Workplace Contributor Tory Johnson Gives Parents the 411 on Getting Their Kids Hired
By TORY JOHNSON
More than a million students will graduate from college this spring, and many have jittery parents worried about the job search, especially during an economic slump. Folks want their offspring to be financially independent, and mom and dad certainly wouldn't mind bragging about the new hire.
Yet making the transition from college to career doesn't come easily for many students. It's a life-changing moment for new grads at a time when parents must dance the thin line between helping and harassing.
The best thing parents can do at this point is to help build self-confidence and independence so kids can do it on their own. And there are some concrete steps parents can take to do just that.
Use campus career services. Don't let your kid come home without having spent time in career services. Access to career services is included in the price of their education. But the help won't just appear; kids have to seek it out. Career service offices offer free assessments to help students pick the right career path, provide information on who's hiring, and connect kids with alumni in the field they want to pursue These offices will also ensure that kids graduate with a polished resume ready to send out.
Share your job search experiences. Parents know from their own careers that getting a job is never easy. Share those experiences — successes and mistakes that got you where you are — because it'll set the tone from the top that you've been there, and you get what they're going through.
Create a game plan. The steps between applying to hearing "you're hired" are steep and overwhelming. Break down the steps, from pinpointing a goal to making a list of target industries and employers to setting up networking conversations and so on. Work together to create a game plan and keep tabs on their process without micro-managing it.
Prep for interviews. Help get them ready for the interview process. Go shopping together for that interview outfit, work on mock interviews, review and clean up digital dirt. If your kid doesn't want you to see his or her Facebook or MySpace profile, ask, "Is it really OK for a prospective boss to see it?" Share examples of entry-level people in your own workplace — how they have succeeded or fallen short — with specific examples of acceptable communication skills and attire.
Original Article: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/TurningPoints/story?id=4690682
Posted by: Mary Christensen, Career Center Liaison-College of Agricultural Sciences