“But I’m only a Junior. There aren’t any jobs out there anyway. Why do I need to think about this now?”
The economy is turning around, slowly but surely. Whether you’re a sophomore or a senior, recruiters are looking at the candidate pool- they’re not just waiting and watching either. They’re investing in their Employer Brand, preparing for economic up-tic. In much the same way that pro baseball scouts pay attention to high school talent, recruiters (and their “alumni champions”) are paying attention to college sophomores and juniors, developing a pipeline of viable candidates for the eventual recovery.
Begin your foray into the professional social networking world by differentiating yourself from the pack. AfterCollege’s new “Answers” feature presents the perfect opportunity to create your “Candidate Brand”. Post relevant career related questions into your career network and alumni from top employers respond with answers and guidance. Not only is this an opportunity to begin discourse in the professional world, but it’s an opportunity to begin developing relationships with alumni who may be Hiring Managers or Senior Level employees with desirable companies. This could lead to an interview and/or an internal reference.
How many other students in your major interact with alumni and recruiters from desirable companies in a professional forum? This is your opportunity to begin discourse in the professional world. Further, you’re making a shift from “passive candidate” to “active candidate”. By actively pursuing career related dialogue, you’re letting employers know that you have the foresight and business sense to think towards the future.
Begin thinking of your overall Digital Footprint as an extension of your resume. After you’ve sent emails to your Facebook and MySpace friends requesting they “untag” you from questionable keg party photos, (or just remove them), go to http://www.AfterCollege.com, sign up, and begin posting questions to alumni in your career network.
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