Nate Torvik has mixed feelings about his upcoming graduation from Purdue University. While there's relief that classes are over, exams have been taken and term papers turned in, what lies ahead is an extremely challenging and competitive job market. "I feel like the wind has been taken out of my sails," says Torvik, who received a bachelor's degree in mass communication. "There is so much pride and happiness that comes with graduation, but as soon as I step off that stage at graduation, I become another statistic of the current miserable economy." Torvik is one of thousands of soon-to-be college graduates thinking about relocating for work this spring. While choosing the best place to settle down can be a daunting decision, the current economic climate has raised the stakes. "I have been looking just about everywhere throughout the Midwest for a job because I do not want to be too far away from my family, but things are looking more bleak everywhere I turn," Torvik says. For now, he's working in retail and hopes it might open other doors to a job as an account executive at a marketing or advertising firm. Allison Lackey is one of the lucky ones ... for now. She is graduating with a communications degree from Millikin University and starts a ten-month stint as a traveling field consultant for Delta Delta Delta women's fraternity. After that, she hopes to find a position as a marketing or PR specialist for a nonprofit organization. "In a way, I am grateful to be searching for a job in this tough economy," Lackey says. "It has forced me to become comfortable with being able to articulate why I am the best candidate for the job and it has also forced me to learn how to network well with people in my field." Top cities for new grads While many new grads tend to look for jobs near their college or hometowns, scores of them are considering locations they might not have when they entered school four or five years ago. "Given the current economy, new grads looking to relocate are becoming increasingly concerned with the cost of living as they are faced with more competition for jobs than seen in previous years," said Tammy Kotula, public relations and promotions manager at Apartments.com. "With these very real concerns weighing on the minds of many, two leading online resources for apartments and jobs have come together to paint a realistic landscape of both the job market and cost of living in the most popular cities for young adults after college." For new grads who plan to expand their job searches beyond their college or hometowns, Apartments.com and CBcampus.com just released the "Top 10 Best Cities for Recent College Graduates." The list is based on the ranking of the top U.S. cities with the highest concentration of young adults (age 20 - 24) from the U.S. Census Bureau (2006), inventory of jobs requiring less than one year of experience from CBcampus.com (2009) and the average cost of rent for a one bedroom apartment from Apartments.com (2009). According to Apartments.com and CBcampus.com, the top 10 cities for new grads are: Popular entry-level categories:** sales, customer service, health care Popular entry-level categories: sales, marketing, customer service Looking beyond your hometown If you are considering expanding your job search to other cities, here are some tips: · Contact an alumnus from your college who lives in that city and join your alumni chapter if there is one. · Get an insider's perspective by familiarizing yourself with the local media and other resources. Read up on the city's business and community news. · Develop a list of companies within the area and learn about their businesses and company cultures. · Register with a national recruitment agency; interview with a recruiter in your local office and have that person put the word out to other offices in your target cities. · Consider spending a few days in your desired city to learn more, network and set up informational interviews. In your applications and cover letters, tell hiring managers the dates you'll be in the city and available to interview. Although this is a challenging market for new grads, remember: Attitude can be the key to your success. The reality is that the job search will take longer for these new grads thrust into the "real world" but the right mind-set can make you resilient. Consider the words from Elaine Goodwin, who plans to graduate this fall from Northern Illinois University: "There is always something. I love the Japanese proverb that says 'Fall down seven, get up eight.' I understand that it is going to be a tough economy to graduate in, but I will take the challenge and show companies how I can be an asset to them. You can't get discouraged because the world is not going to give you a break."
Top 10 Cities for New Grads
7 Job-Search Mistakes New Grads Make
This year's crop of college seniors is, unfortunately, graduating to a soft job market. A weak economy means fewer opportunities -- and greater competition for every single opening.
Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps, says, "In today's employment environment, there is less room for error when looking for your first career opportunity."
Don't let one of the following seven missteps cost you the career of your undergraduate dreams.
1. Keep It to Yourself
When you're looking for work, you want your burgeoning network to know it. Messmer, author of "Job Hunting for Dummies, 2nd Edition," advises, "Spread the word about your job hunt to everyone you know, including family members, friends, professors and former coworkers." Make use of online networking sites and reach out to your local business community and staffing firms.
2. Treat Every Opportunity Equally
One resume does not fit every job opening, so don't use the exact same document or cover letter when you apply to different companies. States Messmer, "Tailor each resume and cover letter to the particular opportunity, and try to obtain the name of the hiring manager so you can personalize your cover letter. A little detective work can go a long way in helping you stand out."
3. Make Careless Errors
Proofread. Proofread. Proofread. Every document you send to a potential employer must be error-free. Go through your resume, cover letter, emails, thank-you notes, and any communication with a fine-tooth comb to make certain they don't contain typos or grammatical errors. If you're not a grammar guru or lack an eagle eye, Messmer suggests, "Ask a detail-oriented friend to review all of your job-search materials."
4. Don't Do Your Due Diligence
When applying for a position, go beyond the job description to find out about the company as a whole. A little online research can go a long way, according to Messmer. He says, "Applicants who uncover beyond-the-basics knowledge of the job and the company are better able to communicate specific ways they can contribute to the organization's success."
5. Air Your Dirty Laundry
Before you meet someone in the flesh, online image is everything. Pictures of you goofing around with friends may seem funny, but they also may lead a recruiter to question your judgment, especially if they are salacious in nature or show you doing things that are illegal.
Messmer urges applicants, "Don't post anything that would appear unprofessional (think spring break photos, rants about a former employer, etc.) to a hiring manager or recruiter."
6. Act Casual
Once you begin your job search, make certain that you're acting like the professional you aspire to be. States Messmer, "Keep land line and cell phone voice-mail greetings clear, professional, and succinct. Likewise, avoid using off-color or overly cute email addresses or signatures."
7. Forget Your Manners
You probably won't get every job you pursue, but it is important to be gracious to everyone you encounter on your journey to employment. "Express appreciation to everyone who helps you in your job search, whether or not their efforts on your behalf are successful. Also be sure to send thank-you notes to every hiring manager you meet," he says.
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