Before Your Job Hunt: Look In Before You Look Out

It's August: Where's your job?

You're at a family dinner, and your uncle says, _"Senior year already? Do you have a job yet?"_ Suddenly, those mashed potatoes go dry. A job? You're thinking about football tickets! Freshman rush! A class schedule that starts at 11 a.m.! But a job surely, not yet? I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that yes, it is time to start thinking about jobs. The good news is that these first steps are all about you. It's time for a walk down Introspection Lane with something I like to call *Look in before you look out!* *Part 1: Environment isn't just for bio credit* Think back to the work, internship or volunteer experiences you've had. What did you enjoy most about these different work environments? Did you prefer: - a large or small organization? - interacting with many people or working alone? - receiving daily guidance, or being autonomous? - having one set of duties, or being a jack/jill of all trades? These elements can be found in all work environments, regardless of field. Figure out what works for you, for you to work! *Part 2: Pull out a map* Location, location, location geography does play a role in your future plans. This doesn't necessarily mean pick a city or state to get your start, although it can. It may mean proximity to centers of support: parents, grandparents, friends or a significant other. Some people want to get as far away from home as possible. Some want to be close enough to do laundry if out of quarters. As a side note, this is a time when a lot of women start wondering if their future plans will involve their current loves. While that's a column in itself, for now I'll be brief: don't plan your job hunt around your boyfriend/girlfriend without bringing the idea up to him/her first. It's may feel awkward, but acting without it can lead to much, much worse. *Part 3: Dream big to figure out a small step* Where do you want to be in ten years? What dream job lurks in the back of your mind? Take a moment to think big. Then find out what experience you need to have to get to that job and work backwards. For example, if your dream job is to be an editor at Vogue, learn everything you can about what they look for in potential editors. Is it magazine experience? Then your first step should focus on publications. Is it experience in the fashion industry? Then look at one of the bigger design houses. You get the idea. Finally, . Learn everything you can about your university's career resources. Do they hold job fairs? Sponsor recruiters? Maintain an online resume service? Conduct interview seminars or alumni networking events? Many schools will start these events within a few weeks of the start of the fall semester don't be caught unprepared! *Next month, it's Resumes for the Digital Age How to appeal to new media and old school at the same time.* delicious | digg | technorati
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