Finding A Job out of College?
 

Alright Guys and Gals, Im graduating in August, and everyone that I have spoke with has advised me to start searching and submitting my resume to future employers starting, NOW!!!

I am willing and wanting to move out of state anyways, so location isn't a problem.

I start back to school on Jan 18th and Graduate on Aug 13th, so about 7 months.

If I shouldn't be starting now, when should I start?

HELP!!!!!!

Also, how long did it take to find your first job out of school?

Thanks!

What is your major? It makes a big difference, depending on what you're wanting to do. For example, school districts don't even know what positions they have to hire for until a month or two before the school year starts and usually hire just a couple weeks before school starts, so contacting them early may not be helpful. Same for hospital positions. In my experience, if a hospital doesn't have an opening when you send a resume/apply, your resume goes into the "black hole" of "We'll keep it for six months", never to be seen again.

Business firms can be different. So, what are you hoping to do when you graduate?

Thanks for your reply!

My degree is in Finance and I have about 2 years of banking under my belt.

I am wanting to go into event planning, trade show management, or meeting and convention coordinator.
I have alot of "hands on experience" plus I have been in the hospitality industry for about 6 months, and have been a sales and event manager for 3 months.

I have also interned at a non-profit organization for 4 months doing the financial aspect of event planning and producing financial statements.

I suggest you start now. Some companies' HR departments move at a glacial rate - I interviewed at one company in December of my graduate year and they didn't make me an offer until April, by which time I'd already accepted another offer.

Stop by your school's career office. They can give you resume advice and let you know when companies are coming to recruit.

For investment banking, consulting, etc. most people start looking the summer before senior year.

-Rudey

Should I start submitting my resume for open positions now also?

There are several positions all across the country that I am qualified for and would love to be considered for, but is it too soon to apply for them?

Clarification: you have a finance major and some finance experience as well as some event planning experience, but you want to become an event planner.

Event planning is not an industry that recruits. You need to aggressively seek out these positions. My best advice is to get an event planning internship, and to join a professional organization dedicated to this industry. They will have student discount. Attend as many networking events as possible. Talk to professors at your school who teach communication classes. They will be able to send you to talk to people in the field about event planning. Take these as informational interviews.

Most event planners won't hire you if you haven't had some kind of event experience-- be it planning events for a sorority, university event, an internship, etc. The pay isn't great, the hours are long. It can be very rewarding and the ideal candidate has an eye for detail, is calm and level-headed, and isn't afraid to get a little dirty and do some heavy lifting. In the beginning, you will be doing more onsite tactical implementation than you will be actual strategizing the event.

Choose where you want to go after graduation and target your resumes to that location. From personal experience, you have a better chance at being hired AFTER you've relocated-- employers feel more confident taking a chance on someone who lives near them. (This doesn't necessarily apply to companies and industries that do heavy recruiting and consulting). Instead of sending a blanket cover letter, tailor your resume and letter to EACH job. It will take longer, and you may send out less queries, but you will get a better response. Good luck.

Can it hurt?

Your resume should say your graduation or expected graduation on it anyway so employers will see that.

Apply to everything as soon as you can.

-Rudey

I have joined several organizations this past year. Including IABC and MPI. Thank goodness for student rates!

This spring I hope to enroll in Belmont University Meeting and Event Planning Certificate program sponsored by MPI.

I was just curious about the job search process and when is the time to start submitting resumes in general. I have alot of friends graduating at the same time and it seems that we all have the same question!

Thanks for everyones replies!

Honestly,

I graduated in early Dec of this year in Graphic Design and have had no luck in finding a good job. I live in a small town where the Gd industry is not big by any means. I've been applying to Dallas/FtWorth, Houston, Austin and New Orleans since July. Does anyone know of anything in this field?

I'm on several websites and have experience in this field and was involved in the Advertising Ferderation on campus (even held President in it) and I'm at dead end.

