What does finding a spouse and finding a career have in common?

1. A large amount of patience is required for both
2. Hanging out in groups in order to find a spouse or a job is typically required
3. If all of your needs are not met both of these relationships can fall apart quickly.
4. Everyone has preconceived notions about going into a relationship like this. The more open you are with each other in the beginning of the relationship the better off you will be later.
5. The first couple of dates (interviews) can be very uncomfortable.
6. In order to be a friend you must first be friendly. (Even in an interview)
7. People like to be respected; men- hold the door for your date (spouse), open her car door, write her a love letter, buy her flowers, speak to her with love and not harsh words. Isn’t the same true of an interview? Send them a thank you letter for interviewing you, treat the interviewer with respect during the interview, etc…
8. A call back might not happen after the first date (interview)
9. Some persistence might be required
10. In order for anyone to find a spouse or a job, a miracle needs to happen. In the area of marriage it is always amazing to me to learn of two totally separate people rearranging their entire lives to become one flesh. When they met each other they had their own goals and objectives, but when they accept that bond of marriage they relinquish those desires and focus on their desires together.
11. The same goes for finding a job. When a company is looking to hire a new person they search far and wide for the right candidate. This company could hire anyone they want but when it came down to it, they hired you. How mind blowing is that? It could have been anyone in the world but it was you. Don’t take that fact lightly.
12. When you do find a spouse or find a job don’t take these two miracles lightly. Count your blessings and thank God for these two privileges.

Attention students and recent graduates!  If you are interested in a career in science, engineering, or technology you are in demand.

I have put together a list of  10 companies that are hiring these three groups of students and experienced candidates.  Take a look at some of these companies and their web sites to determine if they are right for you.

1. PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, PA
2. Westinghouse, Pittsburgh, PA
3. Vanguard, Philadelpha, PA / Charlotte, NC
4. Swales Aerospace, Edina, MN
5. Applied Materials, Santa Clara, CA
6. Lutron, Philadelphia, PA
7. Johnson and Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ
8. Ford Motor Company, Detroit, MI
9. Applied Signal Technology Inc, Sunnyvale, CA
10.Argonne Natinoal Laboratory, DuPage County, IL

I had lunch yesterday with the owner of a small manufacturing company here in Pittsburgh.  His heat treating facility is in an interesting situation; either change and use technology to stay ahead of their competition and China or fade away into oblivion.  They have a few challenges with this massive change, mainly their workforce.  This company’s workforces is considerably older and not very adapt to change nor very interested in technology.

He told us that a few years ago he installed new machines with touch screens and the place nearly came to a crashing halt.  However, over time and training they learned the system and now think nothing of it.  However, now that he is bringing in a robot that will do the job of several men with much better efficiency and accuracy there is not telling how this will affect this aging workforce.

Now, I say all of that to say this.  He recently had a new employee start working for his company.  This person is 25 years old and very mature for his age because of the choices he made as a teenager that forced him to grow up quickly.  This person found this company on the internet via a job posting and then through the companies web site.  He was so interested in what the company was doing that he sought out the email of the owner of the company and emailed him a very convincing and impressive email which landed him a job within this company.  Here are a few thoughts and tips I learned from this real world example:

1. Traditional HR rules stink - when you are dealing with small companies, especially manufacturing companies the owners are usually very involved.  They do not think and act like HR people who are often the gatekeepers to the jobs you want.  The owner I was having lunch with was EXTREMELY impressed that this person sought him out and was honest with him about why he needed a job.  And you know what; the owner had compassion on him and saw potential in him that would never have come out through traditional HR processes.

2. Don’t Be Typical - A typical person would have simply sent their resume through the traditional means and waited to hear from the company.  I don’t like playing defense and neither should you when it comes to finding a job.  This young man showed a lot of heart and passion by searching out the email address of the owner of the company so that he could convey to him more about himself than his resume ever could.

3. Resumes Aren’t Enough - a resume is fine if that is all you can deliver to your perspective employer but consider a professional web site, blog, electronic portfolio, etc…  Average doesn’t cut it in today’s job market.  You need to convey your worth to your perspective employer in as many ways possible.  A single sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 isn’t a great option but if that is all you have make sure it is the best it can be.

4. Honesty Works - Especially with small companies who are not burdened by HR policies.  If you can talk with someone on the phone or through an email be honest with them about your interest in the company.  Tell them why you want to work there and tell them what has caused you to seek employment in their company.  They won’t be able to assume that from your resume.

In closing, finding a job is like sales.  Sometimes you must cast a wide net to find that nugget.  And as in sales, doors will open in ways that you would have never guessed or could have planned.  Don’t give up it will work out soon.

As a new parent I may not be the most educated person on this topic but I am a thinker.

