a career tip for students -- have a back-up plan

How many people do you know from college who ended up employed in careers entirely unrelated to their degrees? I know a few......actually, quite a few. Indeed, I would venture to say that a sizeable majority of college grads are now doing exactly what they did not set out to do. Out of survival necessity, or because a new dose of reality changed their interests or plans, they defaulted to something that simply did not figure into their original thinking. Dave has a B.A. in anthropology from the University of Washington, but, six years of stock clerk jobs later, along with some significant re-schooling, we see him working as a software engineer with Lockheed Martin. Janet has a B.S. in art history, but marriage, children, the cost of living, and the job market have directed her to re-train as a medical assistant. She is now working at a major hospital. These are both fictional characters and events, but they are based on an army of real cases.

So, if you are a student early in your college career and you are still thinking about choosing a major, or if you are a high school graduate looking forward, here is a piece of advice -- don't choose a major. Choose TWO majors. Particularly if your chosen major (which you are passionately attached to) is not something "hot", as the job market goes, you may want to explore a second major that piques your interest but at the same time will afford you practical work opportunities as soon as possible after you graduate. In other words -- HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN. This may mean taking a few extra courses. This may mean re-orienting your thinking a little about your future and your dreams. Here is a good first step in that direction: Check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook online by going to www.bls.gov/oco. This is an excellent and comprehensive source of information about a variety of occupations. It is produced and updated by the U.S. Department of Labor and it is entirley online -- no need to purchase or order anything or complete an online registration form. For hundreds of occupations, this Handbook will tell you about training and education required, salaries, what the workers do on the job, the working conditions, information about the job market for each state, and, perhaps most relevant to our topic -- expected job prospects and job search tips. After you have done a little homework with this and any other sources you can get your hands on, then look at the school programs and requirements related to your choice (or short-list of choices, as the case may be).

Always remember that, no matter what your career passion is at the moment, it is a good thing to diversify. Go for two or more skill/education sets, rather than one. You may be glad you did..........and you may have a little more control over your future as a result, instead of the other way around.

the power of networking

It is February, and you are in the middle of your second semester of your Freshman year in college. The weekend has arrived and you have a little breather to hang out with some school friends and get a few chores out of the way, like grocery shopping or making sure your dorm room or apartment is clean enough to pass the monthly management or landlord inspection.

You may also be thinking about where you are going to find a job this summer so that you can save some additional money to help pay tuition and expenses for next year (your parents would certainly appreciate that).
That's where a little networking can go a long way.

So what is networking, you ask? Actually, you do it all the time, without even thinking about it or planning for it. You do it when you link up with friends on Myspace or Facebook and share experiences, build or start new relationships and drop some tips about where to find a great iPhone (if you can afford it) or a great deal on a pair of shoes. It means connecting with people who can connect you with other people who can connect you with a valuable service or..........a good job. Have you ever heard someone say "Oh, she (or he) just got the job because of her (or his) connections"? For those of you who think that the best things are awarded only to the fittest or best qualified or smartest, this is a dose of reality. This is not to say that the fittest or best qualified or smartest don't get their awards. They most often do. What it says is that pure merit is only part of the picture -- especially in a world that is becoming increasingly more competitive. Where there is a "genius" or a "star", there is a higher "genius" or brighter "star" somewhere who wants the same thing. In a world like this, often the connection of friends or acquaintances or associates can make all the difference between getting the job or not getting the job. That is the power of networking.

Here is a recent case in point. It is representative of many similar instances throughout the employment world:

Alice (the name is fictional but the story is real), is a student who is finishing up her third year of college. It is a decent college, but it doesn't approach Ivy League by any measure. Her grades up to this point are mediocre at best. She is the daughter of a man who is a good friend of a neighbor who is employed in a key executive position in a Federal agency. This key executive has known Alice for most if not all of her life, as their families grew up next to each other. He knew something about her, although perhaps nothing about her academic performance. She needed a summer job to save money for school beginning the following Fall. The key executive, who was also in a position to make decisions about how many summer job vacancies his employing agency could open up during the summer, knew she needed a job. He had a clerical opening to fill on a temporary basis through the Federal Government's Student Temporary Employment Program ("STEP"). These are positions that can be filled without any required public notice or applicant competition. She was directly hired into that position for the summer.

