No Job? Got College Debt?

It's easy for college grads to get caught up in the massive nation-wide problem of no jobs and high student loan debt. Deemed a national crisis, this situation has left many feeling hopeless and even paralyzed because finding a solid job that will pay enough to live while repaying exorbitant debt can feel like climbing a steep mountain. The best you can do at this point is to avoid surfing websites that repeatedly cover this topic and start doing what you can to chip away toward eventual freedom. Constantly listening to or reading how bad things are will only make you feel worse. So, here are three things you can start doing right now that will empower you and even build skills that could be useful to you in your career.

1. Be scrappy and focus on what you can control over rather than what you can’t. This might mean working more than one odd job or spending your free time networking and meeting with people who might lead you to a career opportunity. If you think you don’t have a viable network, begin with alumni from your college, older siblings' or your parents’ friends. You will be surprised by how quickly you can build a network, which will become one of your greatest assets.
2. Come to terms with what you are willing to give to get what you want. Chances are you're currently living at home with your parents and are not in a financial position to move out. Rather than complaining, think of this time as a means to an end and use it to work as hard as you can at any job, even if flipping burgers or washing dishes. Save as much as you can while still paying off your loan. Time flies when you’re having fun so find joy in this process. Remember, the good news is that you are taking control of your life and from this experience you will walk away with gratification that you’ve paid off your loan, with money in the bank so you can live on your own, and with skills (even if only soft skills) that you can take with you to your next job.
3. Do whatever it takes! Take an internship or unpaid job opportunity along side working the odd job or jobs you have now. An internship is a great way to get a foot in the door, even if unpaid. Yes, I know, you’ve spent the last four years working hard in school and you feel that you should be paid for your time. And you should. But It’s important to get experience, so rather than get caught up in the vicious cycle of needing experience to get a job but needing a job to get experience, offering your time for free will allow you an opportunity to show how valuable you are to the organization. Even if that company doesn’t hire you, you will have experience on your resume for other opportunities.

On The Recent College Talk: To Go or Not To Go?

All the recent talk about college, and the cost-benefit of attending, is leaving many confused about whether or not going to college is really worth it. To sum it up:

A college degree today is like a high school diploma of yesterday. It's not necessarily going to prepare students for the real world but it's a resume 'must-have' to avoid being ruled out before you even get a foot in the door of the interview process. As a New York Stock Exchange veteran, I have worked with many successful people who never went to college. Some made it through their careers without boundaries and others hit ceilings once their jobs were replaced by technology.

College is an important piece of the puzzle but it's a mistake to think that a solid college education will guarantee success in life. High school graduates should not miss out on the experience, but parents should avoid making the mistake of financially overextending because they believe a more expensive college will better prepare their kids and ensure future success. That is one of the greatest myths of our education system.

Rather than focusing on brand-name colleges, it would be beneficial to look for programs that require, or at least encourage, students to gain college credit for apprenticeships or internships that work along side traditional classroom courses. This will not only result in a more well rounded graduate, but it will allow the student to gain practical skills that the classroom cannot provide. And finally, real world experience gives a student the opportunity to get a head start on creating his or her network and on building a track record through performance and contribution to the organization.

On The Latest Jobs Report

Regardless of the latest jobs numbers, it’s easy to get caught up in thinking that it's still difficult to land a new job. The truth is now is a prime time to make a change if you are smart about it. There are plenty of opportunities out there. All you need is the right mindset. Here are three things to consider:

1. You could be your own worst enemy. One of the biggest hurdles in making a career change is fear. We all have fear. The question is will you let yours keep you stagnant? In terms of a career change, fear is often based on what you hear from others or a feeling that you don’t have the skills or the experience to have the career you want. This is usually nonsense. You have skills, experience (including life experience) and something valuable to offer. Focus on what you have, rather than what you lack, and the fear will slowly begin to dissipate.
2. Re-think the word ‘job’ and replace it with the word ‘mission’ or ‘purpose.’ Instead of focusing on the hours you will work or how much money you will make, consider what you can bring to a new challenge and how you will contribute to an organization.
3. A new opportunity might be right outside your front door. Open the door to your office or step outside your cubical. Employees often get so fed up with their current company that they fail to explore other opportunities internally. Many large and midsize organizations have openings in various disciplines. This is a great place to start looking for a career change since your experience and track record can be an asset.

And one final note: most professionals fail to recognize their true strengths. There is so much emphasis placed on hard skills and very little on soft skills. Soft skills, such as people skills or the ability to work under extreme pressure is as valuable, or even more so, than hard skills (or that which you learn though school or formal training). When looking for new opportunities, be sure to highlight your soft skills as they are some of your best assets.

Stop Wasting Your Time Looking For A Job

The days of looking for a job are long gone. Truth is, if you’ve been chronically out of work or you believe that there are no jobs out there, it may not be the looking that's the problem. You're the problem. But the good news is, you're easy to fix. Modern day job hunting goes well beyond skills, education, experience and knowledge. Nowadays, companies are doing more with less. Therefore, potential hires have to stand out in a crowd. For you, the candidate, this means fulfilling a mission or purpose rather than thinking you're only looking for a job.

Scary, yes. Hard, no. Here are some tips for how to change your approach that will lead you to a real opportunity:

First, remove the word job from your vocabulary. Start thinking of your job hunt as a mission assignment. When you look back on your career years from now, what do you hope to have achieved? We're not talking just about the money you are making.  If you don’t know your mission or purpose, get in touch with your internal voice or tap into your intuition. Deep down you know what you’re meant to do.

Next, identify and understand your clientele. If you don't intend to start your own business, this doesn't exempt you from this step. Your potential employer is your potential client, so while networking or interviewing, make sure you ask a question like, “What is one of your pain points that filling this role will resolve?” Then make sure you convey why you are the right person to fill that role.

Finally, start looking for opportunities and stop looking for jobs. If you were your own boss how would you sell yourself differently than you do as a potential employee? Once you figure that out you must use that approach toward finding employment just as a business owner approach potential clients.

The only question left to ask is, do you want to continue to spin your wheels and endure endless frustration or do you want to take charge of your career and become the candidate employers can't refuse?