Over the past 20 years, I must have heard this phrase come out of the mouths of college students and soon-to-be graduates a thousand times. So many think they should have a clear career plan before they begin interviewing, but very few do. And that's just fine.

As a college student or recent grad, you hold a unique position in the world of employment. You have the luxury of exploring opportunities without having to exhibit a mastery of any, particular, relevant skill or experience. Prospective employers all realize that students have had limited opportunity to build many hard skills in technology, business, science or psychology. That's why we're interested in you! Companies are looking for the opportunity to train and grow individuals within their organization who can adapt without overcoming preconceived ideas or experiences. In other words, candidates who don't need to be untrained or de-programmed in order to acclimate to their new company.

The single most important thing you can do do to discover the right career is to simply determine what's important to you:

• How would you like to be treated?
• Would you rather be formally trained or released to find your own way?
• Do you relish the idea of assigned mentors? Or would you prefer the informal mentorships you have always known?
• Does a company's social responsibility influence your attraction?

Some of the criteria you used to determine which school to attend are the very same criteria you can use to find your first position.

Do you want to be a big fish in a smaller pond or work for a worldwide corporation? There are many benefits to both. Explore them by interviewing for information. Find people you know in positions that may interest you. Meet with them right in their workplace and make an effort to observe everything. Notice how they're treated and treat others. It doesn't matter if they have a ping-pong table in the break room if no one seems to play well with others. What was this persons career path? Did they follow a ladder moving up one set of skills? Or did they change roles, responsibilities and functions? How much impact do they feel they have on the outcome of what they do? On what their company does?

When you think about it, you probably already know more than you first thought about where you would like to spend 40 hours of your week.

And one more thought: I find that students are often far too worried about being liked by a company when, in truth, the companies have much more to lose by being disliked by potential candidates.

Once you determine the answers to these first few questions, your search for the right opportunity will begin to narrow. We'll cover the next steps next month. Can't wait? Send me your questions or comments!



As a twenty-year veteran of college recruiting, Honor Roll Online President, Laurie Byrne, has seen it all. But as the employment landscape continues to shift, she also sees things a bit differently. That perspective has proven to be invaluable to prospective candidates and employers alike. So, we encourage you to review this feature frequently and take advantage of a Byrne's Eye View!

Presenting ideas, insight and tips for college graduates on how to find their first job
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