During the summer, she proved herself to be a good performer and the agency had an opportunity to fill another position after the summer under another legal hiring authority that provided for conversion to permanent full-time career employment after graduation, again without the need to open the position vacancy up for competition. She was placed into that position on a part-time basis while completing her last year of college. After graduation, the employment was converted to a permanent career position after successfully fulfilling her education requirements and on-the-job performance requirements. She is regarded as a good performer and an asset to the unit to which she was assigned.

The point in the above case is that many similar positions in the Federal Government are filled through a competitive process by individuals with far higher GPAs and with academic subject matter backgrounds that one might consider far more qualifying. The difference in her case is that she was a known quantity to an individual who was in a position of authority to make things happen.

What does this mean for you? This means socialize, join clubs or associations related to your career and academic/subject interests, contact friends of your parents or other relatives who are doing what you would like to do in the future and ask questions or show an interest in what they do. It could go a long way toward giving you that edge you need to land that job or career you have been dreaming about.

That is the power inherent in knowing people.

That is the power of networking.

student internships

Here is a common scenario for the college grad: You have just graduated, or you are about to graduate, and you are searching job postings for entry level jobs that relate to your education. Theoretically, entry level jobs should be open to people who may not have much or any work experience in their fields, but have completed the relevant education or degrees. It's that "start" job. Right?

Wrong.

Many of the postings you see for "entry level" jobs, including those for filling clerical/receptionist duties, require some experience. Perhaps only six months or one or two years. But experience, nevertheless. Very frustrating. You have spent four years and thousands of dollars on your education so that you can acquire meaningful career employment, and you can't get the job. You don't have the experience. Now you're faced with no income and no health insurance. You may have big educational loans to pay off. You eventually find employment out of necessity, but it may likely be a job totally unrelated to your education and for which you have little enthusiasm.

You ask yourself: If everyone wants experience, how do I get the experience in the first place?

For those of you still in college, one answer is the student internship. Many students have the opportunity to work in their chosen field (albeit at a "clerical" or basic entry level with close mentoring and supervision) while obtaining their education. Most four-year college career centers and placement offices have programs established to assist their students with real work experience to enhance their employment prospects. If you are a student with at least two years to go before graduation, I strongly encourage you to check out the internships program as soon as possible. Make contact with the appropriate person in that office who is charged with coordinating or administering these programs. The sooner you get started, the better. Some internships are non-paying, but it's the experience you're after. Some students can accumulate up to one year's worth of experience or more, depending upon the internship hours and schedule.

Take it from one who has been there -- that's how I started my career, and I will always be grateful for that decision. It opened up a door that otherwise would not have been there.

your best-bet route to a career with the federal government

Are you a college student or college grad and interested in working for the Federal Government? There are a few good reasons why a Federal career is worth considering:

1. Job Security: Unlike private sector corporations or businesses, the U.S. Government is certainly not likely to fold and less likely to lay off workers when a business account or contract terminates.

2. Good Benefits: A full benefits package, including a generous retirement plan and vacation/sick leave that is probably more generous than anything that can be offered in the private sector.

3. Plentiful Job Openings: With the retiring baby-boomers looming on the very near horizon, the demand for new job applicants will be high over the next 5 to 10 years.

These points just touch the surface.

If you are a student looking for that coveted foot in the door that will lead to permanent career employment upon graduation, here is your best bet:

THE STUDENT CAREER EXPERIENCE PROGRAM

Otherwise known as "SCEP" by Federal government human resources professional insiders, this program allows students to "test the waters" at a Federal agency through an internship while still in school. The internship job is usually related to your academic program of studies, you are paid while you work (it is not a volunteer opportunity), and it permits the Federal agency to "try you on for size". After you graduate, and if you perform well on the job, the agency may offer you a permanent job. Based on my experience (and I have had 28+ years of it as a human resources professional), this road leads to permanent employment directly after graduation in most cases. No need to hit the job-seeking road after school is completed -- it's a bird in hand.

WHERE DO YOU LOOK TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PROGRAM?

The best place to start is with your college career center/placement office. This office will usually be staffed with a person (or persons) responsible for coordinating or managing this internship program. Seek out this person (or persons) and ask about internships with the Federal Government, particularly those that allow conversion from temporary employment to permanent employment after graduation. You will want to start this process at least one year before your expected graduation, and preferably at least two years before. Every college office operates a little differently, so you may want to relate the brief information above and they can point you in the right direction. And if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask me by clicking "comments" below for this posting.

Happy hunting!