Let's say your recent college grad spent the summer looking for a job, but never landed one -- or, they spent the summer off and are now gearing up to really find that career path. There's help from a leading Chicago-area staffing and recruiting firm.
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Tom Gimbel's 4 Tips to Get Your College Grad From Couch to Career
The recent changes in healthcare law have created negative side effects for recent graduates. The law in Illinois extends child dependency by four years. Tom Gimbel, a father and career expert, foresees that more college grads will delay getting jobs. Here are his tips to help your child fly the coop sooner rather than later:
-Help fill their spare time
Imagine this scenario.your child has been looking for a job for the past six months and finally snags an interview. The interviewer asks, "what have you been doing for the past six months?" And all he/she can respond with is, "looking for a job.and going to the movies every Monday with my mom." Not quite the best answer. Instead, while looking for a job, your recent grad should be networking, picking up new skills or interning. Being able to answer the above question with a compelling story will put your kid ahead of the majority of job seekers.
-Don't hold their hand
As a working adult, you undoubtedly have a lot of professional contacts. Instead of calling up your old boss and asking him/her to hire your child, you should use e-mail or LinkedIn to connect your kids to relevant personal and professional contacts. The idea is to help open doors - not just open doors - by connecting your kids to people interested in assisting with their job search. We all have connections; it's a matter of talking to your child and figuring out who you know that may best be able to help.
-Let passion prevail
If your graduate is fortunate enough to discover a professional path that he/she truly loves, you should encourage and facilitate the pursuit of that career. Avoid the temptation to push your children into the career paths you think have the highest salaries or prestige. Instead, let them find their own gifts and passions; this is one of the most beneficial things a parent can do for their child's career. Kids will also be more motivated to search for a job when
-Set a timeline
This strategy will vary by graduate, but a timeline can be very motivating. Keep in mind, not all graduates live in areas where they can afford to leave the family nest so quickly; when this is the case, the timeline should be a little longer. We sacrifice as parents because we want our children to succeed. Make it a flexible deadline, so it doesn't turn into a confrontational "eviction" with your child. Outlining a working framework for what you expect and how long it should take will give your grad boundaries.
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