Tips from the Pros

by Jennifer Floren

CEO and Founder, Experience.com, Inc. (www.experience.com)

Top Five Tips for College Graduate Job Seekers

1.   Employers’ top complaint when interviewing students is that only 10% of the candidates interviewing for a job are prepared to answer the question: “Why do you want to work here?” Make sure you are among that 10%!

2.   Unless you are completing a specific vocational or technical degree, your major will almost certainly NOT be a predictor of your career path. Focus your career development around your skills, interests, and aptitudes, not just on what you studied in school.

3.   Your first job will not be your last! People in their 20s change jobs every 1.5 years on average…so go into your job search knowing that your first job is just the first stop on a long and exciting journey.

4.   Pick your job based on what you think you will learn, and from whom. The top predictor of company loyalty is the relationship an employee has with his or her boss. Make sure you choose wisely, as the people around you will play an important role in shaping your future.

5.   There is a very direct, proven correlation between career success and one’s passion for the job. Keep that in mind: If you choose to do something that doesn’t really excite and engage your enthusiasm, you risk being both unhappy and unsuccessful.