So you’ve graduated. You now have a piece of paper that you paid $200,000 for and you’re soaring on top of the world with your limitless hopes and dreams. You’re marketing yourself every way you know how. Yet, you can’t seem to find a job anywhere and you’re rapidly sinking into despair. Wow, this recession really bites, especially for us recent college graduates. I really hope it ends soon. However, the question is, what are you doing in the mean time? Hopefully, during this recession you’re marketing yourself. Though the job market is a rough one with unemployment of roughly 10%, which is extremely high no matter which way you look at it. If you’re part of this percentage, don’t fall prey to the crushing weight of a recession. Utilize this time to your benefit.
Internships are Virtually Recession-Proof (and a Great Way to Market Yourself)
The company gets an employee that doesn’t get a paycheck, take that recession! Besides, interns don’t just get the coffee anymore. As an intern you are just as much a part of the team as everyone else. Granted you might still get more of the little work that nobody else want to do but at least you’re working for the company. Now, a big part of this is that you make sure you get an internship in a field that you want to be in. We’re told all through school to make sure we have an internship or 20 under our belts. Well don’t just get an internship to have one. Make sure it’s beneficial to you and your future career. Another good thing to remember about internships is that you’re working for a company for free and if you’re willing to do this and you do it well, you never know, there may be a job waiting for you at the end of the 3-6 month tunnel.
Volunteers are Selfless (and Marketable)
Well the selfless thing isn’t always entirely true. Odds are you’re doing it to make yourself look better, but that’s not always a bad thing. It can be a great way to beef up the résumé while at the same time benefiting society, but there’s more to it than that. This is another great way to show you’re able to work hard even with no pay. Though it would be nice to be in something that could potentially benefit your future career, I personally feel that not as necessary here. It is a great way to spend your time being productive and keeps you from getting lazy.
Entrepreneurs Rule (and Guess What? Marketable)
Now’s your chance! You’re probably insanely in debt, have no job or if you do it’s only part-time and you’re college loans haven’t come due. Your mind is swarming with ideas. With the age of the Internet and technology being relatively cheap and affordable, what’s stopping you from taking all this free time you have and making something great out of it. Write a book, write a business plan about that Internet start-up you’ve been thinking about and there’s always that fun little freelance thing you hear so much about. You can do any of these and hopefully a million that I’ve not listed, just do them.
These are but a few of the options for marketing yourself during a recession. Remember, just because school is out and we’re in a recession doesn’t mean you get to quit learning or marketing yourself. It’s an eternal process. The more you do and learn outside of college, the more impressive your résumé becomes and the more beneficial you become as a working member of society. This of course will lead to the job of your dreams as long as you put forth the effort.
