Richard White, director of the Career Services in New Brunswick, offers job-searching tips for a recessionary market
Rutgers–New Brunswick Career Services will sponsor its semiannual New Jersey Collegiate Career Day on the College Avenue Campus on Thursday, January 7, for recent and soon-to-be college graduates as well as more experienced job seekers. Richard White, director of Career Services, discusses what’s in store for young people as they enter the job market.
Rutgers Today: What are the greatest challenges facing young people who are beginning their work lives?
White: The biggest challenge is graduating into the most difficult entry-level job market since the recession of the early ‘80s. The ‘new normal’ in seeking a job will require flexibility in terms of geography, type of work, and industry areas. Graduates will need to look for work beyond their hometown, county, or state; they will need to consider part-time or temporary jobs rather than full-time jobs; and they should consider a wide range of industries and functions – perhaps sales rather than finance or human resources rather than information technology. I don’t want job seekers to give up on their ’dream job,’ but my advice in this economy is to focus on landing a job in the short term. The dream job will come later.
Rutgers Today: Which sectors and industries offer the most opportunities for job seekers and, particularly, for young people?
White: The entry-level job market for pending and recent college grads is closely connected to the broad job market. There are opportunities in some key sectors and industries. Among them are financial services (especially accounting and auditing); health care (especially nursing, physician’s assistant positions, and information technology); engineering (especially for civil engineers who build our national infrastructure); education (especially math, science, language, and special education teachers), the federal government (especially security-related roles); and ’green’ jobs in all areas. Across the board, employers in all sectors – corporate, nonprofit, and government – are seeking candidates with strong communication, both oral and written; project management; critical thinking; and multitasking and teamwork skills.
Rutgers Today What advice would you give to someone who is looking for his or her first job, including those who don't have the background for fields that may be hiring?
White: In addition to geographical and job flexibility, the keys to a successful job search in a tough economy are networking and pursuing a multi-faceted job search. First, I strongly encourage job seekers to identify, build, and broaden their professional network. Everyone has a network; now is the time to activate it. Think about all the people you know – friends and roommoates; parents of friends; relatives; neighbors; members of your church, synagogue, or mosque; local merchants; high school teachers and coaches; college professors and administrators; past supervisors, your current supervisor … and so on. Develop your resume; have it critiqued by a career counselor at your college career center; and then start networking. Talk to people. Send them your resume and let them know you are seeking an opportunity. Ask for a little time – 20 minutes – rather than asking for a job and ask for referrals. Networking is like dropping a pebble in a pond; the ripples keep widening. Second, use a variety of job search methods and strategies, including job fairs (attend the New Jersey Collegiate Career Day on January 7 and May 26); online searches and newspapers; and, yes, networking leads. Stay focused, persistent, and upbeat. There are jobs out there; you just need to go find them.