I started this site because I understood the frustration of being a young, university graduate with no job in a job market where a lot of people are struggling. I wanted to connect with those other strugglers and share some strategies to help us all maintain some sanity amidst the student loans and credit card bills and endless string of job interviews or unanswered cover letters. But posting about how hard it is to find a job is kind of a miserable way of reminding yourself of how hard it is to find a job, so…I stopped posting. But until we climb out of the bowels of unemployed or entry-level life, we’re all going to have frustrations to vent about and conundrums that need solving. So I’m coming back to this site, and I hope you will too. If you have questions or comments or a story to share, please do. Otherwise, I hope you find something helpful in this site – whether it be a job posting or a link or an answer to a question, or at least the comforting understanding that, hey, you’re not the only person with a degree who’s eating ramen noodles to afford their rent, or who’s worried they’ll never make enough money to pay off their loans AND move out of their childhood bedroom.

Trust me, I get it.

(No?  Just me???)

Scarier than the prospect of not getting the job though can actually be GETTING the job – and then hating it.  Which leads me to the peskiest ‘what if’ of all:  what if I picked the wrong career?

The reasons why we pursue certain careers are almost limitless, but along the way, most of us will wonder if our reason was good enough. Maybe you picked your field because it’s what you always dreamed of doing when you were growing up.  Maybe you’re following in the footsteps of family members.  Maybe you happened to fall into it and found that, oh hey, this is kind of fun.  Maybe you ran out of time to pick a major and flipped a coin. Or maybe you’ve never known what path to choose and are still trying to figure it out.

Once you graduate – once you’ve spent all that money and done all that work and taken all those classes and spent so much time thinking about your future – it’s easy to feel as though you must follow through and find a career directly related to your area of study.  That kind of thinking though might end up keeping you from finding a career you’ll really love (just because you’ve never considered something, doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be great at it, right?).

I came across some wise words recently that finally snapped me out of my own rigid thinking – the thinking that says I should do this, or shouldn’t do that – which were that if you’re ever questioning which path to choose or whether or not you’re in the right field, you should ask yourself,

If I knew I couldn’t fail, what would I choose to pursue in life?

When it comes to planning for a career, nothing kills dreams faster than the fear of failure.  The fear that we might not be successful if we don’t land the great job, the high salary, the great benefits, the corner office.  If we don’t accomplish our goals, or end up where we’d hoped.  Faced with those insecurities, it’s natural to want to take the first job, or the easiest job, or the job that pays well but you have absolutely not one bit of interest in whatsoever (especially in an economic time when pretty much everyone is feeling insecure about their jobs).  If we remember, however, that we always have a choice to pursue the path we REALLY want (even if it won’t be easy), we’ll be one step closer to living the kind of lives that make us feel fulfilled. I think now is a pretty good time to take that step, don’t you?

As you start off the new year, think about how you’d spend your time if you knew you couldn’t fail. How would you approach your career (and the rest of your life, for that matter) differently?

(Have a question of your own you’d like to ask? Send it in!)

Hi Alana,

I’ve graduated from university and am now interning at a small ad agency (though unpaid). I totally agree with the struggle to find a job! I don’t have much experience in Marketing or Public Relations, what I want to get into, but I’m still trying. My only experiences that I have is being a TA for a university course, summer camp counsellor and some retail experince. As well, I have some volunteer experience with a charity and a school club. I’m currently going to take a Public Relations course in the upcoming new year, and should have a certificate by the end of the summer next year. As well, I’m hoping that with my internship it would provide some sort of experience, but it would be great to have a paying job.

Any advice? Thanks!

