Message to Job Seeking Alumni during the Economic Downturn

You, personifications of meliora, will be “always better,” no matter the circumstances. To assist with your efforts to transform your goals into realities, we at the Career Center offer the following strategies and, most important, services to assist you. During these challenging times, we encourage you to…

Register for Alumni Career Services. Your first step is to point, click and fill out our brief online form to register for alumni career services.

Once this information is received, we will follow up with an email and determine how best we can assist you.

Become and stay focused. It’s counter-intuitive in a market like this, but be sure to keep your focus! While tempting to say “I just need A job, ANY job,” such an approach will make you spread yourself too thin and become less effective. Focusing by job field and/or geographic area, and taking the time to become creative and inventive in your job search is more likely to yield solid results and end up with you in a job that truly fits.

Find firms, fields and functions of interest. Even if you don’t see job postings you like, you can apply directly to employers, if you know what you want. Which career path and job duties interest you? Knowing Field, Function and Firms means you can apply for positions that might not even be listed yet!

Utilize helpful resources. The Career Center offers resources to assist you as an alumnus/a in your job search efforts, including access to postings via URexperienced, and state-of-the-art company research tools and lead generation technology through CareerShift. Also, be sure to utilize the Rochester Alumni Exchange to enhance your networking efforts.

Take a course (or two). While many are relieved to think they are done with courses for a while, it is critical during these times to find and complete goal-focused coursework while your job search continues. In choosing courses to pursue, focus on very specific job search targets and related skills. Whether at a community college or prestigious institution doesn’t really matter; these academic steps can end up being giant leaps towards your destination.

Consider other options.

• If you’re a recent graduate, seek internships, part-time work and volunteer opportunities as actively as full-time positions. This approach gets you into the market, where you’ll have an opportunity to network with professionals, gain additional experience, and have something to do other than worrying about the job market.
• If you’re a more seasoned professional, ask prospective employers if you can serve as a paid (or volunteer) consultant for a special project related to your job search goals. This approach allows you to build your skills and your network, enhancing opportunities further on down the line.

Seek support of family and friends. This includes financial, emotional, and job search support. Everyone must be realistic about how long the job search takes during “good times,” and how much longer it will take during “difficult times.” This could mean having challenging, yet necessary, conversations with parents, spouse and others.

The Career Center strives to work with you on an individualized basis to maximize your job search efforts and ultimately achieve your goals! Please register for alumni career services to connect with a Career Center counselor and learn how we can help you in these challenging times.