There was a time that college graduates spiffed up their resumes, printed them out, and searched the local papers for job opportunities. Then Monster.com came along and resume submission became easier as graduates applied for jobs online. Recently, the popularity of social media has added another layer to the graduate job search. Graduates need as many tools in their job search arsenal as are available to position themselves in today’s competitive job market.
Facebook is another of those tools. Facebook has more than 300 million active users which translates to a huge audience of potential employers and networking connections. Since many businesses who recognize Facebook’s power have already created a presence on Facebook, you can make key connections with the company; not to mention recruiters are scouring social media sites for potential employees. However, recognizing Facebook’s part in the job search is just the beginning. As with any job search tool, you must familiarize yourself with its use.
Clean up your profile
Look at your pictures, comments and posts. If you have been using Facebook as a personal page, these things don’t matter; but if you begin to use it as a professional job search page, they matter a great deal. Be smart and remember that the web never forgets. Before you make a post, ask yourself whether or not that post would position you as a eligible job candidate or disqualify you as someone who is employable.
Work on your profile
Find a professional looking photo for your image and use it. Remember that your profile will in a sense, become your resume. If you’re using Facebook for the job search, make sure your profile is complete, highlighting your assets, your job and/or work experience, a blog if you have one, your LinkedIn connection page, and your Twitter account.
Use Facebook applications
There are a number of Facebook applications targeted to job seekers. Take advantage of those tools and add them to your Facebook strategy.
Consider using Facebook ads
Many job seekers have spent money on a resume service, paid for a recruiter or headhunter, or subscribed to a targeted job search site. Why not consider using Facebook ads? Facebook allows you to target ads specifically and they are not that expensive. Landing a job is all about standing out in the applicant pool. Consider targeting a specific company with a very specific ad. This technique will at the very least start a conversation and allow you to make some key networking contacts.
Use the Marketplace
This is not a widely used tool, but deserves your attention. Marketplace has a section that lists available jobs and allows you to connect directly with the person responsible for the posting.
Search, engage and network
Use Facebook’s search tool to find people, pages, groups and links allowing you to engage key people and make those valuable connections. It’s all about building relationships that will help you find the right job. Read posts, comment and use the link capabilities to post articles and videos related to your field of expertise. Start conversations that move your feed up to the top of news feeds by incurring multiple “likes” and comments. Being at the top translates into being read and recognized. Get that word out that you are experienced and available.
As with any social media job searching tool, the key word is “social”. In order for these tools to be effective, you must engage with your audience and network with employers and recruiters. If you follow that rule, snagging that job after graduation should be a piece of cake!
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If you are a mom trying to talk yourself into returning to school or wanting to enter those college doors for the very first time, don’t stop trying to convince yourself. Being able to graduate from college is such a tremendous opportunity which reaps so many rewards and benefits. If you need extra convincing, here are ten reasons why you as a mom should graduate from college:
Top 10 Reasons to Graduate from College
- A raise in your paycheck- That is a definite perk. You can read my previous post on job earnings here on classesandcareers.com.
- The more you know, the happier you are- All the knowledge obtained is admired. College gives you the sense of accomplishment and removes any risks of regrets if you had decided not to graduate from college.
- Networking- Okay, so many of us know how popular networking has become and this can potentially help you find the right job after you graduate.
- A college degree opens up job opportunities- As you may have already noticed; many job descriptions in the classifieds require some sort of degree. You want to be able to apply for a position in your field with a sense of pride and confidence.
- College reinforces a mother’s discipline- Since a mom already knows how to multitask, etc. graduating from college then finding the right job will be easier to manage in the long run.
- Expand your mind- College will not only expand your mind with intelligence, you will be able to socialize in very intellectual conversations. Many people refrain from these social settings because they never know what to talk about. (To prevent any confusion, I am not saying that not going to college makes you less smarter than those who do attend college). Far from the truth! There are many individuals who gain their knowledge just from reading and studying without being in college. Though, college does help a great deal!
- Stronger writing skills- College essays and college papers help increase your writing skills which is beneficial on the job, especially if you take up freelance writing work.
