GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - Despite the job market being on the mend, recent government studies show one in two college graduates are jobless or under-employed.
The Wall Street Journal reports, that an increasing number of those students are graduating either a semester early or late forcing them to find a job in what's called the "off season."
Paul Timmins from the Career Services Director for the U of M's College of Liberal Arts joined KARE 11 Sunrise to offer some transition tips for new grads.
Tips that make finding a first job easier
- Use your university's career services. In many cases, career services are open to recent graduates, so check with your university to learn more about what you're eligible for
- Networking is critical
- Continue building experience. While you're job searching, you might still continue building your experience by doing an internship or by volunteering
Ways to transition from college to career
- Focus on professionalism
- Time management is critical in the world of work
- Have realistic expectations -- you're probably in an entry-level job and will need to prove yourself before you're promoted to advanced positions.
What are you hearing from Minnesota companies on what they're looking for in a college grad?
- Interpersonal communication
- Able to function effectively as a team member
- (Able to learn new ideas quickly.
Interpersonal communication
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