with coursework that qualifies as experience. You can add this as a new section heading on your resume, and list all the college courses you've taken that are at least somewhat relevant for the job you're seeking. For example: If you want a writing job, you can list any English writing and Communication courses you took that taught you something about the language, and something about communicating through media.



2. Extracurricular Activities



Sorority/Fraternity Roles

No, your medal for Most Creative Keg Stand doesn't count, but congratulations on that accomplishment! But if you served as your fraternity's treasurer and you're seeking a job in accounting, you can work that into your experience. Example: Managed cash flow of fraternity funds collected through organized fundraisers.



Student Council Involvement

Did the experience help you learn how to negotiate? Did you manage projects or work with other groups on campus? If you were elected, your communications skills are worth highlighting since you effectively convinced people to vote for you.



Academic Clubs

Did you plan events on campus for spring break? Did you organize concerts or blood drives? Did you collect tickets or pass out t-shirts at those events? Think out of the box and get creative with what qualifies as experience.



Volunteer Work



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One Grad Faces Decisions in a Time of Recession

Hard times mean harder decisions for recent grads

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To go or not to go? That is the question.



For many recent college grads (myself included), graduate school is an option with ever-increasing appeal. With young people’s unemployment at almost 19 percent in March, hiring of 2010 college graduates down 7 percent from last year’s already dismal numbers and underemployment of 16- to 24-year-olds estimated at a whopping 31.9 percent at the end of last year, career opportunities aren’t exactly plentiful for the bright young minds of the future.



Enrollment in graduate school is on the rise; the Higher Education Research Institute’s 2009 Senior Survey found that 28.9 percent of graduating seniors expected to go the following fall. This is hardly surprising; graduate school enrollment generally goes up in bad economic times.



As the expression goes, “When the going gets tough, the tough go to graduate school.”



Statistics aside, I have personally observed that in today’s market — at least in California — a college degree doesn’t quite equate to the standard of living that my parents (or their parents) assured me I’d have before I entered into the world of student loan debt. Most of my former classmates are living at home with their parents (national estimates suggest that 80 percent of college grads move home after graduating), and the vast majority of them are underemployed. Many of those who are employed full time dislike their jobs, and those who like their jobs don’t make enough money to live on their own.



A 2006 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that my graduating class is especially out of luck: “Earnings losses from temporarily high unemployment rates are minimal for workers with two or more years of work experience and are greatest for labor market entrants.” In English, that means that people with less than two years of work experience are the ones least likely to find jobs right now.



As a member of this unlucky cohort, I decided last fall to explore my options for making the most of the recession. With dismal job prospects, a graduate degree starts to look pretty good, but the payoff of getting one has been widely debated. First of all, the term is extremely generic — it lumps MBAs, J.D.s, M.D.s, Ph.D.s, and the gamut of M.A.s together, which makes it difficult to assess the degrees’ benefits. After all, a six-year funded doctoral program in microbiology has little in common with a two-year master’s in public policy and its $100,000 price tag.



That, of course, hasn’t stopped people from trying. The Economist asserts that “if you’re going to go back to school, now is the time to do it,” as both the opportunity cost of the time spent in school and that of the money spent on school are low.



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Fresh grads to have a better shot at scarce jobs than previous classes

Good news for college grads?

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The hiring outlook for college graduates has improved slightly from last year, but overall, a challenging job market lies ahead for many grads.



Despite the challenges, many college graduates remain optimistic about finding work.



"I'm not worried," said Megan Martin, who graduates from Penn State Mont Alto's physical therapy assistant program. "I've started looking, and I have an interview lined up for June.



"One of the facilities where I had my clinicals had an opening and called me back for an interview. I go online every day to see what's out there," Martin said. "There's several new jobs every day. It won't be a problem at all to find a job."



Vickie Johnson had just bought a house when she was laid off in June 2008 from her job as a warehouse supervisor, so she decided to go back to school.



"I did look for a while (for a job), but there really wasn't a lot available in our area at that time. What I did find wasn't going to pay the mortgage or the bills," she said. "I decided I could finally go to school. I had a couple of fields I was interested in, and physical therapy was near the top of the list."



Like Martin, she will graduate from the physical therapy assistant program this month and complete her final clinical training this summer.



In the meantime, Johnson has been tweaking her resume and occasionally checking for job openings online.



"Since the economy went downhill in our area, it (the job outlook) is not as positive as we'd

like it to be," she said. "I don't want to say it's bad, but just according to the ads I've seen for available positions, it looks like it's more promising in the York or Harrisburg areas. We're all optimistic, but there is a feeling it might be tougher than we hoped to find positions."



Erica Sexton of McConnellsburg had earned a degree in theater from Shenandoah University, but went back to school to complete a bachelor's degree in human development and now is studying to become an elementary school teacher through Wilson College's Teacher Intern Program.



She plans to finish the program this fall or next spring. She's also hopeful about her job prospects.



"I'm optimistic about it. Anything could change with cuts, but I think that teaching is a good career choice and I think it will work out well," she said.



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Weekly Grad Star: Keith Petri

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Name: Keith Petri

School: Skidmore College

Major: Management and Business

Graduation date: June 2010

Job desired: Social Media Marketing, Assistant Account Executive

Contact info: keith.e.petri@gmail.com

                         www.KeithPetri.com



Why should you be hired?

Are you looking to hire a college graduate who has started his own successful business and has been recognized by his peers at Skidmore College as one of the students who has exhibited consistent leadership on campus?



The combination of hands on experience as an entrepreneur, creative energy by a successful photography business and targeted coursework completed at Skidmore College, makes me one of the unique people any organization should want to hire.



Bio

Throughout my past work experiences, entrepreneurial ventures and college education I have continuously shown interest in marketing communications. While working for both For Him Magazine (FHM) and Glazer Design I was exposed to conventional advertising methods and client-customer relationships. Soon afterwards, I was exposed to, and eventually in charge of, a strong direct marketing strategy executed through weekly e-mail campaigns for Englewood Wine Merchants. I eventually implemented these various tools to build my own successful freelance design and photography business.



I chose to major in Management and Business at Skidmore College with the intention of focusing on Marketing. As part of my liberal arts education, I particularly enjoyed taking Sheldon Solomon’s psychology courses. With his guidance and study of Freud, Fromm, Horney and Becker’s theories, I was able to further understand why people do what they do when they do it. These courses further served to reinforce my interest in marketing.



More recently, I have been intrigued by the constant technological advances that have the potential to enhance the connection between businesses and customers. With programs like Google Web History and other analytic software, marketers gain valuable information about prospective, current and past customers’ demographics. These tools proved to be beneficial for my research at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. I am excited about how these new technologies will be integrated into future marketing strategies. The same can be said for the explosive growth in social-networking sites.

Last Week's Poll Results

Last week we asked "Are cover letters necessary?"



After 365 votes, here are the results:

Yes, 68%

No 22%

Not sure 10%

Are you surprised at this outcome? Comment below!