Monster. Brassring. Hotjobs.  If these websites are on your list of favorites, consider yourself part of the 'in' crowd - the 'in-search-of-a-job' crowd, that is. In a new survey conducted by The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), in an April report, stated that even despite the recent economic downturn, there is still good news for the graduating class of 2008.  NACE’s Salary Survey showed that, for the most part, average starting salaries are on the rise, compared to last year’s graduating class.  To help you along your way in getting that job of your choice, asianlife has put together four tips to help you search smarter—not harder.

Multilateral  

Take a multilateral approach to jumpstarting your career.  One way to do this is by building your skill set through internships, which develop your resume while giving you a chance to test your interests.  “The primary importance of internships is to help you decide if this is the career field you want to pursue,” said Andrea Lowe, managing director at Inroads Northern California, an international organization that develops and places minority youth in business and industry. 

Internships are a great way for graduates with minimal experience to get started. Many companies prefer to hire from within, and look at their interns as their primary resources for entry-level positions. Grace Ju, a graduate from UC San Diego, is one such case.  “While I was in school, I interned with the company I am currently working for. When one of the full-time employees left, the timing was perfect for me to apply for the position. Interning gave me a huge advantage over outside applicants because my boss and co-workers already knew what it would be like to work with me, and I had gained invaluable company-specific skills that someone else would have to be trained for.”

Temp agencies are another great way of entering the job force.  Many contract positions are extended or turn into full-time offers if your employer is happy with your performance.  In addition, many temp positions offer benefits packages so you can still be insured while you are out of school.   

Look Around 

Who can help you get your foot in the door?  Make use of and network contacts, from family and friends to past employers.  By having someone vouch for you, opportunities may arise that wouldn't have before.  "I looked for a job for months and couldn't find anything," admits Andrew Nguyen, a UC Berkeley graduate.  "Finally it was my brother who helped me out. A position opened in his company and he referred me. They ended up hiring me without even posting the job publicly."  After going on countless interviews, David Lee finally took a job at his father's company.  "I looked for a job for several months, and after countless interviews I finally got three job offers.  One I found on my own, the second was from a friend of the family, and the third was from my dad's company itself."  Lowe advises alumnus to connect with their career center and alumni associations, which offer many networking opportunities.

Resources 

Use your resources.  A great resource for college students and recent graduates is the campus career center.  However, the career center can be used for much more than just recruiting and finding jobs.  

“The career center is like one-stop shopping,” Collins said.  “Aside from job postings, you can get help with interviewing skills, resumes, resume referrals - so many resources are collected for you in one area.  If you're not sure what you're qualified for, career counselors can even help you do an assessment of your strengths, weaknesses, needs, goals and help you to develop a career direction.” 

Devlin agrees – “It’s important that students really utilize their career centers.  Our career center is more like a springboard that launches our students into other possibilities.  We can help them network with alumni and find their own niche in different areas.”   Academic and professional trade associations are also great resources.  Many of them offer networking get-togethers, job postings, as well as workshops that can help boost your skills.  “For those that have recently graduated, try getting involved with a trade association in your profession. For example, if you are an engineer, look at the minority engineering associations.  They can help you network and find jobs,” Lowe said.

Targeted 

Target and focus your job search.  Rather than blanketing open positions with a general resume, focus your efforts on key jobs/industries that you are most interested in.  No recruiter likes to see a cut-and-paste resume and cover letter.  For college students or recent grads, there are a number of websites specifically focused on entry-level positions.

Finding a job is no easy matter.   Devlin sums it up; “Be flexible, open to different possibilities, and understand and be clear of your goals.  And recognize that it's critical to be thoroughly prepared.”