- Be more qualified in your field of work- Obviously if you are training to be a nurse or doctor, you need to obtain the skills and education necessary to make it possible.
- Improve confidence in yourself- College will indeed shape you and make you a better person so that you may venture out into your new career with confidence.
- Create memories that will last a lifetime- Not only will college give you greater knowledge, you will always be proud and remember you took those steps to better yourself with education allowing you to further your career.
You can check out more reasons to graduate from college on eHow.com. This is a very impressive list and should motivate you as a mom still contemplating the thought of college. It is never too late to live out your dreams. If you never do it then you will end up living in regrets.
How can you get started on the path to graduate from college? Here is a brief list of tips that may help you get organized:
Getting Started
- Do a personal assessment examining your education options and career goals.
- Get personality and career counseling
- Browse articles on returning to school and join discussion forums.
- Explore financial aid options you may be qualified for.
- Choose a major and a minor if applicable.
- Apply to the college of your choice and go through the admissions process.
How about you, are you ready to take the steps necessary for you to graduate from college? Maybe you as a mom have already graduated college; we would love to read any tips and advice you may have to share.
FYI:Check out an article on life after college graduation on first30days.com.
Get your bachelor’s degree, it will come back to you in higher earnings and more job opportunities for the rest of your life!
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So, you have a Bachelors degree and you are earning decent money for you and your family. What if you took it up a notch? What if you enrolled in graduate school? Those with Master’s degrees and higher tend to make more money. Sounds worth it doesn’t it? Sure, it will be a lot of hard work and dedication just to earn a graduate degree but your future paycheck will thank you for it and so will your family.
Let’s take a look at average annual earnings for College Graduates and Non-Graduates to get an idea of how having a college degree really pays off:
Graduate and Non-Graduate Earnings
- Those who only have some high school under their belts will most likely only earn $23,400 for the entire year or less.
- A high school graduate will make more than a non-high school graduate but not by much. High graduates only make about $30,400 a year.
- Individuals who have some college like a professional certificate can earn up to $36,800 a year.
- Those with Associates degree may only see a two-thousand dollar difference from someone who only has some college under their belt.
- Individuals who currently possess a Bachelors degree average between $52-$60,000 a year.
- Those with Master’s degrees can earn $62,300 or even more a year.
- If you pursue a Doctoral degree you can probably see $89,400 a year, maybe even more.
- The ultimate is a Professional Degree which can earn you $109,000 a year or more.
As you can see the higher the college degree the more money you can potentially earn on the job. These numbers are obviously just estimates based on the U.S Census Bureau on census.gov and change every year, especially if there is a slump in the economy. Whatever the state of the economy, you can still pursue a graduate degree to better yourself. Things will most likely get better which will allow you to see a raise in your pay.
I understand that quite a few individuals may currently possess some type of graduate degree and are having a hard time finding a decent job or are not getting paid nearly as much as they are supposed to. I guess it may depend on which State you live in as well.
What about work life earnings? Here is what I found. Again, this is based on the U.S Census Bureau:
Average Lifetime Earnings
- Some high school: $1 million
- High school graduate: $1.2 million
- Some college: $1.5 million
- Associates Degree: $1.6 million
- Bachelors Degree: $2.1 million
- Masters Degree: $2.5 million
- Doctoral Degree: $3.4 million
- Professional Degree: $4.4 million
Wow, right? Now keep in mind these numbers are average lifetime earnings for full time employees. You can check out more details on lifetime earnings on about.com.
These figures definitely make you want to at least consider working towards a graduate degree doesn’t it? It’s definitely worth looking into even if you are only chipping away at it one class at a time.
How about you moms? Do you currently possess a Bachelors degree and would like to strive towards your goals of earning some sort of graduate degree? Maybe you are currently working towards a graduate degree. Whatever your current situation we would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts, feelings, and even tips or advice if you have them.
*Are you ready to take that step towards earning your graduate degree? Check out our online list of schools and degrees here on classesandcareers.com
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