Knowledge, enthusiasm, confidence in your skills, and a good academic record
are the keys to getting that vital first job

Plan for your career

As a student, develop a professional interest in a field or set of public issues and systematically develop your background, knowledge base, skills and contacts over a 2-3 year period.

Seek and find an internship

One of the surest ways to land a good job is to land a good internship.

Network

Remember, most jobs are filled without ever being advertised, or, if advertised, are already targeted for someone - - often someone who has talked her or his way into the job.

Join local, national and international professional organizations.

Preparing an effective Resume

Think of resumes as an attention-getting device. That means you need to think about your reader.

The keys to preparing an effective resume are focus, relevance, and brevity: focus on the job you want and how your education and experience qualify you for that job; show the relevance of your previous experience and coursework; and fit all the key points on a single page, at least for entry-level professional jobs.

Plan your job search

RMF - Research, Mailing, and Follow up. Target a dozen companies that might hire someone with your background. Research them, prepare customized cover letters for the target firms, and follow up immediately via phone after the arrival of your letter. If nothing is available, ask them for referrals to other divisions in the company or other companies. Planning and persistance are key.

Job search on the Internet

Visit your library and check out some of the recent books on using the internet for job searches and preparing effective resumes for internet use. Two recent books are: How to Get your Dream Job Using the Web, Shannon Karl and Arthur Karl, and Career Roads, The 1997 Directory oto Job, Resume and Career Management Sites on the World Wide Web, Gerry Crispin and Mark Mehler.

Most of all don't get discouraged - It's a job finding a job!

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