Before You Soar

• Schedule a meeting with your class dean to discuss academic progress and graduation requirements 
• Schedule a meeting with your Major and/or Minor advisor(s)  
• Review your academic advisement report 
• Check to ensure your earned units, your units in progress and your anticipated senior year units total the number needed to graduate in your major and meet the 32 units needed to graduate 
• Check to ensure you have met all college wide requirements 
• Check to ensure your major(s) and/or minor(s) are correct  
• Ensure your banked AP, IB Test Scores, or Transfer credits have been reviewed and posted to your transcript 
• Ensure all course are represented on your academic advisement report 
• Ensure all incomplete grades are resolved 

• Review your account to check for any holds that may prevent you from registering for courses and/or receiving your diploma 
• Complete the FAFSA if you plan to attend graduate or professional school 

• Request letters of recommendation from faculty members 
• Compile contact information from friends, professors, mentors, and references 
• Meet with a BMC career counselor 
• Update your Handshake profile  
• Request official transcript  
• If you are considering graduate school/professional school upon degree completion, meet with your faculty major advisor to discuss schools/programs, review application requirements and deadlines, and register for any required standardized tests 
• Complete the first destination survey facilitated by The Career and Civic Engagement office 

• Complete diploma/graduation form in bionic  
• Read emails from the registrar and Conferences and Events  
• Email the Senior Class Dean if you cannot participate in Commencement weekend activities, including the ceremony and rehearsal.

It is important for college seniors to begin as early as possible once they have a few things set in place: an articulated goal, a well-written resume and a cover letter that can be tailored to each position sought. Knowledge of the field or industry they seek will determine timing of open positions.  For example, finance and consulting organizations typically recruit in the fall semester (or earlier), while non-profit and education-related organizations will be recruiting more in spring semester. Keep in mind that it can take an active job seeker 3-6 months or longer to land a position. That said, there are many individualized factors that will affect when a person is ready to begin their search, so working with their college’s career center team can help them to strategize and develop a personalized plan.  Most career centers are open all summer and continue to offer services to alumni.   

Many people think the job search process begins by identifying a handful of websites and setting up automated search filters, yet there’s so much more involved before that step.  Just as one would research a travel destination to learn what to pack and how to organize a trip, the job search involves several preliminary steps. For example, job seekers should set aside time for some introspection to identify their interests, values, and skills, which will make recognizing an appealing position easier during the search.  Industry research can also help to know if jobs in their desired field are plentiful, whether openings are available in their preferred geographic location, or if they will need to showcase specific technical knowledge or skills to be a competitive candidate.  Utilizing the help offered by the college career center is another important step in the process.  A career counselor or coach can help to break down the job search into manageable tasks and can serve as an accountability partner in the process.  

Students can stand out on job applications and in interviews by demonstrating a genuine interest in the organization and the position, while communicating how their experiences, interests, and knowledge equip them to make a valuable contribution to the organization. Having done preliminary research on the organization can help that message come through.  Practicing their interviews with a trusted advisor or career counselor can help them refine and polish their technique.   

One mistake job seekers make is not taking enough time to reflect on what they want (type of work, field, setting, etc.) or what they have to offer (skills, values, experiences, knowledge).  Another is to treat the job search as an event, rather than a process.  Like marathon runners prepare for their big event in diverse ways (strength training, sprinting, long runs, stretching, resting, etc.), so too should job seekers engage in a variety of methods to maximize their job search. In a given week, a job seeker might have a couple of career networking conversations to learn the subtle nuances of day-to-day life in the setting.  They might spend a few hours a week searching and identifying positions of interest, and another couple of hours researching the organizations before composing tailored cover letters and submitting applications.  Breaking it down into a weekly schedule with goals can keep them from being overwhelmed or from devoting too much time on any one aspect.  Keeping track of their efforts can be instrumental if the job seeker feels their process has stalled. A career counselor can review their steps and offer input on new strategies to consider.  

One challenge college seniors face as they are entering the current job market is how this process differs from the academic experience.  Even when a job seeker does everything correctly, there will be times when someone else gets the job.  It may be a matter of volume, not necessarily the quality, of the applications. Another is when a job seeker decides not to re-apply to other opportunities with an organization from which an earlier application was unsuccessful.  Rejection is part of the process.  So is resilience.  Job seekers should find mentors and career counselors who will support them and offer honest feedback about adjustments they can make to improve their applications.  Sometimes the feedback is that they’ve done everything correctly and just need to keep at it.   

Be realistic but don’t let the negative noise paralyze your efforts. Talk to real people doing the work you hope to do – learn where the nuances are for your desired setting.  In every economic downturn for the past 25+ years, employers have consistently indicated that their organizations are always looking for new talent.  It may take longer, and job seekers may need to widen their preferences (geography, industry, etc.), but there are jobs out there and people are getting hired.  

A good idea is to thank the employer and ask for time to consider their offer before accepting or declining on the spot.  Then, take at least 24 hours, but preferably more time, to review the terms of the offer and evaluate whether it meets most of their must-haves before deciding.  Make sure they receive the offer in writing and that it includes important information such as their job title, start date, and salary information.  Their prior research will pay off here, as they should already have a sense of whether the salary is acceptable or if they should try to negotiate higher.  They should be sure to communicate their acceptance in writing and to then withdraw their open applications from other organizations.  This is also a great time to consult with mentors, family, and career counselors who can offer input into the decision-making process.  And then, they should congratulate themselves on a job well done!