You’ve got your degree, you know what you want to do, and you’re ready to launch. You’re ready to find your first professional job, right?

 

Wrong. You need connections, relationships, and a network. And you need to know, at least generally, what you’d like to do in your job. Regrettably, you’re late.

 

Work during college

A wonderful student of mine, preparing for graduation, told me that he was ready to write his resume.  We sat down to write his first draft and I asked him, “What jobs have you had during college?”

 

“None,” he told me. “In my family, we don’t work while in school.” I know that’s a tradition in a lot of families but, unfortunately, it doesn’t work as well as it once did. It’s important to figure out what you might want to do for a living well before you graduate. 

 

Start early

Very early in your college career, it may be premature to ask for job interviews with employers.  So, early as possible, even freshman year, connect with hiring managers you admire via social media: Twitter, FB, LinkedIn (at least). You’ll identify them in business publications and websites.

 

Follow them closely and comment periodically on their posts. Learn their hobbies, points-of-view, what they read, etc. You can’t begin this cycle immediately before graduation since genuine relationships don’t blossom in “Internet time.”

 

When it’s finally time to begin your “official” job search, you’ve pre-established a virtual relationship and can comfortably transition to “personal” by calling (on the telephone!) to request a “15-minute informational interview.” (You’ll get more than 15 minutes!)

 

What to ask

Ask about their typical days, the paths of their careers, what they’d do differently and what advice they’d give to a young person interested in opportunities they’ve identified.  You can also ask about the various functions people serve in their organizations and industries, and you may find a few that interest you.  So, ask still more about those. 

 

As admired authorities, they may extend themselves to help find other executives within their organizations or at colleagues’ companies for informational interviews. You’ll learn a lot, but you’ve got to ask. 

 

The high-value result

The results of your interviews and pre-established relationships will deliver a lot of value to you at graduation.

 

You’re the best judge of what you can do and will enjoy doing for a living during your career.  No parent, professor, or counselor is able to do any portion of that for you.