Dear Editor,
With the new year arriving there are a large number of December college graduates still trying to chart their career plan. There are no simple answers for those looking, but here are four things to consider:
1) Take a job where you will learn the most.
Pre-1980, college students took jobs where they thought they would get the most job security. They went to the big companies like IBM, GM and GE. In the ’80s and ’90s, college seniors started to focus on where they could make the most money, like Wall Street. In the 2000s, students focused on where they could enjoy the best lifestyle, like the dotcoms. Today, the focus should be on where you can learn the most. In the long run, the skills that you develop will enable you to get that next great job and chart a career path toward success.
2) Go broad and deep in your job search.
When times are tough, most people concentrate on going very broad in their job search. I would never deter a recent college graduate from pursuing any and every possible lead; however, you may find that your time is much better spent going deep instead of broad. Recent grads should focus on a specific industry (e.g. retail, media, banking) or functional area (e.g. sales, marketing, finance) and get as smart as they can on that particular area. This means understanding all companies, required skills, current events and networking opportunities related to that area. There is a high correlation between focus and success when it comes to job hunting.
3) Look internationally.
Get your butt out of the country. This may mean studying for an extra year in an exchange program or taking a more menial type of job abroad. When working abroad, the specific industry or functional area is less relevant, because much of your learning will be cultural. Learning a language and how to interact professionally and socially in different cultures is just as important as learning a discrete job skill. Tops on my list of places to go include: China, India, Southern Africa and Brazil. These are big markets that are only going to become more important to the global economy.
4) Don’t cop out and go to law or business school right away.
Although I strongly suggest taking the entrance exams (e.g. LSAT, GMAT, GRE) for graduate school within a year after you graduate, don’t go right away. Even in a good economy, I would tell you to work for a few years before going to graduate school. These schools will always be there for you. Once you go to grad school and saddle yourself with even more school debt, you will have less flexibility to pursue the things you really want to do. Grad school is also a great opportunity to transition careers. If you use that chip too early, you may find it more difficult to transition later in your career.