Smart Living: Get Help Finding A Job

By: Melanie Bloom - Email

Updated: Wed 8:33 AM, Feb 06, 2013

Nearly half of all college graduates don't find a job in their field of study. Get advice on how to start your career.

Some college students send out dozens of resumes, hoping to land a job. Many of them don't even get a phone call for an interview.

Yoland Owens is a recruiting specialist who works with college graduates who are looking to find work in their field of study.

She recommends that job seekers hang out with people who already have jobs.

This is important because some companies have employee referral programs. That means there is a monetary incentive for recommending you.

Networking is critical, but Yolanda says you shouldn't give someone your resume until you've had at least three meaningful contacts with them.

"Someone who doesn't know you from a can of paint is not going to trust you enough to be able to recommend you for a position," said Yolanda.

While applying for jobs, it is also a good idea to clean up your presence on social networking websites like Facebook. Look for any questionable pictures and delete them.

She also recommends you make your resume as specific as possible and quantify it. Don't just say you raised money, say how much you raised.

Yolanda also recommends you make you resume simple. Write in bullet points, not paragraphs.

Give the employer three weeks to process your resume and contact you.

Once you get an interview, she recommends you do some preparation.

"Make sure you prepare a couple of stories about yourself that really display your leadership, your confidence and what you've done to improve your role," said Yolanda.

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