Weekly Recap

For those of you that were a little too busy this week to read all of New Grad Life's content, here's a nice recap of everything that was published.

News

• Talking too much/not enough common job interview mistake
• Weekly Poll: When was your last job interview?
• New Grads Return Home, Become 'Boomerang Kids'
• Weekly Grad Star: Lauren Clarke
• Civil Service: another option for college grads

Job Hunting

• 10 Big Tips for Recent College Grads
• 3 Things That Will Get You Hired
• What Job Hunters Can Learn From Unemployed Actors
• 10 Uncommon Job Hunt Tactics that Work

Resumes

• 5 Resume-Writing Strategies for a Competitive Market

Interviews

• Job Interview Questions: "Why Should I Hire You?"
• What Companies WON'T Do to Prescreen Candidates
• 5 Subliminal Tricks That Make an Employer Adore You

Finance

• College Grads Offer Investment Advice

Work Life

• 5 Tips for Your First "Real" Job

What Companies WON'T Do to Prescreen Candidates

Companies go to great lengths to prescreen candidates nowadays - but exactly how far will they go? We thought we'd give you a laugh with this funny cartoon. Enjoy!
Teena Rose, Resume to Referral
http://www.resumetoreferral.com/

Weekly Grad Star: Lauren Clarke

Name: Lauren A. Clarke
School: St Johns University - Tobin College of Business
Major: Marketing
Job desired: Marketing, PR or Publicity job in Media (specifically TV or Magazines)
Graduation date: May 2010
Contact info: Lauren.Clarke06@stjohns.edu

Why should you be hired?
I believe I should be hired because of my self-starter attitude and compiled skills learned not only as a undergraduate student but through my work experience. Being able to juggle a full time students work load along with internships and jobs has taught me how to to prioritize and handle difficult situations professionally and with ease. All of this can make me an asset to any team or company.

Bio
I am a recent grad looking to start my media marketing career! My most recent experience was as a publicity intern for the Penguin Group. Here i learned how write press releases and pitch letters to prospective writers and reviewers. I also had the opportunity to work at MTV as a marketing intern. Working at MTV really allowed me to improve on my research and organizational skills. Finally, I have had almost 4 years of experience working for a small teen marketing firm called FAME media. I was able to improve on my interpersonal communication skills through helping plan focus groups, teen parties and after proms. All my experience put together makes my dynamic enough to work in almost any media setting.

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New Grads Return Home, Become 'Boomerang Kids'

College grads moving from dorms to bedrooms

Reprinted with permission from http://www.mybanktracker.com



Parents these days often do not have enough time to get over their empty nest syndrome before their college kids move back home — dirty laundry in tow.

The trend of recent college graduates finishing school only to settle back in with mom and dad is becoming more of a movement. It has become so prevalent that there is even a name for these graduates: “Boomerang Kids”.

“Boomerang Kids” Often Trying to Escape Debt

With the high price of college many graduates find themselves in debt right from the get go. Real world expenses like rent, food and utilities are completely avoidable in the comforts of their childhood homes. But does moving back home make young adults too comfortable?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 23% of recent college graduates are not looking for work out of the 37% of college graduates who are unemployed. Living off of their parents’ earnings is sustenance enough for those who choose to move back home. Many parents do not mind having their child move back home, and some even embrace it. The nurturing instinct to take care of your child can actually end up doing more damage than good. An extra mouth to feed may not be a financial issue for you, but there are other expenses to consider. If they are not bringing in an income, your graduate may be more inclined to borrow money. This could put your retirement planning on hold.

College kids living at home might not feel as motivated to get their lives started. Moving back in with the parents might seem like the best option for economic purposes but in reality it can be harmful in the long run. Graduates that live on their own after leaving school learn real-world lessons on how to manage money. There is more pressure to get and keep a job. Although the first job out of college may not be a “dream-job” per se, having any kind of work experience can be crafted into a resume builder.

Yes the economy is tough, and the best option for many students is to move back home. As long as living at home is seen as a temporary fix and graduates are still planning for the future they should be able to find success.

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Talking too much/not enough common job interview mistake

Last week we asked our readers "What was your worst job interview mistake?"

After 200 votes, here are the results:

Arrivng too late/early 16%
Not following up 19%
Talking too much/not enough 53%
Dressing inappropriately 6%
Bad body language 7%

It seems our readers feel that the mistake of talking too much (or not enough) in interviews is indeed the worst interview anyone can make.

Comment Question: Can talking too much or too little really cost you the job? What do you think? What bad interview story can you share? Comment below!

Why are you not getting the job search results you want?

Job search mistakes you might not be noticing

By Ci Ci Fan, ResumeTarget.com



There’s nothing more frustrating and demoralizing than searching in vain for a job. Whether it’s been two months or two years, it just sucks. Now, while you can’t control market forces, you can make yourself more appealing to hiring authorities. And the first impression that you make on any employer or recruiter is with your resume.

