Short Term Trends to Know

By Kevin Enriquez, Campus Representative, Drexel University

Trying to find a job is hard in a post recession economy; and the facts about the current economic growth makes it even harder. According to vault.com economic growth rates will decrease by a single percentage point by the end of 2011. The steady decrease in growth will affect everything from conducting salary negotiations and the rate at which you climb the corporate ladder.

The article reads:

Vault’s industry and career experts put their heads together and identified a number of key trends that will affect careerists over both the short and medium term.

What they recommend is

1. Do more with less. Ask for more work and show you are the go-to employee.

2.Hold back on housing; and wait for the market to improve

3.Choose your education carefully because reputation means everything.

4. Age diversity can be a new challenge since seniors are now coming out of retirement

5. The finance industry is in decline

6.The legal sector saw a dramatic drop

7.Consider short term jobs for now

8. The IT trend has now become a major player

9. Internships are important then, there still important now.

10. Focus on negotiating a package not a salary.

Point seven and point ten seemed most applicable to current undergraduates. Short terms jobs are not ideal, yet they are a reality of our times. More and more, choosing a variety of short term/part-time internships and jobs is seen as the "post college" path than the typical "first job" you see in the movies. Point ten is important as well - while firms may be able to dictate terms today, try and create a situation where you have some sort of assurance that if things turn around, your compensation will be brought up to market level.

Job Satisfaction By Profession

By Kara Croteau, Campus Representative, University of South Carolina

Four years at a college or university, countless dollars, and the ever so competitive job search, only to find that you are in an unsatisfying career path. In a recent (2010) article in the Wall Street Journal, researchers polled recent college graduates to see just how ‘satisfied’ or rather ‘dissatisfied’ they were with their current career path.

The survey consisted of 10,800 workers who received their bachelor degrees between 1999 and 2010 who majored in subjects such as chemical engineering, business (accounting, international business, finance, marketing, and economics), English, psychology, history, etc. The over satisfaction is distributed like so:

As a business major, in marketing and management, I was surprised to find marketing towards the bottom of the list, thus indicating that less than half of marketing majors are actually satisfied with their current position. This raises an important question for us upcoming graduates—how do we know we chose the right major? With internships, co-ops, and new ideas for exams that test subject knowledge, students are given real world experience and knowledge to get a better understanding for the things they might be doing in their future career path. If you find that your potential career path is towards the bottom of this list like mine, it might be a good idea to get some real world experience before signing that acceptance letter from a future employer.

Interview Prep Checklist

By Douglas Richman, Campus Representative, University of Florida

The Interview is a critical stage for candidates in the job hiring process. Getting in the door is the first step, staying is where the true challenge lies. The candidate must sell the idea of themselves fitting in and succeeding at the firm. Ann Marie Khaled, the Vice President of the recruiting company McAleer & Associates, offers the following tips to “Job-seekers” in this article.

· Preparation for the interview is critical.

· You can also try to anticipate questions the interviewer may ask.

· In order to save time, many companies conduct "roundtable" interviews.

· Proper attire for the interview is a must.

· Arrive at least 15 minutes early.

· Be professional and friendly.

· Turn off your cell phone before the interview.

· There is a proper time to discuss compensation.

· Follow up with a thank-you note.

I believe the crucial tips offered here are preparation and generating an interest in the company to be able to ask and answer questions. If you go in prepared to the interview there is no reason not to be confident in yourself and your abilities. At the same time, candidates need to be sure that they account for every single factor. Otherwise it shows the employer that the job-seeker has a lack of responsibility.

Dear Edward Jones - With 631 Openings: What Are You Looking For?

Bu Tatiana Serna, Campus Representative, University of Rhode Island

Christopher Tkaczyk, reporter, writes about various companies and their entry level recruiting. The “22 Best Companies to Work For have at least 500 openings each, totaling more than 87,750 jobs. What are they looking for in a new hire?” In his article “They’re hiring!” he writes about how Edward Jones, which ranks second in 2010 Best Companies to work for, has 631 job openings; financial advisors and branch office administrators. So what is Edward Jones looking for in a new hire?

For financial advisors, we look for... self-starters who enjoy working with and helping other people. For branch office administrators... we look for energetic individuals who can take the initiative to anticipate client and financial advisor needs.

