Transcript Slide 1

“Making yourself
marketable in tough
economic times”
Today’s Presentation
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Tough economic times
Strategies to help you prepare
Get noticed during your job search
Questions
GET READY
What is the current
unemployment rate?
9.8%
Unemployment rate for those with a
college degree:
4.1%
Strategies
• Identify your values, interests and skills
• Emphasize content-specific, knowledge &
transferable skills
• Gain applicable experience and skills
• Make your job search #1 priority
• Be optimistic and persistent
• Time is on your side!
Get noticed during you
job search
Process
1. Takes time
2. People begin at different places
3. Requires an active not passive
approach
Job-Hunter’s Alternatives
1. Resumes
2. Ads
3. Agencies
4. Colleagues
5. Referrals
Employer’s Alternatives
1. Inside the
Company
2. Colleagues
3. Referrals
4. Drop-Ins
with Proof
5. Contacts
6. Contacts
6. Agencies
Taken From
What Color is Your
Parachute? 2006
Richard Bolles
7. Drop-Ins
with Proof
8. Inside the
Company
7. Ads
8. Resumes
Employer’s Alternatives
1. Inside the
Company
2. Colleagues
3. Referrals
4. Drop-Ins
with Proof
5. Contacts
6. Agencies
7. Ads
8. Resumes
Inside the Company
Companies like to hire people they know!
 Internships/Co-Ops
 Volunteer
 Contract Worker
 Temporary Staffing
Colleagues - Referrals Contacts
Networking
60-80% of jobs are never advertised
Family/Friends School
Parents
Aunts/Uncles
Cousins
Grandparents
Coworkers
Family friends
Associates
Professors
Admin.
Alumni
Speakers
Classmates
Organizations Web
Professional
Organization
Student
Groups
Sports Teams
Church
Civic Orgs
Sororities
Fraternities
Facebook
Linked In
-Penn State
Career
Connection
Lion Link
Drop-Ins with Proof
1. Employer Locator: One Stop Career
Centers
www.acinet.org/acinet/employerlocator/e
mployerlocator.asp
2. Chamber of Commerce
www.chamberofcommerce.com/public/in
dex.cfm
3. Yellow Pages
www.yellowbook.com/
Career Services
• Nittany Lion Career Network
http://www.sa.psu.edu/career/nlr/default.aspx
Job Postings and On Campus Interviewing
– Most jobs for undergrads; some for
grad students
• Career Fairs
– Spring Career Days – March 29-30, 2010
Rejection
• A reality in this/any market
• Often a dispassionate business decision
• Painful and disheartening
• Keep going!
The “Game” of Job Hunting
NO
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YES
Values/Interests/Skills
Use Multiple Strategies
Be Patient but
Persistent
Stay Positive & Active!
How can Career Services Help?
Career Counseling and Planning
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Drop-In
Individual
Self-Assessment
Mock Interviews
Learning Opportunities/Outreach
Programming
– Workshops
– LionLink https://psualum.com/career/index.asp
– Career Planning Course for credit- CN ED 100, Job Search
courses
– Industry Panels
– A Day in the Life (job shadowing program)
Recruiting and Employment Services
– Nittany Lion Recruiting
– Career Fairs/Graduate Fairs
Career Resources
Questions?
Bank of America
Career Services Center
865-2377
8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.Weekdays
Until 8:00p.m. on Tuesdays
http://www.sa.psu.edu/career