Full Careers
How can I find career counseling/advice???
I am in the process of my first real job search since graduating college, and it's a nightmare. I don't even know where to start and I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. Is there some kind of service that offers career counseling and assistance with trying to find a job? I have a Bachelor's in Liberal Studies and also was a Peace Corps volunteer for two years. Still, everytime I try to find a job I feel like I'm just not qualified for anything. Does anyone have advice on what my next step should be?
Public Comments
- Check and see if your state has a Department of Labor that has job counseling. Also look into your local Community College. Most of them have a Career Services Office that offers job search assistance and career counseling FREE to all community members. I worked in one, and most people dont know that the community colleges off this service free of charge. Check it out and good luck!
- Go to www.monster.com and www.careerbuilder.com and sign up. Also, hotjobs.com see sources below. The more exposure the better. Usually everything is free, but maybe not The Ladders. You don't have to buy anything. Set up a profile, load in a resume and read some of the articles at the site. Set up some job searches, look into several different types of fields. You may have the great advantage of being able to go anywhere, that will give you more opportunity. Don't answer ads to transfer money for a foreign agent, or anything like that. Look for companies with solid reputations. If you hate sales don't go into it, you'll only disappoint yourself. If you love the power of persuading people to buy products or services, you might find some doors open there. Selling insurance with a reputable company is good, they take beginners. You might consider working for a church or charity. You could place an ad about yourself in some Church newspapers. Many churches need people with typng ability and various other skills like computer skills that I know you have. IF you can get a job you like and make more contacts, you might be very surprised how the Lord may lead you from there. If you have foreign language skills, that can be a great plus in many jobs advertised on the web. Just posting your resume might get you some calls. Best wishes for your success, and many prayers.
- If you are still near the university you graduated from, go to see the counselors in the Career/Placement Center. Most universities will allow alumni to do on-campus recruiting events and use other services. Get advice on your resume and some interviewing tips. (Maybe they can even do a mock interview.) If you are out of town, log on to their website and see what they have to offer! (Sometimes they list alumni living outside their local area... use them to start networking.) If you know the industry in which you want to work, look in the local paper and see if there is a professional association that meets. Go as a guest (usually you will only have to pay for dinner, no fees until you join -- you'll want to check it out to make sure the people who attend are working in the field... not all looking for jobs.) Volunteer, job shadow, do some informational interviewing.) Start networking!! Good luck.
