Be realistic
Focus on obtainable career objectives and remind yourself
how competitive the market really is. Ask yourself if it's
more important to supplement your income or strengthen your resume
and value to an employer. If it's the latter, consider unpaid
internships or volunteer opportunities that will later land you
that paid internship or full-time job. Remember, work
experience does not only qualify as paid experience.
Diversify your job search
Posting your resume on the web is only one step to a
successful job search. A recent Wall Street Journal article
noted that only 4% of nearly 2,800 Internet users surveyed online
found their latest position on the web. Meanwhile, 64% of
7,400 job seekers who received outplacement counseling said they
obtained their newest job via networking. Begin building and
maintaining relationships with your professors and fellow
classmates who will become future colleagues!
Keep an open mind
Many fail to consider that financier and accountant (or
any other business specialty) opportunities exist within all types
of industries including the government, consumer products
companies, non-profits and more. However, one who only looks
for positions with top financial services firms will never know
this. For example, refer to the following resources to begin
your out-of-the-box research:
Business Week's 100 Top Brands
Business
Week's 100 Hot Growth Companies of 2003
Crain's New York
Book of Lists 2003 (you must buy subscription)
Federal Government
Opportunities
Internships and Part-time Employment
Today's job market for graduate business students is
extremely competitive. While completing an MBA/MS degree is
impressive, employers generally prefer to hire full-time candidates
with relevant work experience. The key to finding the right
internship is being aware of your options, determining your
priorities and knowing how to market yourself to a potential
employer. Before you begin your search, consider the
following strategies listed below.