Job Hunting for Upcoming New Grads

[Computer500]

I'm planning ahead to find a career before graduation arrive.

I have been looking at a lot job postings recently and couldn't find any entry level careers for new grads. I've been spending at least 6-7 hours each day looking for jobs online and i'm losing hope. I've done co-op in the past but this was only minimum work experience.

I've been monitoring Workopolis and Monsters for a while and realized that it's mostly for experienced workers. Requires 3+ years of experience. Plus, there is no chance that an employer will even call me back due to the high number of applicants (100-300+ resumes per job posting).

Questions: Anyhow, are there any good websites or search engines geared toward new grads? I'm trying to look for business analyst/systems analyst or entry level IT analyst careers. Most job advertisements for business/systems analyst jobs require minimum of 3 years of work experience. So, I'm having a hard time finding entry level business analyst/systems analyst careers. Would you recommend any good/serious job agencies out there?

Thank you

[vavaju]

Shouldn't your school have job postings for new grads?

Most sites like Monster and Workopolis are hawked by recruiters, and they usually look for people with experience even if it says entry level.

[angekfire]

I had the same issue when I graduated. I ended up getting in to a place through an agency, then networking to get transfered to the department I wanted.

[isarobotirl]

I'm planning ahead to find a career before graduation arrive.

I have been looking at a lot job postings recently and couldn't find any entry level careers for new grads. I've been spending at least 6-7 hours each day looking for jobs online and i'm losing hope. I've done co-op in the past but this was only minimum work experience.

I've been monitoring Workopolis and Monsters for a while and realized that it's mostly for experienced workers. Requires 3+ years of experience. Plus, there is no chance that an employer will even call me back due to the high number of applicants (100-300+ resumes per job posting).

Questions: Anyhow, are there any good websites or search engines geared toward new grads? I'm trying to look for business analyst/systems analyst or entry level IT analyst careers. Most job advertisements for business/systems analyst jobs require minimum of 3 years of work experience. So, I'm having a hard time finding entry level business analyst/systems analyst careers. Would you recommend any good/serious job agencies out there?

Thank you

Using the internet is one of the least effective methods of Job Search. There other sites you can look at but the majority of people don't get their jobs through Monster/Workopolis. Your numbers are a bit off its more like thousands of resumes instead of hundreds.

Utilize your school's career centre, they should tend to have job postings more at your level.

Network, network, network. Join a professional association that represents your career, volunteer at large organizations, volunteer at school. Do whatever you can to get your name out there. Get back in touch with all the people you worked with during your Co-op terms.

Unless you know how to sell yourself, job agencies are not going to be to helpful. They are only interested in expanding their databases and unless you make a personal connection with a recruiter you are pretty much wasting your time with them. They only want talent, or people they can pay the least amount of money to get the job done.

You can only do so much on the internet, you have to physically go out there to get a job. It's not going to just come to you. Best of luck.

[Computer500]

Shouldn't your school have job postings for new grads?

Most sites like Monster and Workopolis are hawked by recruiters, and they usually look for people with experience even if it says entry level.

Yeah. I have looked at job postings within the school's database. They post jobs frequently for all programs however, I only see about on an average of <5 job postings related to my program within each month. It's very sad.



I had the same issue when I graduated. I ended up getting in to a place through an agency, then networking to get transfered to the department I wanted.

I will be visiting job agencies soon. I would even pay a specialized job agency if I really have to.



Using the internet is one of the least effective methods of Job Search. There other sites you can look at but the majority of people don't get their jobs through Monster/Workopolis. Your numbers are a bit off its more like thousands of resumes instead of hundreds.

Utilize your school's career centre, they should tend to have job postings more at your level.

Network, network, network. Join a professional association that represents your career, volunteer at large organizations, volunteer at school. Do whatever you can to get your name out there. Get back in touch with all the people you worked with during your Co-op terms.

Unless you know how to sell yourself, job agencies are not going to be to helpful. They are only interested in expanding their databases and unless you make a personal connection with a recruiter you are pretty much wasting your time with them. They only want talent, or people they can pay the least amount of money to get the job done.

You can only do so much on the internet, you have to physically go out there to get a job. It's not going to just come to you. Best of luck.

Yeah, I've noticed that there are way too many applicants on websites like Workopolis and Monsters. This is where I'm having a bit of trouble in finding entry level careers and I don't understand how thousands of grads are able to obtain careers without much experience. I am pretty sure I'm not the only person with little to no work experience.

Anyhow, networking with people isn't really working for me at the moment. I've talked to a lot of people about jobs and such. But, they never take one step ahead and initiative the converstation by hooking me up/asking their HR department for internal job openings. They just worry about themselves and don't want to take further responsibilities if I do get hired. At the same time, grads are just competing against each other in this recession period.


Anyway, thanks for the advices.

Feel free to add any suggestions and comments.

