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Headed Back to School? Tips for College Students to Improve Employment Prospects

Posted on: Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 12:13 CDT

College students headed back to school should take steps to prepare for their future careers, according to ERE Media (http://www.ere.net), a community of recruiters around the world. ERE recommends the following tips to college students to improve their employment prospects.

Freshmen: Make Connections, But Post Wisely

Review what you've posted online, whether it's on MySpace, Facebook or your own blog. "Employers you may apply with in the future will be searching for you online, so don't post anything you wouldn't want your parents to see," says ERE's Editor in Chief Todd Raphael.

Network and make connections in person and online. Other students, their siblings, parents and friends, can be great sources of career advice and referrals.

Sophomores: Get Involved

To increase your potential value to employers, cultivate relationships with your professors. "Recruiters at the hottest companies are increasingly going to professors and asking them who their brightest students are," says Raphael. "Students should demonstrate that they're motivated, hard-working and think creatively."

Get involved in campus organizations and jobs that you most enjoy. If you're interested in politics, work with the local Board of Elections on Election Day. Interested in non-profits? Organize a charity event.

Juniors: Intern, Learn and Plan

Work with your career center to develop your resume and identify strengths and areas of improvement. This is the time to boost your skills and weed out what you don't like.

Internships are an invaluable tool to increase your marketability with employers post-graduation. Consider an internship in an area that's not your strongest suit. If you want to be a better writer, look for a gig with a lot of writing.

Seniors: Explore Opportunities Off the Beaten Path

Everyone will want to interview with Google, but there are also jobs available at lesser-known companies in growing sectors like transportation, energy, defense and even foodservice. "Jobs at quietly successful companies can be really rewarding," adds Raphael.

Consider relocating. There are a lot of job opportunities in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Utah, the California desert and Florida.

About ERE Media

ERE Media, Inc. is the preeminent source of information and networking opportunities for recruiters and HR professionals on the Internet. ERE provides information to over 40,000 active users through a series of free email newsletters, blogs, and direct networking opportunities. For more information, visit http://www.ere.net.

 Contact: Katie Fassbinder Young & Associates 303-463-7705 Email Contact

SOURCE: ERE Media

Source: MARKET WIRE

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