College seniors around the country have already started graduating and searching for meaningful employment. This brings great hope to parents who have become accustomed to being empty nesters. However, with a tight labor market, finding employment continues to be a challenge.
Each year, the Center for Professional Excellence at York College of Pennsylvania conducts a nationwide study of human resource professionals and managers to understand what distinguishes the professional employee from the unprofessional one. Based on the research, here are some tips we can offer graduates as they venture off on the next phase of their lives.
Tip 1: Change your thinking about social media
The recent occurrence in
Maryland with an applicant being requested to provide the password to his
Facebook account so the potential employer could review its contents should be an eye opener to all using social media. While this action has stirred much debate, it is just one example of a company checking out a job candidate's social sites. We know of employers whose first action screening applicants is a visit to their Facebook page.
As graduation approaches, it is the time to realize that a change in behavior relative to social media might be in order. What was considered normal in college may be seen as unacceptable in the workplace.
Evaluate your usage of electronic devices. A high percentage of HR professionals and managers report that problems with IT etiquette and abuses have increased. The most prevalent problems are text messaging at inappropriate times, the inappropriate use of the Internet, excessive cellphone usage for personal calls, and excessive use of
Twitter and Facebook. Texting during a business meeting is not the same as texting during that seemingly long college lecture. ...