[yiujun]

Yeah. I have looked at job postings within the school's database. They post jobs frequently for all programs however, I only see about on an average of <5 job postings related to my program within each month. It's very sad.





I will be visiting job agencies soon. I would even pay a specialized job agency if I really have to.





Yeah, I've noticed that there are way too many applicants on websites like Workopolis and Monsters. This is where I'm having a bit of trouble in finding entry level careers and I don't understand how thousands of grads are able to obtain careers without much experience. I am pretty sure I'm not the only person with little to no work experience.

Anyhow, networking with people isn't really working for me at the moment. I've talked to a lot of people about jobs and such. But, they never take one step ahead and initiative the converstation by hooking me up/asking their HR department for internal job openings. They just worry about themselves and don't want to take further responsibilities if I do get hired. At the same time, grads are just competing against each other in this recession period.


Anyway, thanks for the advices.

Feel free to add any suggestions and comments.

I'm guessing he meant "network" as in getting out there and participating in school related recruiting events, and even organizing some of them. This way you can schmooze with the recruiters out there who go on campus to recruit students. I don't think he means talking to people who've just gotten their jobs and really don't feel it's their responsibility to hook you up to a job @ their company. If you're good, they'll feel threatened - if you're bad, their name gets tainted. Lose-lose situation.

I don't really know what year you're in and what major, but I believe the majority of students out there has had at least some work experience prior to graduation. My friends and I all started looking for part-time and summer jobs in the first couple years of university so that we would be more prepared for recruitment during our final year of university. I'm sure many students do the same. Maybe you should consider getting some part-time experience under your belt now to prepare yourself for your career post-grad. Good luck.

[Quiggie]

A systems analyst is a bit higher up the ladder and it's doubtful anyone would hire one without several years of industry experience. You will have to take an entry level programmer position (read code monkey), or maybe QA, then work your way up to systems analyst.

[isarobotirl]

Your understanding of networking is a bit flawed and how you are doing it is flawed. It's nothing something that instantly brings results, it takes time. You don't just state right off the bat that you are looking for a job, you need to build a "real/fake" relationship with everyone you meet. Make sure you remember at least thing about every person you meet, exchange cards with them, on the back of their cards right that tidbit down. Follow up with them, especially if you say you will, and mention that little interesting part of the discussion or about them in that followup. Get on LinkedIn, it's Facebook for professionals [1.3 million users in Canada and growing], develop a web presence, use the status updates to show that you are looking for work, at least doing something.

Again networking takes time, so don't just do hit and runs and tell people up front that you need their help to look for a job. Yes that is the overall goal of networking [for the most part] but you have to be subtle about it.

If you have time to read a book, look up the author Darcy Rezac; he is the ceo or something of the Vancouver Board of Trade and is amazing at networking. His book(s) are very helpful and will give you an insight into how to become an effective networker.

[CrimsonGuardian]

Using the internet is one of the least effective methods of Job Search. There other sites you can look at but the majority of people don't get their jobs through Monster/Workopolis. Your numbers are a bit off its more like thousands of resumes instead of hundreds.

Utilize your school's career centre, they should tend to have job postings more at your level.

Network, network, network. Join a professional association that represents your career, volunteer at large organizations, volunteer at school. Do whatever you can to get your name out there. Get back in touch with all the people you worked with during your Co-op terms.

Unless you know how to sell yourself, job agencies are not going to be to helpful. They are only interested in expanding their databases and unless you make a personal connection with a recruiter you are pretty much wasting your time with them. They only want talent, or people they can pay the least amount of money to get the job done.

You can only do so much on the internet, you have to physically go out there to get a job. It's not going to just come to you. Best of luck.

I'm actually quite interested in this aspect. Do you have any names of these sorts of companies in the GTA area for Marketing?

I'm a new grad and I'm finding the same thing... For new grads, its really next to impossible to get some sort of Marketing related position that is full-time and paid. Entry level positions require several years of relevant experience that is impossible for a new grad to have.

Right now I'm doing an unpaid internship part-time as a Marketing Coordinator to build up the experience to compete for these positions... But again, even with this there is no guarantee. That professional organization thing sounds decent, which is why I'm asking if you know of any Professional Marketing organizations where you can build great connections for future Marketing positions in the GTA area.

[isarobotirl]

I'm actually quite interested in this aspect. Do you have any names of these sorts of companies in the GTA area for Marketing?

I'm a new grad and I'm finding the same thing... For new grads, its really next to impossible to get some sort of Marketing related position that is full-time and paid. Entry level positions require several years of relevant experience that is impossible for a new grad to have.

Right now I'm doing an unpaid internship part-time as a Marketing Coordinator to build up the experience to compete for these positions... But again, even with this there is no guarantee. That professional organization thing sounds decent, which is why I'm asking if you know of any Professional Marketing organizations where you can build great connections for future Marketing positions in the GTA area.

I am pretty sure that this would be the most appropriate group for you to join:

http://www.ama-toronto.com/