Hit the Ground Running Upon Graduation - Hallie Crawford

Hit the Ground Running Upon Graduation This is a recent press release Shannon Cherry, my PR guru extraordinaire, created for me. And an update on this, Hometown Dekalb has posted the article on their website. I was excited to be mentioned, a thank you to them. Atlanta (January 18, 2007) â€" There’s more opportunity and more choices than ever for college graduates, but according to Career Coach , MA, CPCC, the key for students to land a great job upon graduation and be prepared for life after school is to think and plan ahead. Surveys show employers plan to hire almost 18 percent more new college graduates from the class of 2007 than they did from the class of 2006 â€" and the jobs will go to the ones who are most prepared for the transition,” says Crawford, who helps graduates and their parents create a career plan. The growing demand for new graduates is a result of an increased demand for employers products and services; in addition, employeesâ€"baby boomersâ€"are retiring or nearing retirement age, and other employees are leaving organizations for new opportunities. Indications are that employers expect the good job market to continueâ€"or perhaps get better. “Most students don’t think about getting a job until close to graduation, which is a mistake,” says the career coach. “College students so frequently graduate unprepared for life after college, and with no sense of what they want to do. Many return to live with their parents although they’d actually prefer not to.” But just like finding the best college, developing a plan of action to find a career that suits one’s personality, interests and talents about a year prior to graduating. Crawford shares the following tips to get the plan started: Discover what’s important to you in life and in a career-determine your values and priorities. “Know yourself and what you think you want to do,” she says. “Now is the time to explore what you want to be when you ‘grow up’”. Gain inspiration from others who are working in a field they love. “Find a mentor by identifying successful people in your life and talk to them about what they did to get there,” explains Crawford. Get the experience. “A college degree is important to many employers, but real world experience is even more valuable,” she says. An internship will build many of the skills employers find lacking. “And it’s not just an opportunity to gain experience, but its also a setting for you to learn professional behavior, learn what it means to work in a team, and practice interpersonal communication,” Crawford explains. Think like an employer. “I know that a lot of money has been spent on your education, but the reality is employers want to see the skills, not your college life on a resume,” she says. She suggests highlighting what you can do on a resume, before ever discussing where you learned to do it. “Young adults and their parents spend a lot of time and money at school,” says Crawford. “Don’t waste the investment by not thinking of future plans.” Young adults, college students and their parents: Contact me today and schedule your complimentary 30 minute consultation. Learn about the coaching programs I offer to help you hit the ground running upon graduation.