My son is only 16 months old so I have not had the opportunity to be a “helicopter parent.” Actually at this age I have to be a helicopter parent. If I am not, other helicopter parents will call in family and youth services to make sure I become a helicopter parent. Anyway, those parents who are having trouble letting go of little Junior at college or after college; they are considered true helicopter parents.

The thought of moving out and letting their kids stretch their wings seems to be too much for some parents. Will I be like these parents when my son Noah is old enough to stretch his wings? Who’s to say? What is clear from real life examples’ that we all have seen is there seems to be a line that parents need to stay away from when it comes to allowing their children to step out on their own. The reason parents need to stay away from that invisible line is because at one point these young adults will need to sink or swim. Most helicopter parents, and I am generalizing here, have probably done everything possible to make their kids life more comfortable and more exciting than their childhood was. They have had the best and have been the best at everything they put their hands to. They probably have not had the opportunity to fail all that often because of their sheltered lifestyle. The concept of winners and losers has been lost in our nation’s youth. Everyone is a winner…right? With that said helicopter parents are by no means uncaring parents in fact they are just the opposite. They are almost too caring. Can someone be to caring? Jerry Seinfeld call your office. However, the extreme of anything can be bad. Moderation is much better.

Here are suggestions to helicopter parents.

1. Let your kids sink or swim in college and real life.
2. Don’t go to work with your kids, ever, ever ever, ever…. Is that enough evers?
3. Doni’t attend job fairs with your kids…ever, ever,ever, ever
4. Support them emotionally and financially if needed but step back from the decision making process. Let them sink or swim.
5. Be happy that your kids are finally moving out of your house. Enjoy the lower water bill, lower cell phone bill, lower electric bill, and cleaner house in general.
6. Finally, remember that statistics tell us that a large percentage of new graduates will at one time or another move home to get back on their feet. Enjoy your time without them while they are gone because they may come home soon and this time it might be with a significant other.

Check out this video from MSNBC on helicopter parents.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been writing about how college students can guarantee for themselves a job after college.  The best way to do this is through experiential education during their college career.

To illustrate my point with real life examples; I attended Liberty University’s graduation ceremony in Lynchburg Virginia last weekend.  My cousin Josh graduated from their school of government.  Way to go Josh!

We drove down to Lynchburg in the middle of the night and arrived in Lynchburg at 6AM.  There is nothing like driving through the Virginia country side in the middle of the night half asleep.  Those flat roads all start to look the same after a while.

Josh may have graduated with a degree in government but was offered a job in the schools IT department because of his amazing abilities in information technology, specifically Apple computers.  Josh is the sole reason I am writing this article on my nice and fairly new black MacBook.  He convinced my brother and I that Apple is far superior to Windows years ago.  Thanks again Josh!

While he was in school at Liberty taking classes in the school of government he was applying his amazing abilities in a totally different field, computer science and tech support.  Since he had a passion for computers and specifically Apple he was offered a job upon gradation in the schools IT department to handle support of all Apple products at the university.  Did he waste his time by getting a degree in government? No way!  The information he learned via his degree and the hands on skills he has in computer science field will be applicable and practical in a variety of companies.

It worked for Josh and is certainly can work for you!

Before you read this article feel free to check out the first three articles in this series.

How to Be Guranteed a Job After Graduation

Freshman Year Career Plan

Sophomore Career plan

So far we have talked about a number of experiential educational opportunities.  Let me emphasize that I am a true believer in the classroom learning environment but real life experience cannot be found in a classroom.  I guess the exception might be if you are going to be a full time researcher or professor but if you are planning on working in corporate America you need to obtain as much real life work experience as possible to realize what you are passionate about.

Some of the items we have covered thus far include:

• Consulting with Career Services
• Career assessment tests
• Meeting with your academic advisor
• Local company visits (company tours)
• Job shadowing experiences
• Writing a resume
• Company Research
• Summer Internship
• School Year internship
• Job fairs
• Networking events

Co-Ops

For this next year of schooling I would recommend focusing on a co-op work experience that will span the school year and the summer.

A co-op is an internship with a company in your field that spans the school year and throughout the summer.  A good co-op can last a year or longer.  I cannot think of a better way to land a full time job after school without having to go through the job search process than a co-op.

Many institutions will have a co-op department or facilitator.  Make sure you find that out within your school.  Also, a co-op can be a great way to get credit toward graduation.  Some schools will even give six to 12 credits depending on how long your co-op is.

I know co-ops are very popular within more technical fields such as engineering but even in education the student teaching experience could be considered a co-op.  Even if your school does not offer an official co-op experience I would recommend trying to work with your career services or professor to set-up a co-op like experience with a company in your field.  This is nothing more than ensuring that the company will guarantee you employment during the semester and throughout the summer.  When you are interviewing with the company try and make that clear that you are interested in a long term relationship with them if everything goes as planned.

Please understand that even if the company commits to a long term experience there isn’t a legally binding contract that will prevent them from going back on their word.  The fact is businesses change rapidly and that can cause them to change their mind on keeping you on for the whole commitment.

A co-op is a great experience that all college students should consider.

Internships

By this time in your college experience you should have had one or two internship experiences, maybe during the school year but most likely during the summer.  If you haven’t done an internship yet make sure you work with your career center and network of friends and family to try and land an internship during your junior year or at minimum the summer between you junior and senior year.

Benefits of an Internship

• Short term experience with a company in your field
• Your get PAID!  Show me the money!
• College Credit
• If you don’t like the company you can leave at the end of your term and never have to think about them again
• EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE!!!
• An internship is also a great way to figure out that you don’t like what you are studying in school.  The earlier you figure this out the better.  For example, an internship may make you realize that you hate accounting even though you are studying to be an accountant.  Get out before it is too late.
• An internship can help you find your passion in life and not just a job!

Finally, please consider continuing your efforts in the 11 items mentioned above.  These items are really apart of your four year plan and should be continued the whole way through.

The final installment in this series is the Senior Year Career Development Plan!

Stay tuned!

This post is a part of the ProBlogger Top 5 Group writing project.

Top 5 Ways for a College Student to Get a Job after Graduation by: Justin Driscoll 

5. Job shadowing at various companies during college

4. Short term project work during your school year with various companies

3. Internships, internship, internships!

2. Co-ops (multiple year work assignments with the same company)

1. Networking, networking, networking

Over the years I have heard the frustrations from students about the lack of knowledge when it comes to choosing a job or career after college.  They know they should have some type of idea but from what I have gathered most do not.  Even though their parents are pushing them to get a job they have no idea what they are suppose to be doing.  More importantly they have no idea what they want to do.  It is one thing to have a job but it is another thing to have a job you love doing!

Therefore, I have put together a plan for college students that should give every student, who sticks to the plan, a guide to help them determine what future career they may want to explore.  At the crux of this plan are two words… experiential education.  Every student must get out of the classroom and into the real world, while they are in school in order to determine what they want to do with their life.  It is extremely difficult to ask someone what they want to do with their life if they have no idea what their options are.  Ignorance is never bliss when it comes to career development!

Here is a conversation that has taken place between parents and college seniors thousands of times.  Can you relate?

What are you going to do with your degree?... “I don’t know?”

Where have you applied for a job?… “Do they pay people for updating their MySpace page?”‘

Well, you better get a job because I have spent a lot of money paying for this college education that was suppose to land you a job!  “Does this mean I can’t live at home after I graduate?  I mean it will only be for six months or so.”

The term experiential education, as defined by Wikipedia is as follows:

Experiential Education is a philosophy in which educators purposefully engage with learners through a variety of experiential methodologies in direct experience and focused reflection in order to increase knowledge, develop skills and clarify values.

I would add that is a combination of activities like job shadowing, company tours, internships, co-ops, mock interviewing, etc…

There has never been a company that said, “We should really hire this person because they have no idea about business, our industry, our products, or our customers.”

What they actually say is, “We really need to hire this person because they understand our business, our industry, our products, and our customers.”

The only way to have a chance at being that person who understands their business, industry, products and customers is to have experience under your belt before you graduate!  As a student your primary focus is school but your college experience must have a variety of opportunities to interact with companies who can show you what life is going to be like after college.  Not only to show you what life is going to be like but also to allow you to explore the many different career opportunities that exist in our world.  We all have been given special talents, skills, and abilities.  The question is have you found out what yours are yet.  Once you do then and only then can you think about what job or career you can apply those talents in.  Experiential education is the only way you will be able to determine what you are good at or interested in, not in the classroom alone.

If you incorporate experiential education into your college experience you will have a much better chance of finding your passion rather than your job!

Over the next four days I will be making individual posts that outline a plan of action for every level of students; freshman through seniors.  Stay tuned.

Day One – Freshman Year

Day Two- Sophomore Year

Day Three – Junior Year

Day Four – Senior Year and beyond…

The other day I had a chance to speak on a panel discussion with eight other employers to some student athletes about career choices.

The discussion really centered on resumes and resume writing, but after listening, and participating, in this discussion I walked away with a few thoughts.

1. All employers have different views about what should or should not be on your resume.
2. Internships and experience is very important when looking for a job
3. Your resume will get you in the door but the employer won’t hire you based on your resume alone; they will hire you based on who you are.
4. The job interview process is getting longer and longer because companies cannot afford to hire the wrong person
5. The real world and college differ drastically; the only way to fully understand how life works in the real world is to experience it.

I know I probably reference Seth Godin’s blog way to much but I do that for one simple reason; it is REALLY good. Seth has another great post today on what it means to be remarkable in today’s business environment. I would take his post one step further and relate it to today’s job market. If you are a job seeker you must be remarkable and not average. You must be innovative and not normal. Read Seth’s post and try to relate this to your own job search situation.

Click here to read Seth’s post.