I know what you are talking about. My best friend just graduated in december with a GD degree and is looking all the time too. It seems to me that there are very few new jobs and growth in this industry.

I wish you the best of luck with your job search.

There is a position here in Nashville at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel Graphic Design position. Check it out if you like. She wants to move to the east coast. :0)

NETWORK

Take heart. I have been out of school for over 2 years now and I still have not found a job in either of my fields. I have 2 degrees (biology and sociology) and it took me 4 months to find a minimume wage job. Look and look hard. I have talked to many human resource people and they all say that i am doing everything that i can. Its just the time. unemployment is running rampant and there are not a lot of jobs out there.

It is definitely hard getting a job right after you've graduated. I finished in May 2004. I actually start a job tomorrow that is somewhat related to my major (TV Production). I will doing audio/visual work.

The key is to start now while you're still in school around people who can help you. Take sometime I really decide the direction you want your career to move in. Sometimes you will not always get a job that directly relates. Talk to your professors who have knowledge about the career/job you're interested in. They often know of positions that will never be advertised publicly. Also, think about taking a part-time or freelance position if you are able to do so. In my field this how most people start. Lastly, also look into temp agencies. You might end up temping for a company for a year before you're hired on.

There are also not a lot of *entry-level* jobs out there (of course.. depending on your field).

Event planning's tough to get into, anyway. You may want to look into something similar, just not exactly the same... keep your options wide open.

I'm a banquet manager at a country club and I get some (very little) experience in event planning. I had been working at this club for 4 years before I graduated, and they made me an offer b/c they knew my work ethic. Other than that, I couldn't find a job ANYWHERE.

You're doing good starting that early in this field. I would suggest talking to someone in hospitality to see if they know of any openings. Also, check out hotels and country clubs to see if they have any openings. You'll get more experience in event planning in hotels, though. I have a friend doing sales for the Park in Charlotte and she is constantly doing event planning, wheras I may plan one event a month, if that.

ETA: I'm currently trying to get into charity event planning. If that's something you're interested in, idealist.org is a great resource, as is opportunityknocks.org. My advice is be aware that practically everyone entry-level are taking very crappy jobs that they aren't really interested in just to get their foot in the door (and pay the bills). I'm not saying this to try to scare you, I just want you to not get discouraged if you can't find anything right away, and so you know you aren't alone.

Graphic designer checking in...

I didn't land a design job until about 6 months after I graduated. I actually got a job as a designer/production artist by meeting up with my predecessor (sp?) at a bar. I had a class or two with her so she knew who I was. She had a job but was moving to Texas. (How strange this story has gotten!) She gave me her job and I've been in the printing/publishing/production industry for over a year.

I hate it.

I have an interview on Monday for a possible graphic design/production job but I don't think design is my forte.

And to make this thread even weirder, I want to get into event planning instead and I have a sorority sister in the industry at a local firm. She's got an opening that I'm going to try for.

Bottom line, it's all about who you know. But most design firms that are nice don't put ads in the paper. And design careers screw with you because they won't let you in if you don't have the experience but they won't hire you to get the experience. A speaker once said to become a book keeper or office manager of a design firm and then if the firm is overloaded with stuff, volunteer to do something and maybe that will help them realize you are more than a book keeper.

It's all in who you know and who you meet in bars apparently.

ETA:
Also a good idea. They don't pay you but you get the experience. I worked on a large scale fundraiser this holiday season that taught me how to schedule locations, recruit volunteers, and so forth. Also check private schools that do large scale auctions or banquets. I volunteered recently for a local high school that puts on a production of an auction/dinner every year. I'm looking forward to it even though they won't pay me a dime.

Absolutely right. I had a job in advertising a week after I graduated this past May. A friend working at the company submitted my resume, and everything fell into place quite fast.

Just keep in touch with people in your chosen industry and send them your resume. Hopefully good things will follow! Good luck! :)