This document provides advice for recent college graduates on navigating their career search. It discusses mapping out goals and leveraging experience, crafting customized resumes, the importance of networking, and resources for identifying opportunities. Tips include considering contracting to build skills, thoroughly preparing for interviews, seeking career mentors, and evaluating each new position to ensure it aligns with long-term goals. The presentation aims to help new graduates develop a strategic job search roadmap and approach to career management after college.

1. COLLEGE TO CAREER
CONGRATS ON YOUR NEWLY MINTED
DEGREE-NOW WHAT?
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2. AGENDA
 MAPPING OUT YOUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
 LEVERAGING YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE, POSITIONS, PROJECTS,
INTERNSHIPS AND EDUCATION
 CRAFTING AND CUSTOMIZING YOUR RESUME(S)
 NETWORKING AS PART OF YOUR JOB SEARCH
 JOB POSTING SITES AND OTHER RESOURCES TO USE TO HELP
YOU IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES
 CONSIDER CONTRACTING TO BUILD YOUR SKILLS AND
EXPERIENCE
 DO’S AND DON’TS
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3. WHERE DO YOU START?
 FIRST KNOW YOUR OWN INVENTORY: ABILITIES, INTERESTS,
PERSONAL STYLE AND VALUES
 EVALUATE THE WORK REQUIREMENTS OF CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES YOU DESIRE
 DO YOU WANT TO SPECIALIZE OR BE A GENERALIST?
 ARE YOU AT POINT WHERE YOU CAN MAKE THAT
DETERMINATION?
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4. Create a Job Search Roadmap
 TITLE
 FUNCTIONAL INTEREST
 LOCATION-COMMUTING TIME
 SALARY
 TYPE OF INDUSTRY
 SIZE OF COMPANY
 CULTURE
 COMPANIES YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK FOR?
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5. ASK YOURSELF?
 WHAT DO YOU LIKE/WANT TO DO IN THE HUMAN RESOURCE
SPACE?
 WHAT ARE YOU BEST AT?
 WHAT DO YOU VALUE, WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU?
 WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIAL ASSETS, SKILLS AND ABILITIES?
 WHO NEEDS THE TALENTS, SKILLS AND ABILITIES YOU CAN
PROVIDE?
 WHAT WORK ENVIRONMENT MAKES SENSE FOR YOU?
 WHAT ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND OR EDUCATION DO YOU NEED OR
WANT TO DEVELOP OR ACQUIRE?
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6. Create Resume(s)
 ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL
 CREATE A RESUME TEMPLATE THAT CAN BE FINE TUNED
 ELECTRONIC RESUMES POSTED ON A SOCIAL MEDIA SITE OR
JOB BOARD LIMIT YOU FROM CUSTOMIZING
 USE YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE TO SUMMARIZE YOUR
EXPERIENCE BUT TAILOR YOUR RESUME TO THE JOB YOU ARE
APPLYING FOR WITH EACH ORGANIZATION-THE TWO ARE NOT
MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE BUT YOU WANT EDITORIAL FREEDOM ON
YOUR RESUME TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU CAN OFFER SPECIFIC
TO THE ROLE(S) YOU ARE PURSUING
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7. NETWORKING
 RELATIONSHIPS ARE VITAL, STAY ACTIVE AND ALWAYS
NETWORK
 BUILD A LARGE AND DIVERSE NETWORK-MAKE SURE YOU ARE
ALLOWING TIME TO WORK ON THIS EVEN WHEN YOU ARE
EMPLOYED
 MEETING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HOLD POSITIONS THAT ARE OF
INTEREST TO YOU LONG TERM
 REMEMBER, MOST QUALITY POSITIONS ARE NOT
ADVERTISED
 EXPLORE USING E-NETWORKING
 DEVELOP A TRACKING SYSTEM THAT WILL WORK FOR YOU
 PAY IT FORWARD
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8. SUCCESS RATES FOR FINDING A POSITION
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9. PLANNING
