Career Advice: Reliable Sources

I have one word for you – “plastics.”  

This was the advice which greeted Benjamin Braddock in the 1967 movie “The Graduate,” upon his return from college.   If you are a student or job-seeker, chances are you have been the recipient of a great deal of unsolicited advice.    Your family and friends, though well-meaning, may not be the best career advisors.  Always consider the source.

If you have already identified your desired career, start with the resources you may already have at your disposal.  If you are in school, make use of your Career Services department for professional relevant advice on which classes to take, how to build and present your resume, how to write a great cover letter, the interview process, and the overall job market in your chosen profession.  If you are no longer a student but have a degree, you may have access to some career services as an alumnus.  Visit your school website, find out what services are available to you, and make an appointment to speak with a counselor.

If you don’t have access to a college career services department, make use of the wealth of information available online. Visit our career services section, and read trade publications, industry blogs, and job listings to get a sense of what your future employer may be looking for in an applicant.  Look at sample resumes and cover letters, and consider hiring a career counselor.

If you are looking to change careers or are just starting out, think about what job best fits your interests, talents and personality type.   Take a career assessment or two, and select several job categories which most interest you.  What Color is Your Parachute? author Dick Bolles recommends scheduling “informational interviews”—information-gathering sessions with successful professionals in your field of interest.  Schedule a meeting with someone you admire, and outline the next steps on your career path.