How can you help students search for jobs effectively?

As a parent of a college student, I would say the most important part of helping a job search is to understand how companies hire students. Do they have a specific campus recruiting function? How does that function work? How do these companies search for rising young professionals? Is it job fairs? Ads on common job boards like Indeed or via their own corporate website in a careers section? If it is on Indeed (very common) walk your students through how to use Indeed (which has an entry level and no experience filter.) If it on job boards help them identify priority employers, and teach them how to fill out a mock application (there are some on CareerOneStop add the .org.)

Ask oneself the question, "Do I want a career or a life?" Once you have your answer then distinguish in both choices "what level you wish to rise?" Next, answer these questions: 1. If you choose a career, are you willing to live in the same city or city chosen by the company for most of your life? If you chose having a life, then what will attach you to a specific city? (ex., industry; family connections; value of community; resources for your interests, etc.) 2. Once you have these answers, then your first active step is to join organizations and associations that will lead/guide you to the community that will offer you a career (jobs) or life (clients/places, resources, etc.) Why? You need mentors & references. Proof of skills.

Students usually can't fully grasp the breadth of their talents. Starting out, they want to just "get anything" to start making money. And that's OK. It can, however, lead to disappointment and disillusionment with the job market. Parents/guardians should invest in their students and help them find their "ikigai." What are they good at? How can they help others? Would a certain career be able to sustain them financially? Have the student take a career assessment. Resources like Ken Coleman's "Find the Work You're Wired To Do" give students a customized a palette of career options. Help students get excited about their futures. They need our guidance through this early career development process. We have a lot to share!

Resumes are the face of your profile; a good resume captures attention of an employer and an Applicant Tracking System alike. The key to an impactful resume is customisation. Make sure you tailor your resume and cover letter as per the job description. Showcase your most relevant skills and projects at the top of your resume. Add a summary on the top to set the right context in case you are not submitting a cover letter along with your resume. Make sure you mention your technical skills separately for added visibility. Use action words to emphasise your work. Finally, keep your resume crisp and to the point.

As much as we want to tell our story to employers, a cover letter and resume have one job: make the reader want to see more. So, "short but savvy" is your objective. Too much and the resume might go unread. Approach your resume and cover letter with a pain-gain mindset. What is the pain point (challenge) the employer has, and how will you help them gain a successful outcome? This does NOT have to be from job experience. Remember, students typically have none. Life experiences go along way to convincing a hiring manager that you might be the one. Pro tip: use the ad's prominent keywords when responding. Resume scanning software picks those up and gets you to the next step without a human even looking at your carefully crafted submission!

Humans are wired for social networking! The reason networking is successful has more to do with trust than anything else. If someone recommends a student as a job candidate, there is an element of trust involved if the employer decides to speak with him/her. Beyond resumes and cover letters, networking adds a personal "nod" from someone else. That credibility, no matter how small, goes a long way to moving the student to the short list. Fully embrace school groups, volunteer jobs, parents' business contacts, and friends and ask for leads if they know of any. Pro tip: take advantage of your social media feeds to let others know you're looking, but CLEAN UP up your social media accounts first! Trust me, employers look.

The single most important part of job interview prep: role playing. Here, student and the mentor uncover as many potential interview questions as possible and thoughtfully prepare responses. Find an interview mentor, preferably one who hires people as a part of their job role and can devote time to invest in the student's interview skills. Plan your answers using SAR (Situation, Action, Result; sometimes known as STAR) because you must help the interviewer picture how you would fit into the job role. Pro tip: video your mock interview! You'll be amazed the things you see (lack of eye contact, fidgeting, body language, etc.) Practice, practice, practice. It removes anxiety and gets you thinking, "I can't WAIT to get to this interview!"

Many students go to college not because they know what they want in life and require a degree to get it, but purely because of pressure from parents, friends, or communities. "It's what everyone's doing." "It's what I was expected to do." "They said this is the only way to get a good salary." There are, in fact, many careers that provide financial security and fulfillment WITHOUT a degree. So when advisors meet a student who came to college just to please other people or buy themselves time, it's incumbent upon us to help the student figure out what they REALLY want from life, and find the courage to pursue that. That might mean sending someone off to work in construction, be a housewife, or start a business—all perfectly noble callings.