The great college town job search: How to get ahead in the race for employement
AFTER GRADUATION, JOB SEEKERS expect to find a job in their area of study. Often they end up in completely unrelated careers. SAMANTHA BEHL photo illustration
Getting a job can be tough in a college town like Logan. Many students are in need of money, experience, resume building or all the above, so naturally there is a lot of competition and demand for spots in the workforce.
There are few guarantees in life, and landing a perfect job while also studying full time is absolutely not one of them. That being said, there are tips that others have learned over the years that can’t hurt your chances while exploring the job market. Recently, professor Kathy Riggs from Utah State University Extension compiled some tips in a newsletter for teens looking to land a summer job.
Being currently employed in two part time jobs myself, I agree with some of the tips provided by the newsletter, but I also think it’s missing some crucial ideas that have I learned through my experiences. I would also argue that they can be applied to job hunting for the school year, which many recent high school graduates are likely considering already. Here are my thoughts on the ideas professor Riggs offered.
Start early
This is something I failed at when I was looking for a job at the beginning of freshman year. I’m from Idaho originally, and I had this silly idea in my head that I had no need to be looking for jobs in Utah while I was still at home. I didn’t start looking until I arrived in August. This was a mistake. Other students who were smarter than me had already found opportunities and been hired for various positions on and near campus. I ended up finding a job with USU facilities, but it wasn’t until late October when I was hired. If you’re looking for any job, during the summer or school year, do it ASAP.
Stop by the business
Stopping by a business can help you gauge the work environment, travel logistics, and will show whoever is in charge that you are genuinely interested in what they have to offer. However, I don’t feel that this is as critical as other things you could be doing because it can only provide a slight tip to the scale in the event that you’re dead even with another candidate in the eyes of the employer. Furthermore, it can be impractical to try and visit every place with an opening if you don’t have a car.
Put your best foot forward
Dress appropriately, use good manners, and communicate well. These may go without saying for many of us, but it’s very easy for bad habits to arise without realizing it. Being constantly aware of what you’re doing is important. The job search can take a lot out of you, and dwindle your patience to a speck. Maintaining your self-marketability is crucial during these times, as you want to always give yourself the best chance possible.
Cultivate a spirit of entrepreneurship
This tip suggests that you can work for yourself, giving piano lessons, doing yard work, babysitting etc. This was the story of my high school work career. I figured, why work at a minimum wage job for a large company when I could earn four times as much mowing lawns for people? It worked out well enough at the time, but the truth is, employers prefer to see McDonald’s or Shopko on a resume. When you’re self employed, they have no manager to contact and your references could be anyone. This can be a good source of income, but ideally it should be done on the side. Prioritize working for a recognized name first and working for yourself second.
My tips for the job-seeking Aggie:
Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone.
The pleasant depths of the comfort zone can hinder your ability to find a job. Your chances of being hired increase drastically when you’re okay with doing any sort of job. It’s true that cleaning bathrooms, cooking over a hot stove or taking out the garbage can be awful, but you’ll still have a job. It can be very rewarding to go into a job unsure of yourself, only to succeed and learn from your experiences.
Career Aggie is your best friend forever
The online job posting service provided by USU is fantastic. Use it. Once you have a resume uploaded, you can apply for every job available with just a click. This also allows you to apply for jobs in Logan from anywhere in the world, making it handy if you want to apply early, before moving into town.
Talk to peers with jobs
If you know that a friend or classmate is employed, ask them if their job is hiring. My second job came from a friend who told me about it. Networking with your peers is a great skill to learn, and could very well get you hired.
My final tip is simple: Never give up
Keep searching and don’t let failure destroy your resolve. Do whatever you can to increase your chances because again, nothing is guaranteed. These tips should give you a solid basis to start from and now it’s your turn to take matters into your own hands. Happy hunting!
The Eddie-torial
edcollins270@gmail.com