Your resume is the first—and sometimes only—point of contact between you and your potential employer. This is your chance to either impress or repel the employer.

Want to know why you’re not getting the job search results you want? Here’s our checklist of the top 5 reasons that applicants’ resumes end up in the trash:

1. Typos
Recruiters and employers view your grammatical and spelling mistakes as character traits. If you can’t be bothered to use automatic spell check, they will think that you won’t be bothered to do a good job at work.

2. Fancy formats/fonts
Unless you are applying for a graphic designer position, refrain from expressing your creativity through resume formats and fonts. In most cases, these are viewed as unprofessional. Choose a simple yet compelling format and stick with Times New Roman, black, size 12.

3. Jumbled files
The document may appear perfectly fine on your screen, but that doesn’t mean it’ll look the same on someone else’s. To ensure that your resume appears exactly how you want it to, send it in pdf format instead of as a word document.

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Weekly Grad Star: Ladan Nekoomaram

Name: Ladan Nekoomaram
School: American University-School of Communication
Major: Journalism and Public Affairs
Job desired: Journalism, editing, reporting, multimedia, social media, broadcast jobs or a position at a human rights or international think tank
Graduation date: May 2010
Contact info: ladan.nekoomaram@student.american.edu
                         www.ladannekoomaram.com

Why should you be hired?
I am a great candidate for a journalism or communications job because I was trained by today’s innovators in the field who understand the significance of multimedia, web development, social media and community in the success of a news organization. My experience, passion for my subject, and familiarity with the D.C. journalism and foreign policy scene would make me an ideal candidate for a job in news or at an international/human rights organization in town. Because I am fresh out of graduate school, I have a strong thirst for work and am anxiously awaiting my first opportunity to contribute to the news cycle.

Bio
I’m a graduate student at American University in the journalism master’s program and a fellow at Radio Free Europe. I manage a web site dedicated to covering foreign policy in Washington, D.C. and I blog about college issues and journalism for the Huffington Post. Previously, I have worked at NBC Nightly News, USA Weekend, Austin Woman Magazine and WTHR, the top local TV station in Indianapolis. I am an Iranian American from Carmel, Indiana who studied English and History at DePauw University before moving to D.C. to pursue my journalism career.

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Average Starting Salary for New Grads Slips 1.3 Percent

Bad news for college graduates?

The average starting salary offer to Class of 2010 graduates is down 1.3 percent compared to the average posted last year at this time by the Class of 2009, according to a new study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

NACE’s Summer 2010 Salary Survey shows that the overall starting salary offer to Class of 2010 bachelor’s degree graduates now stands at $48,661—down from an average of $49,307 posted last year at this time.

Among the business disciplines, accounting grads saw their average offer dip less than 1 percent to $48,691. Business administration graduates also experienced a drop: Their average offer fell 2.4 percent to $43,879. Much of that loss can be attributed to the types of positions these graduates were most likely offered—sales and management trainee jobs, both of which had average starting salaries below $40,000.

Economics graduates, conversely, saw their average salary offer increase over last year. Economics graduates now average $50,885, a 2.1 percent increase. Finance graduates also got a “raise,” albeit a modest one; their average offer now stands at $50,356, a 0.8 percent increase.

For information sciences grads, the average increase was not modest. These graduates now average $55,084—a 5.7 percent increase. The average starting salary offer to computer science majors did slip, but just by 0.5 percent to $61,112.

As a group, engineering majors have consistently posted increases to their average salary offers, and seemingly have been immune to negative economic effects. During the 2008 reporting year, their increases ranged between 5 and 7 percent, and, even as the economy fell, they continued to enjoy increases ranging from 2 to 4 percent during the 2009 reporting year. This year, that has changed, and, as a group, engineering grads now average $58,970—a 0.5 percent decrease.

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Last Week's Poll Results

Last week we asked "Are resume objectives necessary?"

After 251 votes, here are the results:

Yes 25%
No 62%
Not sure 13%

Is it a new trend in resumes to not have a career objective? Do you think that in the eyes of an employer an objective is still an integral part of a resume? Comment below!

Weekly Recap

We hope everyone had a great weekend! For those of you who didn't have time this week to read all of New Grad Life's content, here's a nice recap of everything.

News

• Last Week's Poll Results

• Weekly Poll: Are resume objectives necessary?

• Not so fast, aspiring nurses
• Weekly Grad Star: Chris McNamara
• New Grad Life's Resume Writing/Distribution Service
• College Grads With Debt May Qualify For Student Loan Forgiveness

Job Hunting

• 5 Reasons Employers Are Reluctant to Hire You

Resumes

• 7 Phrases to Leave Off Your Resume

Interviews

• Job Interview ANTICS: What HR Is Really Asking
• Job Interview Questions: "What can you do for us that no one else can?"