Our recruiters approach each candidate from a career management standpoint, attempting to ensure each candidate has a solid understanding of the work, the emphasis on putting clients' interests first and the appropriate commitment level to be successful.

For branch office administrators: Our recruiters are impressed with a candidate's past work experience and stability or loyalty with past employers. We look for an affable personality to meet and greet our clients.”

So maybe there is some light at the end of the tunnel. It’s good to hear, especially as a senior, that there are some opportunities out there in the real world, yet we still see the word EXPERIENCE. “Our recruiters are impressed with a candidate’s past work experience.” How can you obtain this valuable experience? How can you compete with other graduates who have had experience? Many say do an internship, but is that enough? What if other graduates have also completed internships, now what should you do in order to stand out from the pack?

From a PhD to Mopping the Floors

By Rick Dressler, Campus Representative, Syracuse University

“There are 18,000 parking lot attendants in the U.S. with college degrees. There are 5,000 janitors in the U.S. with PhDs.” This was not the plot to s Good Will Hunting 2, but rather the startling headline to an article on tech blog Gizmodo.

The article presented findings from Chronicle.com via the National Bureau of Economic research about just how many people are working jobs like waiters, bartenders and parking lot attendants that also have college diplomas. The main point of the article was to raise the question, “Is there a definite return on investing in a college education?” Clearly, they are making a case that it is there is not.

This article accomplished something that it seems like everyone in my life is trying to do. Scare me into believing that I will not be employed coming out of school…unless I do X, Y and Z. After a brief moment of panic, I realized that I have the experience, the intelligence, and the complete resume to avoid ending up the subject of a great Affleck/Damon production. I am prepared. I won’t become a janitor. Will you?

The "language" of getting a job

By Matt Guerriero, Campus representative, University of Pittsburgh

The knowledge of more than one language can be a huge advantage for students applying for jobs. Schools in general are putting a large emphasis on learning foreign languages because the world is constantly changing. As more diverse ethnic groups appear in the world, there is a need to understand different languages. This is very important in the business world because an employee might have business relations with individuals or companies from different countries throughout the world. To increase the probability of understanding another language, many schools are allowing children to start learning foreign languages as early as 6 weeks old. Enrolling in a school like this would allow the children to have huge advantages over other students because it is much easier to learn a new language at a young age. Beth Walton from USA TODAY writes:

Not only is learning a foreign language easier for children than it is for adults, but children who are exposed to other languages also do better in school, score higher on standardized tests, are better problem solvers and are more open to diversity, says François Thibaut, who runs The Language Workshop for Children, which has nine schools around the East Coast.

I wish I would have known about a school like this when I was young because I would have signed up immediately. I have been taking Spanish classes since middle school, but this would have given me an advantage over other students. This applies to business students that have an interest in international relations. Speaking and understanding another language such as Spanish, Chinese, or Italian can make a candidate more appealing to an employer. Knowing another language could be the one thing that differentiates one person from another. I recommend learning another language because it can provide such a benefit in the workplace and can be a lifelong skill.

The End of An Interview

By Michael Rozelle, Campus Representative, Ball State University

The interview is done after the last question right? Wrong! Job searchers focus most of their time trying to prepare their image and tackle the interview questions. Sometimes the relief of finishing the last question can cause the interviewee to stumble on another vital part of the interview process—the ending. In an article titled, “How to End a Job Interview,” author Margaret Steen discusses some final touches to the process and how to accomplish a proper ending.

Her tips:

Don’t leave empty handed: To be sure you can follow up later, don't leave the interview without getting the names, titles, and contact information of everyone you met.

Know the next steps: You should also ask what the next steps are in the process.

Lay the groundwork for a follow-up: 'Thank you. Is it OK if I call you if I haven't heard from you?'

Close the sale: "Based on this interview, do you feel that I could be successful in this position? Will you move me forward in the interview process?"

If missed, these mistakes can greatly affect the outcome of the interview process. Even I am guilty of committing these interview crimes though. The best thing to do is learn off your mistakes. At the end of the interview, remind yourself of prior mistakes and don’t pass up on the ending process. Further imprint yourself by recapping your certifications or letters of recommendation. Always be sure to finish well and follow-up.

Standing Out

By Monika Raginiak, Campus Representative, University of Minnesota

As most of us are heavily involved in the recruiting and interviewing process right now, we can only wonder if we’re doing enough in college to get that desired internship or job. We attend mock interviews and information sessions and review our resumes a hundred times. Are we special enough? Will they remember me? Do I stand out?

