Career And Post-Graduation 'FOMO'

MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As college seniors wrap up their summer internships, jobs and vacations, they may be heading back to school with some anxiety about launching their careers. Students polled in a recent survey from Enactus and Accountemps said their biggest fear about starting work is choosing the wrong job and missing out on something else (42 percent), followed by not learning quickly enough and making mistakes (39 percent).

But emerging professionals should also be concerned about not making a good first impression once hired. CFOs interviewed in a separate Accountemps survey shared 10 common mistakes made by entry-level staff:

1. Consistently coming in late
2. Not showing up for work at all
3. Not following company policies
4. Making errors in their work
5. Not asking for help
6. Being rude to customers
7. Not paying attention to detail
8. Sharing office-related information on social media
9. Spending too much time on personal devices
10. Not living up to claimed qualifications

Staffing firm Accountemps partnered with Enactus, a nonprofit organization of business leaders, academics and students, to conduct the online survey of nearly 600 Enactus student members in the United States. The CFO survey was developed by Accountemps and includes responses from more than 2,200 CFOs in the United States.

View a slideshow of the survey findings.

"During interviews, new graduates should showcase the strong technical skill sets they attained in school or through part-time jobs," said Michael Steinitz, executive director for Accountemps. He points out, however, that soft skills also are essential. "Many job seekers fail to emphasize the customer service and problem solving skills learned through restaurant and retail jobs, volunteer work, internships, or student activities."

"Students should seek out experiential learning opportunities while in school, which can help differentiate themselves from others once they are ready to start their career after graduation," says Alex Perwich, president for Enactus United States. "Be open to taking risks — and if you've made a mistake, don't make it twice."

Accountemps offers these tips to help students prepare for their job search:

• Tap resources. Ask professors for leads and leverage your school's career center. Reach out to alumni for referrals. If you're a member of a professional organization, attend networking events that might result in a job interview.
• Do your homework. During the job search, treat all tasks like school work. When applying for a job, thoroughly research the company and tailor your resume to the position. Reading up on the company will allow you to get a better feel for the organization and help prepare you for potential questions if you land a job interview.
• Practice makes perfect. Just like you would for a debate or presentation, practice before the interview. You will feel more confident speaking to the interviewer and be able to formulate intelligent, well-thought-out questions when you are given the opportunity to do so.
• Try temporary work. If you're not sure what position or company is best for you, consider working with a specialized recruiter who can help place you in a temporary role. Think of it as a trial run — you may find you prefer a small company over a large firm or vice versa.

About Accountemps

Accountemps, a Robert Half company, is the world's first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. The staffing firm has 325 locations worldwide. More resources, including job search services and the company's blog, can be found at roberthalf.com/work-with-us/our-services/accountemps.

About Enactus

Enactus is a global community of student, academic and business leaders committed to using entrepreneurial action to transform lives, improve livelihoods and shape a better, more sustainable world. Guided by educators and supported by business leaders, college students depart the comfort of the classroom and the ambiguities of academic theory and engage in real world projects to improve the lives of others. Enactus operates in more than 1,700 universities in 36 countries, with 70,500 student leaders impacting more than 1,950,000 people.

SOURCE Accountemps

Related Links

http://www.accountemps.com