Brian E. Howard - The Motivated College Graduate: A Job Search Book for Recent College Graduates

The Motivated College Graduate

2019 Brian E. Howard. All rights reserved.

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Published in the United States by WriteLife Publishing

(An imprint of Boutique of Quality Books Publishing Company)

www.writelife.com

Printed in the United States of America

978-1-60808-209-4 (p)

978-1-60808-210-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018967992

Book design by Robin Krauss, bookformatters.com

Cover design by Ellis Dixon, ellisdixon.com

First editor: Caleb Guard

Second editor: Michelle Booth

LinkedIn, the LinkedIn logo, the IN logo and InMail are registered trademarks of LinkedIn Corporation and its affiliates in the United States and / or other countries. Screenshots contained in this book are used for informational and educational purposes.

The Certified Career Management Coach (CCMC) and the Certified Job Search Strategist (CJSS) designations are sanctioned by The Academies, as approved by the International Coach Foundation (ICF).

The Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) designation is sanctioned by the Professional Association of Resume Writers.

Other Books by Brian E. Howard

The Motivated Job Search

The Motivated Networker

Over 50 and Motivated!

The Motivated Job Search Workbook

Motivated Resumes & LinkedIn Profiles

Disclaimer: The information and recommendations in this book are presented in good faith and for informational purposes only. Every effort has been made to ensure the materials presented are accurate and current. All information is supplied on the condition that the reader or any other person receiving this information will perform their own due diligence and make their own determination as to its suitability for any purpose prior to the use of this information. The purpose of this material is to educate. The author, Brian E. Howard, and/or any affiliated companies, shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information contained in this book.

Message from the Author

Graduating from college is an achievement that will be with you for your entire life. It has been estimated that in a world of seven billion people, only 6.7 percent have a college degree. Thats elite company. I congratulate you for achieving something truly special!

As completed chapters in your life close, new ones open. You are about to begin a new chapter in your life: becoming a responsible, financially self-sustaining adult. The path to that goal starts by getting a job. Not the kinds of jobs you may have had before, but rather a professional-level career job... the kind that requires a college degree.

Securing your first professional-level job will require a job search. This is a process that most college graduates are wholly unprepared for. Gone are the days of walking into a business, asking for and filling out an application for an hourly job. A job search in the professional world is an entirely different process. This book will teach you how to do it and in ways that will make you stand out in the eyes of potential employers. You will have a competitive advantage!

I know for a fact that the process I teach in this book works! At its core, it is the same process I promote to tenured professionals who have read my other job search books as they have secured new jobs... thousands of them.

More importantly (and perhaps more persuasively), the process in this book was used by my college-aged children to get internships, summer jobs, and their first professional-level jobs. You could say they were the beta test (I prefer guinea pigs), in testing the process for recent college graduates. Both of my college-aged kids used the techniques in this book to get summer jobs (with large corporations), internships, and their first career-level job. The benefit you have is the process has been refined with additional insight from experts who focus on helping recent college graduates find professional-level jobs. You will benefit from their knowledge as you read through the book.

It is my hope that the contents of this book put you on a career path where you can benefit most from your academic achievement... a college degree!

To your success!

Brian E. Howard

_______________

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Dont bunt. Aim out of the ballpark.

Aim for the company of immortals.

David Ogilvy

You are about to embark on a job search. To be successful, you must grasp some very important concepts about the real world. By understanding these elementary concepts, you will have a distinct advantage over your peers who may not fully appreciate these realities.

The Business World

First, a company exists to make a profit. Companies make a profit by selling their products or services for more than the costs to produce those products or services. A company will cease to exist if it is not profitable.

Second, a job within a company must either make or save money for the company. If it does not, it will be eliminated. As a college graduate job seeker, you must present your skills in a way to make or save the company money and contribute to the profitability of the company. If there is no perceived value in hiring you, you will not receive a job offer. Thereafter, your performance on the job must provide value beyond the cost of your employment.

The Non-Commercial Professional World

Careers in non-commercial fields have similar realities and value evaluations. As a recent college graduate, you must present your skills and background to further the mission of the organization (governmental agency, public entity, non-profit and so on). Once hired, your job performance must meet or exceed expectations or you are at risk of losing your job.

These are real-world realities. Too many college graduates fail to understand, let alone truly appreciate, these realities. They believe that every company or organization is nothing but an entity that can afford to give them a job. Clearly understand this concept: All companies must be profitable to survive. All entities in other fields must meet their mission to continue to exist. And, all employers are sensitive to the productivity of their employees. If your productivity (the value you bring as an employee) falls below the cost of having you, or you fail to meet the minimum standards of performance, you will be fired. Sound harsh? Welcome to the real world.

However, understanding these realities can work to your advantage during your job search. Why? When you understand these real-world realities, you can present yourself to employers by speaking their language. You will be able to sell your abilities in a way that a hiring executive will see value in hiring you. Its a matter of appealing to the mentality of the hiring executive who can offer you a job. Much of this book is about teaching you how to present yourself in a way that displays your value.