In this article on Helium.com, Leigh Goessl addresses six easy ways to become involved on your campus. His ideas sound completely routine, but c’mon, if it was so easy… why haven’t you tried them yet?

His ideas are:

1. Apply Yourself to Academics – Hey, that seems easy enough… isn’t that why you’re in college?? Goessl discusses the respect you’ll receive from your professors and peers.

2. Get Involved in Student Government – This is a key way to build in interpersonal relationships.

3. School Media – Getting involved with the newspaper or radio station will help you leave a mark.

4. Committees – This will help you learn to work on teams and make an impact on your school.

5. Volunteer – Recruiters LOVE to see you giving back (plus, it’s just a pretty nice thing to do).

6. Dress for Success – It’s good practice for reality someday.

As I said, these ideas are rather no-brainer, but how many have you actually been doing? Take a look at that resume again and see where you could fill in a couple holes.

The "Hidden Jobs"

By Kenny Gehlhaus, Campus Representative, Pennsylvania State University

Sometimes your dream job comes to you quite easily. Then again that does not happen very often and rather you must search constantly for it. Career networks and fairs at school are a perfect place to start your job search however they only cover the basics - in other words, everyone who is driven has those resources as well. These "mainstream jobs" are mainly made up of top companies that may have a particular relationship with the school and they may be concentrated more to the same industry. An article from the University of Wisconsin-eau Claire laid the groundwork for how students should go about finding careers not advertised by the school or in mainstream media.

The goals for finding these “hidden jobs” are to first find the companies that you think you might want to work for. Then by using this list of industries and companies, have the employer’s names present and search out contact information with the Human Resources department. When finding specific employers make sure to create a network, a listing of the “who’s who” at the company that you should be speaking to.

There are many ways to go about searching for “hidden jobs”. Being diligent and aggressive is certainly important though if you wish to get that dream job. By being out-going and proactive you can find the job and career path that you so desire.

Top Ten Fastest Growing Careers

By Jesse Hodes, Campus Representative, Kansas State

When figuring out what you are going to major in at college, it seems not enough stress is put into what careers/jobs are in demand. With the economy in the state that it is, entry-level placement percentage is huge.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics recently has come up with a list of the ten fastest growing careers that show a lot of promise and opportunities for growth. The website employmentspot.com ranks these 10 careers:

• Biomedical Engineers
• Survey Researchers
• Network Systems Analysts
• Financial Examiners
• Software Engineers
• Environmental Engineers
• Athletic trainers
• Personal Finance Advisors
• Personal and Home Care Aids
• Market Research Analysts

But does growth equal volume? For example, if there were 1,000 Biomedical Engineers in the country and then this year there are 2,000, that's 100% growth. However, if there were 500,000 personal finance advisors and then this year there were 650,000, that's only 30% growth. Yet the personal finance advisors have 150,000 openings vs only 1,000 for the Bio Engineers. It would also be interesting to look at the number of candidates that apply to each of these disciplines. I wonder what jobs have the highest "odds of success" - meaning the least amount of resumes competing for the highest amount of openings.

Coming into college as a naive 18 year-old, I tried to do my best in picking out a major with a balance of enjoyment for myself as well as a major with a solid starting salary wage and opportunity for advancement. I would like to think of myself as rather money-motivated, so I figured even if it wasn't something I would love to do, things would be okay. I mean how many people actually are in a career that they love? However when making my decision, never once did I research how highly demanded my career choice would be nor how fast the industry was growing...So while the economy is more volatile than this damned Kansas weather, I find myself along with hundreds of other students...still searching for an attractive entry-level job.

Internship or Move Home...

By Miguel Pinto, Campus Representative, Florida International University

As we all know, finding a job after college in your particular field within the first three months is pretty tough.

In a recent article in the Baltimore Sun referenced the following stats:

- 80% of college graduates moved back home following their respective graduation. A 17% increase from 63% in2006. Most of these “move backs” were not by choice. They were the result of very few jobs openings and an excessive amount of applicants for those positions.

- It is estimated that for every job opening there is an average of 70 applicants. When you do the math, it gives each candidate a 1.43% chance of landing the job.

