Career Wisdom for College Students: Insights You Won't Get in Class, on the Internet, or from Your Parents

Table of Contents......Page 4
Foreword......Page 8
Acknowledgments......Page 12
Introduction......Page 16
PART I:Take a Look Around-A Real Look Around......Page 20
Introduction: Discover What Is Really Out There......Page 22
Look Inside: First Know Thyself-Now, Not Later......Page 26
This Is a Test; This Is Only a Test......Page 30
What Are You Good At? Ask Someone Else?......Page 34
Career Choice Goes Beyond What You Are Good At......Page 37
Abilities and Skills / Interests and Passions......Page 41
You Have to Live with Your Values......Page 44
Don\'t Know What You Want? Then Start with the Opposite......Page 48
Look Outside: Career Information Is Just a Page or Two Away......Page 52
Talk to People-That\'s \'People\', Not \'Person\'......Page 56
You Do Not Need to Talk to People in Person......Page 59
Lurk and Learn: Internet Listservs Open Your Eyes to New Possibilities......Page 63
Use Professional Associations to Explore Careers......Page 66
The Hidden Treasures in Career Center Placement Statistics......Page 69
Your School\'s Alums Will Probably Help You-but Only If You Ask!......Page 73
Look with Patience and an Open mind......Page 78
You Can Make a Career Out of Almost Anything......Page 83
The Healthiest Attitude: \'I\'m Not Lost; I\'m Exploring!\'......Page 87
Treat Career Exploration Like a Trip to the Toy Store-Look Around! Browse!......Page 91
When One Career Door Closes, Look for Others to Open......Page 95
PART II : Be Careful of What You Think You Know!......Page 100
Introduction: Think About How You Think......Page 102
Confront Your Internal Beliefs......Page 106
Question Your Sources as You Explore Career Options......Page 110
Do Not Let Old Assumptions Keep You from Newfound Happiness......Page 114
Beware of Either/Or Thinking......Page 117
Career Decision-Making Traps to Avoid......Page 120
Confront Your External Influences......Page 124
Labor Market Forecasts-Handle with Care......Page 127
Money, Status, and Power Are Not the Only Forms of Pay......Page 130
It is Hard to Make Career Decisions When You Are Dealing with Other Serious Issues......Page 134
Confront Your Conclusions......Page 138
Eliminate an Option Only If You Have Thoroughly Investigated It......Page 142
PART III : Build Your Skills and Experience Through Hands-on Activities......Page 146
Introduction: Experience Leads to Skills; Skills Lead to Jobs......Page 148
Focus on Action......Page 152
Experience Is Not Optional; It Is Essential......Page 156
Internship Is Just One Name for Valuable Experience......Page 159
Internships and Co-ops Give You a Competitive Advantage......Page 163
You Can Get Paid for an Unpaid Internship......Page 168
Starting at the Bottom Is Not a Sadistic Hazing Ritual......Page 171
Focus on Skills: Develop the Soft Skills Employers Demand......Page 174
Your Moneymaking Jobs Matter More Than You Think......Page 178
Campus Activities Build Essential Skills That You May Overlook......Page 181
Your Classroom Experiences Matter to Employers......Page 184
Volunteer for Your Career......Page 187
Identify the Skills You Have Gained from Hobbies and Avocations......Page 190
Do Not Take Your Technology Skills for Granted......Page 193
PART IV: Land the Job You Really Want......Page 198
Introduction: Think Like an Employer, Win the Job......Page 200
Perfect Your Attitude......Page 204
\'Give Me a Chance\' Will Give You No Chance......Page 208
Yes, You Do Have Contacts to Network With!......Page 211
It\'s Not What You Know or Who You Know-It\'s Both......Page 215
This Test Is Graded on a Curve......Page 218
Focus Is Critical to Job Search Success......Page 222
Perfect Your Approach......Page 226
When in Doubt, Apply!......Page 230
You Can Beat the Low GPA Blues......Page 232
Customized, Carefully Crafted Documents Win Interviews-and Jobs......Page 236
Use Numbers to Give Context to Your Accomplishments......Page 240
On-Campus Recruiters Are Not the Only Ones with Job Openings......Page 244
Get Involved in a Professional Organization to Make Yourself Known......Page 248
Why Is Networking So Effective? The Reasons Have Little to Do with You......Page 252
Introverts Can Network Too......Page 256
Perfect Your Presentation......Page 260
Examples Beat Mere Words in Your Job Seach......Page 264
Portfolios: Proof of Your Claims......Page 268
Practice Makes Perfect Where Interviewing Is Concerned......Page 271
Out-Research Your Competitors, Win the Job......Page 274
Interviewing Is a Two-Way Street......Page 277
The Power of a Simple Thank-You Note......Page 280
All Sorts of Factors Impact Your Job Seach Success (or Lack Thereof)......Page 283
Epilogue: There Is No Need to Go It Alone: 10 Reasons to Visit Your Campus Career Center......Page 288
Additional Help......Page 294
About the Author......Page 297
Index......Page 300