 SET GOALS BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT JOB AND WHEN
 TARGET POSITIONS AND COMPANIES
 NETWORK: TALK TO PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRIES AND
COMPANIES YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BOTH NOW AND LONG
TERM-BUILD YOUR TREE
 RECRUITERS: FIND THOSE WHO ARE SEASONED AND WELL
CONNECTED AND SPECIALIZE IN YOUR FIELD
 JOB BOARDS AND GROUPS WHERE YOU WILL FIND HR
OPENINGS
 FIND A MENTOR/COACH TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR JOB SEARCH
PROCESS
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10. Prepare Thoroughly For Interviews
 TWO TYPES: JOB SPECIFIC AND INFORMATIONAL
 DO YOUR RESEARCH
 PREPARE QUESTIONS
 PREPARE RESPONSES
 NOTE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS & FOLLOW THE STAR MODEL:
SITUATION, TASK, ACTION, RESULT(S)
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11. The 4-D’s of Career Management
 DISCOVERY-IDENTIFY WHAT YOU VALUE, WHAT YOU WISH TO AVOID
AND WHAT COMPONENTS MUST BE PRESENT
 DIRECTION-IDENTIFY COMPANIES, PEOPLE AND POSITIONS THAT ALIGN
WITH YOUR WORK PREFERENCES AND CAREER GOALS
 DISCUSSION-NETWORKING, CONTINUE TO FACILITATE NETWORKING
CONTACTS AND MEETINGS THAT ALLOW YOU TO GAIN INFORMATION
AROUND COMPANIES AND POSITIONS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
WHETHER CURRENTLY EMPLOYED OR IN TRANSITION
 DECISION-WITH EACH NEW ROLE EVALUATE THE WORK
CONTRIBUTION AND HOW IT FITS IN WITH YOUR SHORT AND LONG
TERM CAREER GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS IN HR
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12. Seek Out Career Mentors
 SHOULD HAVE A SIMILAR CAREER TRACK OR BACKGROUND
 SOMEONE WHO HAS THE TIME TO DEDICATE TO THE
RELATIONSHIP
 SHOULD BE HELPFUL IN FACILITATING INTRODUCTIONS AND
HELPING SET THE DIRECTION, ROADMAP AND TIMELINE
 CAN BE DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN YOUR
CAREER-LEADERS, TECHNICAL MENTORS, PEERS, PROFESSORS,
CONSULTANTS
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13. Do’s
 DO CONSIDER CONTRACTING AS A WAY TO GAIN EXPERIENCE AND
ROLE/INDUSTRY EXPOSURE
 DO CONSIDER INTERNSHIPS THAT ALLOW YOU TO EXPLORE
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF HR
 DO CONTINUE TO UPDATE AND REFINE YOUR RESUME AS YOU GAIN
NEW SKILLS, EXPERIENCES
 DO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, QUANTIFY THEM
WHENEVER POSSIBLE
 DO NETWORK AND STAY ACTIVE IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
 DO CONSIDER OBTAINING ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING
 DO SEEK OUT MENTORS WHO CAN PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND ADVICE
THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER
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14. Don'ts
 DON’T LET COMPENSATION BE THE PRIMARY REASON YOU
ACCEPT YOUR FIRST HR POSITION
 EVALUATE EACH POSITION YOU HOLD WITH AN EYE ON YOUR
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH GOALS
 DON’T ASK FOR A JOB WHEN CONDUCTING INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEWS
 DON’T POST YOUR RESUME ON JOB BOARDS, APPLY ON LINE
BUT TAILOR FOR EACH ROLE AND COMPANY
 DON’T WALK INTO AN INTERVIEW WITHOUT PREPARING AHEAD
OF TIME
 DON’T STAY IN A ROLE IF YOU ARE NOT GAINING EXPERIENCE
THAT ALIGNS WITH YOUR LONGER TERM GOALS IN HR
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15. Questions?
Thank You!
Please feel free to contact me:
Wendy Kent
Kent Employment Solutions and Kent Staffing
wendy@kentemploymentsolutions.com
(503) 293-JOBS
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