- Another frightening fact, the 14.7 percent unemployment rate for those ages 20 to 24 remains double than what it was in 2007, and is 50 percent higher than that of the overall population. (Note: The percentage of unemployed college graduates is not 14.7 percent. That’s the total percentage of people in that age group who qualify for unemployment benefits.)

On a more positive note, if you are a “lucky” student who has an internship, your job outlook is a staggering 65% higher than those who have not held one. In today’s job market, employers are looking for candidates who have experience in the field. As the old saying goes, “It is not how much you know but who you know”. Experience, experience, experience! This is what employers are looking for. By interning at a workplace, you are only giving yourself an upper hand in the post college job search. The question then becomes -"How do I land that great internship?"

Post Interview Check List

By Michael Rozelle, Campus Representative, Ball State University

So you finally land an interview – and have gotten through it without any major snafus- now what? Most interviewees feel that sigh of relief at the end of an interview and then wait for the response; however, the interview process is not yet complete. A few follow-up steps are in order to ensure the interview stuck. Four positive follow-ups are outlined and discussed in an article by Margaret Steen, After the Interview: 4 Ways to Follow Up.

Her points:

Send thank you notes- Within a day of the interview

Break through the silence – Politely call em’ up if they have not gotten back to you

Go into recovery mode - Send documentation of your abilities

Bound back from rejection - Get feedback for future interviews

Then keep networking with the interviewer, perhaps by forwarding occasional, well-chosen articles related to your industry, for example, or by joining a group on LinkedIn.

Follow-ups can be just as important as the interview itself. Personally, I always leave with a handshake and promise to talk to them soon, whether I get the offer or not. It’s always a good idea to keep in contact with organizations you may have been rejected from. Eventually the time will come around again where they need a position filled. This article has some good points and great advice on driving home the interview process from start to finish, and then afterwards.

The Pursuit of Happiness

Mint.com, a money managing site, also publishes a blog called Mint Life about everything and anything related to living a good, successful life. This week, they published a post (via AskMen.com) with a top 10 list of factors that determine happiness.

The factors are:

10. Having a short memory - Being able to forgive and forget

9. Exacting fairness - Striving for situations where people are treated equally

8. Having lots of friendships - Being extroverted and having many friends

7. Being spiritual - Having a connection and belief system

6. Thinking ahead - Being able to predict (guess) what will happen to you and plan accordingly

5. Develop a skill - "Live it, don't buy it." Make yourself happy rather than buying things that make you happy

4. Having personal control over one's life - If you want something, go get it

3. Defining success - Don't compare yourself to Will Smith if you're an accountant. Know what your picture of success is for you

2. Good genes - Sorry, but part of it comes from mom and dad!

1. Liking yourself - Have some self esteem and know that you are a good person

The most relevant of these to us soon-to-be-grads are 3-6. It's so important not to let other people's ideas of where you should be and what you should be doing get in the way. Do what you want to do. Define success for yourself. No one knows you better, and no one can tell you if you've made it or not. That leads to having control. Gregory Berns, a professor at Emory said, "satisfaction can arise only by the conscious decision to do something." Do everything that you can to get what you want. Pull out all of the stops. Then go one step further. Its the extra step that will put you ahead. Take the reigns and do whatever is necessary to put your life on track.

We've all done number 5. As college students we've spent a decade and a half learning skills, so go out and show the world what you've learned and what you can do. Anyone can flip burgers and make enough to survive, but true happiness comes when you are using your own skills, the thing(s) that make you unique, to survive in the real world.

So are we happy? Can we be? By knowing who you are, what you want, and having faith in what you are capable of, any one of us can be the happiest man or woman on earth!

Life After School

By Tatiana Serna, Campus Representative, University of Rhode Island

Preparing for the days after college ends is a stressful endeavor.

Alison Diefenderfer, experienced in the higher education environment, gives some advice on “How to prepare for employment after graduation.” In Diefenderfer’s article she explains how important it is to improve your computer skills, she also says that students should pick their elective courses wisely, and try to pursue additional certifications before leaving college.

She writes:

Designing a webpage or website is also an excellent way to have a professional source for potential employers to peruse. One could upload a resume and maybe writing or artwork samples (depends on major field of study/industry wish to work in). A short biography and picture can add a professional flair… In addition to making one's computer skills as robust as possible, high school and college students ought to think twice about the elective courses they choose. While easier course loads might be alluring, they will not help when trying to make headway with a job search. Computer courses, foreign language classes, and even a double major all make an individual more marketable…

Although there is always the option of going back to school for additional training, it is often cheaper to work on certificates or minors before graduating.

