Dan Schawbel - Gen Y Expert RSS feed: College Students Fail When They Ask For Jobs In

[David Sandusky]

My RSS Feed is a Thinker and blog is #1 for online personal brand thoughts. Dan Schawbel is Gen Y and geared to Gen Y personal brand, but you will benefit regardless of generation. He has Just Posted the Following:


Within 24 hours, I’ve been given the impression that college students ask for jobs from alumni, without trying to start a relationship or at least network. I just got through speaking with one of my friends who is a freshman in college and we have a networking event today for our fraternity and he goes “its not gonna matter for me cuz no 1 looks for a frosh for a job or internship.”
First off, I had an internship when I was a freshman in college and even a senior in high school.* There are simply no excuses and you must start early, at least by networking.* Aside from this, I went to another college networking even earlier this week and I was one of the only alumni there because, let’s face it, alumni just don’t come back. They don’t come back for a simple reason and that is because they know they are going to be harassed for jobs from people who don’t care enough to learn about them. There is a perception among alumni (I conducted a survey with my network) that college students only set up these events to beg us for jobs.* What’s even more frustrating is that when I go back for a social event, people are asking me for jobs!!!* I’m obviously not there trying to hire students if I’m going to a social event.
Another item that turns alumni off is colleges that send numerous letters asking for donations.* I believe they would never have to perform that task if they built stronger relationships with alumni when they were students.* How are recent graduates going to donate money back when they are trying to get a job, and have expenses such as rent, gas, car insurance, etc.* Entry-level jobs typically don’t extend more than salaries of $60,000.* The average starting salary is about $35,000, which is hard to even live off of.* If you’re looking for donations, then think five years from now and start building rapport with alumni when they first enter as a freshman.
Here are some tips for college students:

• Be sincere when dealing with alumni.
• Quit being so selfish and obvious when you confront us.
• Demonstrate your “soft skills.”
• Get out of your comfort zone. If you already know one of us, meet someone else.
• Have a business card on hand. There are no excuses anymore.
• If it’s a casual environment, be casual.
• Always follow-up with us afterward.
• Don’t waste our time.
• Resumes should be delivered after the event not during it. We are there to meet and communicate, not review resumes.
• We recommend friends over acquaintances.
• “What’s in it for us.”

Here are some tips for alumni

• Give college students a chance.
• You’re probably more successful than them, so give advice.
• Move around and meet as many people as you can.
• Don’t just speak with college students, go after other alumni.* Alumni from your alma mater are more likely to help you succeed than from other colleges.* Remember to network more outside of your company than within.
• Be comfortable telling students that your company isn’t hiring or that you aren’t the point person and they should send their resume through HR (dead-end).

click here to read more from and support Dan Schawbel