Your College Grad and the Job Market

by Hallie Crawford, MA, CPCC

It’s the economy. Thanks to the rise in unemployment and companies having to cut back, many young adults entering the job scene are finding themselves in a most unpleasant predicament. Many are losing their jobs before they even set foot in the door. If your adult son or daughter finds they’ve lost their job before they even started, give them these quick tips to help them stay strong and move forward:

• Take a moment: Suggest they take a moment to feel sorry for themselves or even angry – it’s justifiable and it’s healthy to address these feelings.
  
  
• Pull it together: Once they’ve had a pity party for themselves, encourage them to pull it together, stay strong and take action.
  
  
• Stay organized: If they’ve been laid off, have them ask for written documentation of the situation for their records; remind them that it is always a good idea to have a paper trail just in case. (This goes for any of their job searching documents as well so they can keep track of their progress going forward.)
  
  
• Re-negotiate: Talk with them about the possibility of renegotiating the initial offer with their employer. But caution your young adult that there’s a fine line between accepting a lower salary or position and selling themselves short. Remind them that this is not the last job or the only job for them, and if they have to shut this one door, it may actually result in other opportunities.
  
  
• Keep communicating: At the same time, encourage your adult child to keep the doors of communication open with this potential employer in case this position or other opportunities within the company become available in the future. Don’t burn a bridge.
  
  
• Reach out to previous prospects: Have your adult child go back through their original job searching files and call upon the other companies that may have expressed interest in them. This is not uncommon and that they should not be uncomfortable to reach out to other potential employers, particularly in this rocky economy when companies and job-hunters alike are utilizing all options to find good fits.
  
  
• Just get something if they need to: Suggest they secure a temporary job that they can leave with ease when the right permanent placement becomes available, particularly if bills are starting to become a concern for them. This is completely acceptable.

It can be an emotional battle trying to rebound from job insecurity. Work with your college grad on setting up a quick action plan, and they will find themselves in the right position and on the right path to career success in no time.

Copyright 2009 Hallie Crawford. All rights reserved.

About the Author: 

Help your college grad get on the right track! Certified Career Coach Hallie Crawford specializes in helping recent college grads and boomerangs identify their ideal career path and make it happen. To schedule a complimentary consultation and find out more about Hallie visit http://www.halliecrawford.com or contact her at 877-298-6444.

Bring Hallie to your next event! Hallie is a compelling, humorous and passionate career speaker recently featured on CNN and Fox Business News. Find out how you can invite her to speak at your next association, club or networking meeting.

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