Networking

• 6 Job Networking Tips for New Grads

• How to Master Online Job Networking

Finance

• Financial Advice from a Fellow College Grad

How to Master Online Job Networking

How job seekers can leverage others in their job search

Social media shapes the way we network these days, why not take advantage of it? To be successful in job hunting a college graduate must be able to learn how to master online job networking - which social media sites to use, and how to use them. Watch this video and learn! Be sure to comment below with your thoughts on the tips presented here.

 


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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQZiDLv7cwc

New Grad Life's Resume Writing/Distribution Service

For those of you who missed our last announcement, New Grad Life has partnered with ResumeTarget.com to offer the best resume writing, resume distribution, and job search strategy help around!

For a limited time only, please use the coupon code "newgrad5off" to get 5% off.

Click on the picture below to visit our Professional Resume Writing Services web page.





ResumeTarget.com is an affiliate of New Grad Life

Weekly Grad Star: Chris McNamara

Name: Chris McNamara
School: Loyola University Chicago
Major: Journalism and Political Science
Job desired: TV or Radio producing, Consumer Relations, Corporate Communications, Financial Communications, or Media Relations.
Graduation date: 2010
Contact info: cwilmc@gmail.com
                         http://cwilmc.com

Why should you be hired?
My generation, millenials, gets a bad rap. We're described as self-centered and attached to our parents. Well, I'm neither. I love being independent and have an incredibly strong work ethic. My career goal is to make whoever I work for the best. As corny as it sounds, I will fall in love with my company and the work it does. I'll relocate anywhere in the United States for my career.

My hard work speaks for itself. I graduated cum laude with two degrees from Loyola. My writing skills are great, I recognize most AP style errors, and I have a love-affair with all things news. My technical skills are also very good. I know web content management systems, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Audition, and Final Cut Pro just to name a few. If you hire me, you're going to get a passionate, multi-talented, and hard-working team member.

Bio
My collegiate career at Loyola University Chicago gave me valuable academic and professional experience. I held an internship with CBS Radio at WBBM-AM, Newsradio 780. There, I helped manage the station's web site by proofreading and editing wire copy. I also recorded additional video for reporters to go with their stories. Additionally, I represented the station at promotional events in the Chicago area. This internship taught me how to work under pressure and tight deadlines.

At Loyola, I helped produce, direct, report, write, and edit Loyola News Chicago in its first semester (Spring 2010). I received the honor of best newscast director after the final newscast. I also served as an on-air DJ and reporter for WLUW-FM. Here, I pitched stories to my editor and wrote on both tight and loose deadlines.

For public relations work, my Advanced Public Relations class worked with a real client. I wrote a news release and pitched media outlets. Being a journalist gave me a huge advantage over other public relations students. I consistently followed the news, knew AP style, recognized trends, and made connections between real-world events and classic public relations case studies.

I served as the public relations chair for my fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon. I promoted and executed various events, specifically our "Students Fight Back" self-defense program. During Greek Week, I made our chapter go from last place (2008) to third place (2009) by developing a team-oriented plan.

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College Grads With Debt May Qualify For Student Loan Forgiveness

Student loan savior?

Many college graduates often find that they owe money for student loans, which were borrowed in order to meet the costs that seem to be on the rise at many universities and colleges across the nation. Typically, students will fill out a FAFSA form when seeking federal financial aid and many will obtain some form of federal student loans to help meet their college costs.

Yet, when it comes time to repay these college debts, many people fail to realize that there are forgiveness options for federal student loan debt if someone is in a particular career. For instance, anyone who works in a public service field may qualify for federal student loan forgiveness after 10 years of repayment.

Usually, this forgiveness comes from being enrolled in a Direct Loans repayment plan and being employed in a public service field when one applies for and finishes their payments in a forgiveness repayment plan. There are options for student loan forgiveness for non-public service workers, but these will require 25 years of repayment for those who qualify.

Direct Loans is a program within the Department of Education that handles student loans and anyone who feels they may qualify for student loan forgiveness or wants to begin a repayment plan that will allow them to have their debt forgiven after the timeframe has expired, may want to contact their lender to see what options are available for that particular college debt situation.

While the forgiveness plans can be very beneficial for those who may have acquired a large amount of federal student loan debt, they are repayment assistance options for anyone who may not have enough debt where these repayment forgiveness timeframes would be of help. While student debt is sometimes unavoidable, with forgiveness options and repayment assistance plans, like income-based repayment programs, student debt can be easily managed after college and does not have to be a financial burden for years down the road.

