Clarion University Presents Top Ten Tips for College Grads

CLARION, Pa., April 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With graduation quickly approaching, Clarion University of Pennsylvania has curated a Top Ten list of post-grad success tips to help college graduates navigate life post-graduation, pre-employment.

This spring, an estimated 3.7 million college graduates will be heading into the real world, and, while life post-graduation can seem daunting, there's good news. A record 78 percent of hiring managers are predicting more hiring in the first half of 2016 than in the second half of 2015 and more than a quarter plan to hire entry-level candidates this year, up nine points from last year. 

New college graduates can get the most out of their post-grad experience by keeping these Top Ten Tips in mind:

1. Embrace this time of uncertainty. Take advantage of this gap between college life and full-time employment to reflect and decide what's next. There will be few times from here on out when you will have an opportunity to do so.
2. Trade pride for patience. Very few people step into their dream job straight out of college. Chances are, grads will have to do a bit of lateral movement before making their way to the top — and that's OK! Be patient and never lose sight of the end goal.
3. Network, network and network some more. A reported 80 percent of jobs are landed through networking and relationship building. Gone are the days of simply handing in a resume or shooting over an email. Stay in touch and continue building relationships.
4. Use your school. Reach out to your school's career center and alumni network for opportunities and invaluable connections. Alumni, especially, are eager to see a fellow graduate succeed and will be more than happy to help. Again, networking is key.
5. Identify mentors. Whether it is a family friend, an old teacher or a new connection on LinkedIn, find mentors, both in and out of your targeted field. A little wisdom, perspective and encouragement can go a long way.
6. Give your resume a facelift. With hiring managers spending as few as five seconds looking at each resume, it's crucial to stand out. The Internet is teeming with free online resume resources, like Monster.com's Career Advice page and ResumeHelp.com, featuring hiring trends, best practices, examples and templates.
7. Put your computer skills to use. Step away from Instagram scrolling and Facebook trolling and use those digital powers for good. Resources like LinkedIn and WordPress will become your best friends. Wow your future employer with unique digital resumes and portfolios. 
8. Scrub social media. With more than 75 percent of the workforce active on social media, there is a good chance your potential employer is going to look to your accounts to see if you're a good fit for the job—the last thing a company wants is an employee jeopardizing the brand's reputation over a tweet. Present yourself as the put-together professional you long to be. 
9. Never stop learning. The end of college doesn't, and shouldn't, mean the end of your education. You should constantly better yourself, learning new skills that apply to both work endeavors and personal interests. Whether you're learning HTML, Photoshop or calligraphy, a self-starter attitude will make you a better employee and a more fulfilled individual.
10. Think beyond work. All of this being said—realize that there is more to life than just work. While your dream career is a great end goal and the stability that work brings is crucial, don't forget to focus on yourself as a whole. Enrich your life with things outside of work and you'll be happier and more successful all around!

For information about Clarion University of Pennsylvania, please visit www.clarion.edu.

For more media information:
Alycia Rea
The Zimmerman Agency
850.668.2222
[email protected]

SOURCE Clarion University

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http://www.clarion.edu