Of course, looking back there is always more I could have done – an extra club or organization, learned a new language or tried a new class. It’s important to always look ahead and decide what I can do now.

Social Media - Keep It Clean

Matt Guerriero, Campus Representative, University of Pittsburgh

Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter can pose a problem to employers and applicants looking for a job. There has been much discussion and controversy recently about what should be on Facebook pages, and if employers are allowed to downgrade someone because of what is on their page. While there is no clear cut answer about this controversy, there are pros and cons associated with social media. In an article titled, “Millennials: Protect Your Privacy”, Gary Steele writes about the concerns employers have about recently hired employees. The article can be read here.

The loss of sensitive company information through e-mail has long been a concern. In the past five years we’ve seen companies become even more worried about social networks. This is especially true because they hire increasing numbers of tech-savvy Millennials for their workforce. In a recent survey of large enterprises, we found that 53 percent of executives are highly concerned about the risk of information leakage via social networking sites.

Many employees have lost their jobs because of what they post on their social media pages. Companies are clearly worried about information leaking on the internet so employees must be extremely careful about this. This applies to undergraduate students because this is the category of employees that employers are most worried about. We have grown up with a computer and are extremely comfortable with one.

There are some positives about social media. In the same article, Anne Berkowitch writes:

By smartly putting more information on the Web, you can, for example, improve your chances of finding—or being found for—a job. If you spend time connecting with current and former colleagues, maintaining those relationships, and keeping your virtual profiles up-to-date, you’ll increase your chances of being referred for a position or being proactively sought out.

I believe social media platforms can be helpful, but they must be used with extreme caution. You never know who is reading what you post online. The whole world doesn’t need to know about my life, so I think social media such as Facebook is just a way to connect with friends and possible employers in a professional manner.

MBA - Option for Undergrads?

By Monika Raginiak, Campus Representative, University of Minnesota

As we near the end our undergraduate careers, we are fearful of the job search that lies ahead. In order to avoid possible failure, some students are looking to MBA programs as an easy solution. This opportunity can buy us time, build our professional network, or be the differentiating factor we need to become employed. What most students don’t understand is that an MBA may not be the answer you are looking for.

Tara Sophia Mohr describes the pros and cons of obtaining an MBA in her article To M.B.A. or Not to M.B.A.? written nearly two months ago.

She admits “If you are planning to go into a typical M.B.A. career (investing, management consulting, etc.) that network is particularly valuable, because you'll meet many people relevant to your career.”

But, she continues to describe how earning an MBA will not answer all your life questions, “It's about looking inward and stepping into a more authentic you. It's about finding the courage to do that. Business school can't do that for you. Business school can't even help you do it.”

As I look to graduation, I am planning to pursue my MBA. I understand that another degree will not solve all my problems. I will not suddenly know what I want to do with my life or be able to reach levels of success I would not have otherwise been able to. But I have considered the pros as well. There are always lessons to be learned, and I feel it is still my time to be educated. As you move closer to your graduation, consider all your options. An MBA may be just the thing you need, but it could also just be a way to avoid stepping out of your comfort zone.

Jobs Data for Young People - Worse Than You Think

By Kevin Enriquez, Campus Representative, Drexel University

According to an article by Kathryn Anne Edwards and Alexander Hertel-Fernandez from the Economic Policy Institute, the recession has hit young workers particularly hard.

Some highlights (really lowlights!):

Since the start of the recession in December 2007, young adults have attained the highest unemployment rate on record (since 1948). The unemployment rate for 16-24-year-old workers peaked in September 2009 at 19.2%— passing the peak rate of 19.0% from November 1982—and started 2010 at 18.9%. Between December 2007 and January 2010, the unemployment rate for young workers increased 7.1 percentage points......

Young workers are getting stuck in unemployment for longer periods. Since January 2007 to December 2009, the median length of unemployment has increased from 6 weeks to 15 weeks, meaning that half of unemployed young workers have been unemployed for more than 15 weeks. The mean length of unemployment for young workers has more than doubled, from 11 weeks to 25 weeks. On average, it took workers age 16-24 a little less than six months to find a job in December 2009.This was slightly lower than the average for all workers (30 weeks); younger workers have a shorter duration of unemployment even in periods of economic expansion.

