Author: Mark Babbitt, CEO of YouTern
I understand that for several decades young adults have been pitched the same career advice… and that it can be hard for us to change the mantra.
When I recently wrote a blog entitled “Career Centers: Is Fall their Spring”, I was certain that 99% of our career center professionals and career experts “get it”. They understand college students’ sense of urgency, and are more than capable of providing effective counseling and mentorship.
However, far too many recent columns and blogs from “experts” mechanically spout advice from the 1950’s:
- Update your resume
- Write your cover letter
- Organize letters of recommendation
- Get out your best clothes
- Practice your interview skills
Really? That is “Top 5” material? With almost half of our young adults unemployed, under-employed, or in the “I give up” category…this is our best advice?
Please… somebody tell me our “experts” aren’t this far removed from reality.
We must – and can – do better.
A plea to those offering advice to students and young adults on career matters:
Please take time to understand the aspects of career development important to Gen Y. These tools – especially with our current economic realities – have a significant impact on becoming employable.
At best, advice that doesn’t include these “tips” under-serves those we mentor. At worst, this “old school” advice can cripple the early careers of those now entering the workforce.
Social Media
Social media’s role – good and bad – in career development must be included in every “Top 5” list of career tips. “Clean up your Facebook” is a start – barely.
The good: For Gen Y, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn may be the best possible way to find work; from opportunities not mentioned anywhere else (including career center job lists or major job boards) to developing an initial relationship with hiring managers.
The bad: More often than not, a hiring decision maker will check one’s online presence. Talk too much about hangovers, or whine incessantly about your last job or internship? Do “friends” routinely post off-color remarks? How do you respond? Does your personal blog accurately reflect you?
Our “Top 5” Tip: At this point in your life, your online presence should represent the “professional” you – not the “high school” you.
Networking
Regardless of your birth generation, nothing replaces effective networking – both online and offline.
The phrase “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” still applies, perhaps now more than ever. However, through online social networking “who we know” is no longer limited to handshakes and geography. Now, we can effectively know anyone – anywhere in the world.
Our “Top 5” Tip: Most jobs are filled through personal recommendations. Dramatically increase the number of people who would recommend you – through effective networking.
Secure an Internship – Perhaps Several Internships
Consider these statistics and published comments:
- Garner, Chao and Hurst for Michigan State: “90% of direct-from-college hires will have internship experience…”
- National Association of Colleges and Employers: “69.6% of interns were converted to full-time…”
- Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies: “Internships are no longer optional…”
To many recruiters, internships have become a compulsory element of the college experience. Some consider internships a “gate key” to securing employment.
Our “Top 5″ Tip: Dramatically increase your chances of being hired: build content for your resume and portfolio through a series of diverse internships, all relevant to your chosen career path.
Personal Branding
Of course personal branding (professionalism, resume, cover letter and portfolio) remains incredibly important. And we wholeheartedly agree the candidate should engage the support of career center professionals who can objectively counsel the candidate, and organize and edit the branding collateral.
Our “Top 5” Tip: Personal branding, both online and in-person, must set you apart from other competition – and accurately and professionally represent your career ambitions.
Exceed Expectations
In the old days, we would recommend reading the annual report of the corporation, pre-interview. Today, most start-ups, change-oriented non-profits, companies run by passionate entrepreneurs – the organizations hiring now – likely don’t offer this information.
Today, the first step is to review a company’s online presence: website, social media, and online reputation. Second, determine if there’s a “fit” between you and the employer – and how your skill set, experience and passion will best help that company. Next step: establish how best to articulate your “value proposition”.
- Create a bullet-point marketing plan, perhaps?
- Or construct an analysis of that organization’s top competitors?
- Maybe build a social media summary incorporating your current followers, contacts and influence?
With your value proposition in hand, introduce this unsolicited (and unexpected) contribution to the recruiter with these words: “I’ve taken the liberty to…” As in: “I’ve taken the liberty to build an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your competition…”
By utilizing this one piece of advice, you’ll show confidence, passion, and a precedent for exceeding expectations – and leap way ahead of your competition.
Our “Top 5” Tip: A good cover letter and resume gets you in the door. Exceeding expectations keeps you on the right side of that door.
As mentors, each of us must dispense relevant advice. From my perspective, any Top 5 must include:
- Use Social Media
- Effective Networking
- Secure Relevant Internships
- Personal Branding
- Exceed Expectations
For a new generation, we must be willing to update our advice to benefit candidates in the professional environment they must navigate, today.
What would you add to our list of Gen Y Career Tips? Let us know, in the comments section or on Twitter: @YouTern.
