Leading California Career Expert Offers Graduates Six Top Tips for Finding Work This Summer

LOS ANGELES, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The last day of school for thousands of Southern California students is quickly approaching, and while some graduates are celebrating the achievement of an academic milestone and planning summer vacations, many are worried about entering the "real world." Among their top concerns are finding and preparing for a job –worries that may also be shared by working Southern Californians considering career moves.

Career expert John Andrews is the regional vice president at Everest College, one of the state's leading career colleges. Andrews has decades of experience and helps thousands of Californians a year move into progressive new careers.

You're … Hired!

"Whether you're fresh out of school or have been working many years and are seeking a change, finding the ideal position is not easy," says Andrews. "At Everest, our Career Services professionals are dedicated to training people for a successful employment search and an excellent track record in career placement assistance."  

Andrews recommends the following techniques to help get you hired!

1. Goal Card: Write down your goal. Writing it down will reinforce commitment and help clarify thinking. Create a work-back plan with steps needed to achieve your goal. Take inventory of your skills. You'll be surprised to realize that you're actually more qualified than you imagined and that many skills are transferable.
2. Work Your Network: Your dream career may not be posted. Educate yourself on the job market. Find out what employers are looking for and the skills you need. If the company you would like to work for isn't hiring, setup an informational interview. Employers generally keep resumes on file for six months to a year. Maximize your connections and talk to employed friends to see if they can provide referrals.
3. Social Network Yourself: If you are not using technology as a job hunting source, you're living in the past. Social networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook are not just for socializing, the recruitment potential of these sites has grown tremendously. Mounting job losses have turned these sites into premium tools for job searching. These sites also give employers a window to check out potential applicants, so it's important for job seekers to keep their profiles clean and professional.
4. Rev-up Your Resume: Highlight work experience, major achievements and skills. If you don't have a lot of work experience, consider other activities like volunteer work, hobbies and extra-curricular activities and how they might demonstrate skills the position calls for. Your resume should be no longer than two pages. Keep it concise and easily digestible. Make sure you include all your contact information at the top and carefully proof-read to avoid errors.
5. Sell Yourself: For a prospective employer hiring a new staff member is a major investment. Your cover letter should demonstrate what you can deliver on that investment. Highlight your skills and how they match the company's needs to demonstrate how you will bring value and success to the team.  Keep it short and to the point and include an invitation to further discuss your credentials or a call to action to set up a meeting.
6. Interview Like a Pro: Research the company and know who you're talking to.  Arrive 10 minutes early and bring copies of your resume. Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake and maintain a confident, professional demeanor throughout the meeting. Come prepared with the top three to five qualities you bring and examples of your success in those areas as proof points.  Be prepared to speak about your strengths and weaknesses and come with questions that relate to the company or position. Be sure to send a follow-up thank you email after your interview to restate how your skills match the employer's needs.

Training to Achieve Your Career Goals

"Whether you're a recent high school grad or in a job that has stalled, career training creates opportunities and can lead to a position that offers greater upward mobility," says Andrews. "An education is the foundation and launch pad for any career. Many come to Everest to retrain for a new career. We have excellent student completion, program satisfaction and career placement rates and our programs are short, flexible and prepare students for a career in their area of study."

The Season's Top Jobs

The career experts at Everest have identified the following in-demand positions:

Medical and Dental Assistants: The healthcare industry will generate 3.2 million new wage and salary jobs between 2008 and 2018, more than any other industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The need is largely due to the rapid growth in the elderly population and most of the jobs will require less than four years of education.

Pharmacy Technicians: Employment of pharmacists is expected to grow by 17 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is faster than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS. Demand will continue to increase as scientific advancements produce new drug products.

Computer/IT Professionals: Industry data suggests companies will hire in this area as businesses come out of the recession. According to the BLS, the employment of network and computer systems administrators is expected to increase by 23 percent from 2008 to 2018. Computer networks will continue to be an integral part of business, and demand for workers will increase as firms continue to invest in new technologies.

About Everest College

Everest College provides career-oriented diploma and degree programs in healthcare, criminal justice, skilled trades, business, paralegal, and information technology.  Everest College has 14 campuses in California – Alhambra, Anaheim, City of Industry, Gardena, Hayward, Los Angeles, Ontario, Ontario Metro, Reseda, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Jose, Torrance, and West Los Angeles. Everest has 100 schools in the U.S. and Canada, and is owned by Corinthian Colleges, Inc., one of the largest post-secondary education companies in North America.  For more information, visit www.everest.edu.

To schedule an interview with John Andrews or for more information, please contact Ron Neal or George Medici at PondelWilkinson.  Tel: 310-279-5900; Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

SOURCE Everest College