A career is very much like a marathon. It’s long, it has up hills and down hills. It can take many twists and turns on the route. Starting a career in a recession is like beginning a marathon running up hill. It’s tough but it can be done. The smart runner would not attempt to run a marathon without planning and training. Your career requires the same thing: planning and training.

You need a plan which will identify goals. They need to be realistic and enable you to establish a proven track record of work experience. They also need to provide you opportunities to develop professional skills which will enhance the foundation of your career. In a recession, you will need to widen your net of career possibilities. Develop a broad range of goals that include your dream job as well as jobs that may not be your first choice but will get you much needed work experience. Target the industries which are robust and have positive hiring outlooks. They do exist but you will have to look harder to find them. For example, the insurance and financial services industries are hiring entry level professionals. Although you may not be interested in those industries, you can develop the professional skills you need and transfer them to an industry you’re more interested in when the economic climate improves..

Where do you start? First, don’t panic. You have many resources available at your finger tips.

Before you graduate:

• Visit your Career Services office. Check out their calendar of events. Are there any upcoming job fairs you can attend? Will any employers be interviewing on campus? They most likely will have some career tests you can take to begin thinking about possible career options. They may also have career counselors that can help you interpret the results or do a mock interview. Ask for help with your resume as well. Although Career Services offers services after graduation, it’s much easier to make use of their services while you are still on campus.
• Many jobs are not posted in a bad job market. When employers do hire, they will tend to ask their employees for referrals to fill a job. Make a list of contacts-friends, family, classmates, neighbors, previous co-workers-who you can approach for help.
• Meet with your alumni association. Make a list of alumni you can contact to network. People often overlook the alumni connection but it is a powerful tool. Alums love to help other alums.
• Ask your professors for ideas and job leads. Many employers approach the faculty directly if they are hiring. Again, it’s easier to use that connection before you graduate.
• Create a plan to identify any gaps in your background and find ways to fill those gaps. An internship, part time work or volunteer work can help do that.

After you graduate:

• Ask your contacts for help! Create your “commercial” which tells people who you are and what you are looking for. Use that commercial to tell everyone you know what type of job you want. Ask them for information, advice and/or job leads. Keep a record of everyone you speak with and be sure to follow up with them.
• 78% of all businesses in the United States have less than 100 employees. These companies may not be as visible or as well known so you will have to look harder for those opportunities. Online business journals and newspapers periodically list those companies. Accountants, financial advisors and insurance agents typically provide services for smaller companies. They may know of job opportunities and can also provide an introduction for you.
• Develop a list of employers to target and research those organizations. Learn who they are, what they do and identify what you can do for them. Then contact them. Explore any opportunity with these companies. Even if they only have internships, temporary work or volunteer work, you should seriously consider it. They will see you in action and you will no longer be an unknown quantity.

Finally, be patient. A marathon is a long race. It may take longer to jump start your career in a recession, but remember that the easier down hills will be coming. You want to make sure that when times change for the better, you have solid work experience and the professional skills to position yourself for that dream job.

Share this page: