This first section is all about getting ready to discover and pursue your ideal career. I am entirely certain that you, no matter who you are, can find a terrific, fulfilling, enjoyable job that will start you on the road to a career that will make you happy and successful. But first you have to believe that it's really possible. No matter what, don't let anything—including your own thoughts or fears—get in the way of getting a head start on your bright future.
1. Start Wherever You Are
Between my own first job search and researching this book, I've read virtually every career-advice-for-college-students book available. And every single one offers the same opening advice about finding a great postcollege job: start early.
Good advice, for sure, and I wholeheartedly agree. If you are reading this book as a college freshman, sophomore, or junior, then you are in great shape. But . . .
What if you haven't started early? What if you have, in fact, started really, really late? What if you're a second-semester senior? What if—gasp!—you are reading this book when you're already a year or two out of college and you still haven't found a job or a career path?
I'm here to tell you that it's okay.
I agree with all of the other books that it is ideal to start thinking about your career plans as early in your life as possible, but I also know the reality is that many people don't do this, and it isn't very helpful to tell a college senior that she should have started doing internships her freshman year. I promise you that this book contains strategies for those who are starting early (Welcome, freshmen!) and those who are starting later.
It is never too early or too late. But one thing is essential: you must choose to start your planning and searching wherever you are right now. The smartest strategy for any job seeker is to accept and embrace your starting point. Your task will be to maximize the advantages of your particular situation and work hard to minimize the obstacles. Virtually every tip in this book applies to job seekers at every stage of the process.
But whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, recent grad, or not-so-recent grad, there is one thing you must do as the first step of this book:
Starting this minute, commit to starting and having a great career. Therapists and self-help gurus will tell you that happiness is a choice; well, I think that having a great career is a choice, too. You can make it happen. And by reading this book, you will.
As you'll see in many of the stories ahead, if you're willing to do some work, take some risks, and apply some wise advice, you can and will get a terrific job and build a smart career path. Don't worry about what you could've done, would've done, or should've done up to this point. Just get started right now.
Your very first assignment: put a big, fat, satisfying check mark in the box on page 3. The path to your dream career is waiting.
Make This Work for You
Make a commitment to work on your career, starting today.
Done!
2. Know the Numbers
When you're graduating and just starting out in the workforce, it may seem that everyone is getting a job faster than you are or no one is moving back home to live with their parents. Well, it's time for a reality check. The truth is that over a million people graduate from college each year, so I promise that whatever your situation, lots and lots of other people are right there with you. Take this quick quiz to learn the real stats about college graduates and the job market:
1.How long does it take the average college graduate to get a job?...