As a sophomore business student at the Lebow Business School at Drexel University; we primarily don't focus on facts about job employment or asses the competitiveness to finding a job, however we do prepare ourselves to stand out from other job applicants. Stats like these make me question whether the conversations in school about prepping for a job or standing out are realistic about how hard it really is out there.

Entry Level Resume Building

By Michael Rozelle, Campus Representative, Ball State University

Resume building is always on the top of prospective job applicants’ minds. Learning the structure and basic do’s and don’ts of a resume is the first, and easiest, step. But how easy is writing the actual content? Ah ha—this is usually the step that most applicants’ stumble on. There are constantly articles on what’s right and wrong when regarding resume content. Mike O’Brien (CEO Climber.com) lists some downfalls in his article, Why Your Resume Isn’t Working.

He writes:

The primary reason is sheer volume: recruiters are now reviewing at least 300 resumes per posted position, and taking approximately 10 to 30 seconds per document to decide whether or not a candidate is worthy of further review. Now more than ever, resumes are being used as reasons to say no to a candidate, not yes. What used to be considered minor errors--typographical issues, lack of scanability, or incomplete or poorly executed job-experience descriptions--are now enough to get your resume discarded.

Tips to follow:

Use generic 12-point fonts

Save your resume as a Word of PDF file

Create an easily scanned document

Optimize your resume with the appropriate keywords

Provide context for little-known companies

Entering into the fall semester and turning the corner towards graduation, I can relate to the stresses of resume building. I constantly am reviewing and editing my resume. It always helps to have someone’s point of view along with tips. The basic tips I follow are to keep it simple, yet effective. Strong descriptive words help pass the point without filling up the paper with clutter. Strong resume builders, like certifications and achievements, attract the interviewer’s eyes and can stimulate conversation. It’s always helpful to research resume tips before interviews.

No one needs you class of 2010...

By Tatiana Serna, Campus Representative, University of Rhode Island

“No one needs you class of 2010”, says Joe Queenan in the Wall Street Journal.

The article explains that the entry-level job market is very bad historically:

They [2010 graduates] will enter an economy where roughly 17% of people aged 20 through 24 do not have a job, and where two million college graduates are unemployed. They will enter a world where they will compete tooth and nail for jobs as waitresses, pizza delivery men, file clerks, bouncers, trainee busboys, assistant baristas, interns at bodegas.

According to Queenan 2010 grads face three enormous obstacles.

One, the economy, though improving at a glacial pace, is still a wreck. Two, nothing in most middle-class kids' lives has prepared them emotionally for the world they are about to enter. Three, the legacy costs that society has imposed on young people will be a millstone around their necks for decades.

I graduate from The University of Rhode Island in May of 2011. I see the fear in seniors eyes, we all know we are living in difficult times and articles such as these give chills up our spines. Questions we ask ourselves: How can we prepare for this jobless market? What can we do to set ourselves apart from the rest? Hopefully, the class of 2011 turns out better, it will be interesting to see if Queenan does a follow up article in May.

Job Search Length and Happiness

By Kevin Enriquez, Campus Representative, Drexel University

It seems as if every day, there is a new article on unemployment data and how dire the hiring situation is in Corporate America, but not as many articles explain the attitudes from individuals who actually manage to find a replacement job.

Recently, the Economix Blog in the Wall Street Journal quotes a study that says, the faster you find a replacement job; the more "satisfied" you will be, and the longer it takes you to get a job the more bitter the individual becomes towards work.

The article reads: Over all, nearly three-quarters of the newly re-employed say things turned out O.K., with 44 percent saying their current job is better than their former job and another 30 percent saying it is about as good. Only 24 percent say it is worse.

It turns out those who spent more time jobless do indeed evaluate their new employment less favorably, though: Among those who had been out of work for less than six months, three times as many say their new job is better than their old job (54 percent to 16 percent).

But those out of work for longer than six months are much more likely to assess their new jobs unfavorably. Nearly a third (29 percent) say the new job is worse than the old one, while a little over a third (36 percent) say it is better. (There was no statistical significance between the portion of both groups — long-term unemployed and short-term unemployed — who said their new and old jobs are about the same in quality.)

The reason for the different assessments from the long-term and short-term unemployed isn’t clear.