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Source: http://www.rwbpress.com/2010/07/06/college-graduates-with-federal-student-loan-debt-may-qualify-for-student-loan-forgiveness/
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenny8lee/4641976718/

Last Week's Poll Results

Last week we asked "Do you tailor your resume to each job you apply for?"

After 185 votes, here are the results:

Always 38%
Sometimes 52%
Never 10%

So what do you think? Is tailoring your resume for a specific job posting a good way to get noticed, or is it just a waste of time? Comment below!

Weekly Recap

We hope everyone had a great 4th of July! For those of you who didn't have time this week to read all of New Grad Life's content, here's a nice recap of everything.

News

• Last Week's Poll Results

• Weekly Poll: Do you tailor your resume to each job you apply for?

• 11 Reasons New Grads Should Pursue Nonprofit Careers
• Weekly Grad Star: Cristin McGrath
• College Grads Lack Skills for Workplace?

Job Hunting

• 15 Twitter Job Search Apps for New Grads
• How to 'Mass Customize' Your Job Search (video)
• How New Grads Can Find Jobs Through LinkedIn

Resumes

• Seven Strategies That'll Make Your Resume Stand Out Online

Interviews

• Job Interview Questions: "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
• 10 Ways to Screw Up an Interview

How to 'Mass Customize' Your Job Search (video)

Job search tips not commonly heard of

So you're sending out dozens of resumes for jobs online, job hunting like crazy, and you hear that you really should customize your resumes and tailor them to each job applied to. So how do you do that if you're applying to dozens and dozens of jobs? You must "mass customize" your job search. Job hunting isn't as simple as some may put it, so to understand how to mass customize your job search, watch this video and start your career off right.



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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU8Z2C2GW48

Weekly Grad Star: Cristin McGrath

Name: Cristin McGrath
School: Temple University in Philadelphia, PA
Major: Strategic and Organizational Communication with a specialization in Public Relations
Job desired: I have actively been searching for an account executive position in either an agency setting or in the corporate world. I am extremely interested in the entertainment, travel and hospitality fields, and am a strong believer of "doing what you love."

Graduation date: May 2010
Contact info: cristin.mcgrath@live.com

Why should you be hired?
Having only graduated in May, I bring real-world experience from both domestic and global companies. During college, I showcased my desire to succeed by securing two coveted internships which required a commute of four hours per day; I am extremely dedicated to this field and will remain loyal to a company that gives me a chance to shine. I am a self-starter who is detail-orientated and ready to take on any project, major or minor. Having a mother who specializes in graphic design set me up to become a well-rounded publicist, who not only has the skills necessary to write a press release but can also design a document! In my twenty-one short years, I have already organized a press tour, assisted with two red carpet events, created and presented a complete press plan and I am hoping a company will be willing to help me strengthen my skills.

Bio
I have industry experience gained not only during time spent with global corporations such as MTV Networks and Sony Music Entertainment, but with one of London's premiere events management and catering firms, Inn or Out LTD. I graduated in four years, while holding down internships, part-time positions and 18 credits. I thrive while working with time constraints, multiple project deadlines and am completely capable of multitasking. My passion for social media’s integration with public relations is apparent through my personal branding, in which I use a blog, Twitter, a personal domain and LinkedIn. I believe given the right atmosphere, I can excel and become an integral part of any established team.

I am determined, ambitious and my level of professionalism will be apparent in any company, big or small. I hope to see my career rocket me into the world of music and entertainment; my time spent at VH1 and Jive LG cemented my desire to be in a field that is constantly changing, with crazy hours and tons of pressure. I have experience working televised events, press tours and the creation of press memos, advisories and biographies. Finally, I do not wish to enter into the field of public relations the “glitz” or “glamour”; image management, events management and writing have always been passions of mine. My desire to be in this field is not a flash in the pan!

Want to be a featured Grad Star? Click here!

Last Week's Poll Results

Last week we asked "Is the current job market better compared to 6 months ago?"

After 245 votes, here are the results:

Yes 37%
No 49%
Not sure 14%

So what do you think? Based on your experience, is the job market better than 6 months ago overall? Comment below!

Weekly Recap

For those of you that were a little too busy this week to read all of New Grad Life's content, here's a nice recap of everything that was published.

News

• Last Week's Poll Results

• Weekly Poll: Is the current job market better compared to 6 months ago?

• What’s the ‘Real World’ Really Like for College Grads?
• Weekly Grad Star: Mary Keller

Job Hunting

• Top 10 Job Hunting Tricks
• 5 Ways to Stay Motivated in Your Job Search
• 5 Ways to Get a Job on Craigslist

Resumes

• 10 Kisses Of Death for a Resume

Interviews

• How College Grads Can Thrive in Phone Interviews
• 15 Toughest Interview Questions (and Answers!)

Networking

• Debunking Job Networking Myths for College Grads

Finance

• Financial Tips for New Grads in the Recession