If you think about it there can be a number of reasons why people are unsatisfied with their job the longer it took for them to find it. Certain individuals were probably denied acceptance from there "desired" jobs and had to resort to a less attractive position. Other people who found their jobs right away might have gotten their dream jobs in the first wave of hiring. You have to love your job to enjoy it; if you settle for anything lower expect unhappiness.

Seven simple suggestions for finding a job in a tough economy

By Monika Raginiak, Campus Representative, University of Minnesota

As University of Minnesota students continue attending career fairs, interviews, and information sessions, they are all wondering how to stand out. We review our resumes, seek the aid of counselors, and look to our professional networks for any tips we can use to be successful in our job search. Joe Mayne, a professional speaker for students, has come up with some simple ways for students to be prepared for their job search in his article: Finding a Job in a Tough Economy – A Guide for College Students and Recent Graduates.

Mayne has seven simple suggestions:

1. Setting the right expectations

2. Working your network

3. Knowing your economics

4. Being informed and prepared

5. Being the right person for the job

6. Being flexible

7. Keeping your head up

As I am nearing my graduation in December, I have taken to heart the suggestions Mayne describes in his article. At times he is a little corny and the statements seem too obvious, but it’s a good reality check for juniors and seniors. He does a good job of calming our fears. We can stand out in this market; even with all of the capable competition. As Mayne says, it is our job to be the right person for the job. We just need to prove it.

Leadership Applied: "Are You a Good Leader?".

By Matt Guerriero, Campus Representative, University of Pittsburgh

From my very first class at the University of Pittsburgh through today, I have heard countless times about the importance of leadership experience. Professors and advisors have told me that attaining a leadership position in one organization is much more impressive than just being a member of many different organizations. I never understood the importance of what my professors and mentors were saying until I began to search for internships.

I found an interesting article by Bruce Weinstein from BusinessWeek about challenging individuals to assess themselves as leaders. I think it would be beneficial for every student/employee to follow these guidelines in the workplace or at school. Mr. Weinstein proposed the following leadership guidelines in an article titled, "Are You a Good Leader?" (see article here.)

1. What’s good for the Gander is good for the Goose (It’s unethical for firms to keep compensation so high in the midst of a recession)

2. Know your product

3. Winning (at all costs) is for losers

4. Tell the truth

5. Prevent harm

6. Don’t exploit

7. Don’t make promises you can’t keep

8. Take responsibility for your mistakes

9. People, not profits

10. Be kind, not King

As a student currently participating in student organizations and searching for internships, I can see how all of these guidelines apply to undergraduate students. Effective leaders are at a premium in the business world, so it is important to learn the skills necessary to be a successful leader. I recently took a leadership position in my business fraternity (social chair) and I hope to improve my skills so I can be an effective leader. It bothers me when I see students that sign up for every organization they see, but do not take any leadership positions. If an employer saw that on a resume, I believe the employer would want to question the candidate why he or she did not pursue leadership roles in any of the organizations.

Business Cards For U-grads

By Rick Dressler, Campus Representative, Syracuse University

When you graduate from college, you will inevitably become a number, or a single white sheet of paper in a list of resumes. There are ways to make yourself stand out from that stack and one of the most effective methods is creating a brand image for yourself.

One of the earliest signs that you've "made it" in the real world is your first business card. It opens up innumerable possibilities to you and makes networking a breeze, being able to show people in under four square inches what you do and for whom. However, Jessica Hernandez points out on MNHeadHunter.com, there is no reason to wait for your first job.

Having a business card does not have to be something that occurs only after you get a job. Why not take your own style and adapt it to a business card, letterhead, or even your resume. Brand all of your correspondence with a potential employer to scream YOU. It is incredibly important to differentiate yourself. Some people were presidents of clubs, others scored well on tests, but everyone can have their own distinct personal identity that is clearly depicted on any and all materials you hand a potential employer.

Everyone, no matter what their position in life, notices the small stuff. Your first impression in a face to face interview may be as important as the first impression of reading your resume, or calling or emailing you from a business card. By branding yourself effectively, you are given an automatic edge on every other grad who wrote their email address on the back of a piece of paper and handed it to a recruiter. You become an individual with a memorable identity. And if your business card gets you a job offer after your first interview, you've got all the supplies needed to become a professional free lunch winner!