-Karen

Hi Karen,

Well, I totally understand your plight, and I can tell you that the good news is that the trouble you’re having is VERY common to PR grads like yourself (is that good news?). The bad news of course, is that there really isn’t any one surefire way to land a job in a field like this (or in most fields, for that matter!). In your case (and in the case of all those other smart, qualified and generally awesome yet unemployed recent grads), your success will depend on a number of factors. You’re clearly doing an awesome job so far, having landed yourself an internship (paid or unpaid, it’s still great experience), and having some volunteer work. The next (and probably mot important) step, is going to be networking. ‘Networking’ gets thrown around so much these days that it’s almost cliche, but especially in an industry like public relations, who you know has A LOT to do with what kind of opportunities you find. You don’t have to walk around with business cards, or go to fancy networking events but be sure to be open with those you meet in work-related situations that you are enjoying your internship and are looking for similar work once it ends. Often times as an intern it can feel like you are working hard almost for nothing, but a good employee rarely goes unnoticed. Your internship may not have a job to offer you, but the people you worked with there are sure to have friends in the industry. If they liked working with you, they may recommend you for positions they heard about through the grapevine, especially if they know you’re unemployed.

In the meantime, there’s always the good old fashioned resume route – checking job postings websites like Media Job Search Canada, Charity Village, Mandy.com, Eluta, Indeed.ca, Monster, Workopolis (and The Savvy Girl’s Career Guide, ahem) is a good habit to get into. Keep your resume polished and up-to-date, and apply to EVERYTHING (with a well-written, targeted cover letter, of course). The Junior and Entry-Level Communications Facebook Group is another great resource to find job listings, as well as to connect with other young people in your field looking for a job.

Having said all that, I think it’s important to keep in mind that at the end of the day, finding a good job takes patience, perseverance, and, let’s face it, a bit of luck. You may not be able to control the types of opportunities that come your way, and you certainly can’t control the competition you’re up against, but you CAN choose to keep your head up and stay focused. If you keep at it, you WILL find a great job eventually, but it may not happen as quickly as you like (or it might! Who knows!). Remember that there ARE advantages to being unemployed. You have time to think about your goals and direction, you can take time for yourself, and you have the chance to gain other kinds of experience that will help strengthen your resume and broaden your connections and industry-contacts (a friend with a fabulous job says she owes it all to the volunteer experience she gained while unemployed!). Remember not to be too hard on yourself, and to keep an open mind. You never know when the job you’ve been looking for will open itself up to you.

One of my biggest gripes about Suze Orman’s advice is that a lot of the really useful tips don’t apply to us here in Canada (Roth IRA’s?  401ks?), but then again, I suppose Young, Fabulous & Broke Canadians were never really her target audience.  Despite this though, she DOES offer a lot of interesting and thoughtprovoking advice for young people regardless of where you live.  The part that stuck out for me?  Suze’s suggestion that, even though you may be Young, Fabulous & Broke, you SHOULDN’T necessarily accept a job offer simply because it’s high-paying.

After working hard at school for four or five (or more) years, it’s understandable that once you finally graduate, you’ll want to make some money.  After all, one of the reasons we pursue higher education is the hope that we will find better, higher-paying job opportunities that will let us build careers instead of being stuck in dead-end jobs.  But, as Suze points out, it’s important to think long-term when it comes to your career decisions.

While 20-something new grads might be lacking in a lot of areas (many of us still haven’t graduated beyond glorified photocopying/coffee-making responsibilities, and we happen to also have very little money in the bank on which to live), what we DO have is time.  Time to think about the direction we want our careers to go in, time to work hard to make that happen, and time to be underpaid without having to worry about supporting families and carrying mortgages.  While it might be hard (and while it most definitely won’t be much fun), choosing to look at your entry-level or junior position as an investment into your future career instead of just the outcome of your university education is the smartest way to ensure that you won’t still be broke and photocopying when it really matters.

Stewardship Coordinator – York University Foundation

The York University Foundation is looking for a Stewardship Coordinator to fill a 14-month contract position.  The coordinator will provide support to the Stewardship Team and their goal to raise money for the university through financial gifts and donations.  According to the listing, “[t]he Stewardship Coordinator will maintain the integrity of donor database records and play a supportive role in the Foundation’s donor recognition events.”

This position may be for you if you possess a university degree, have a minimum of one year’s experience in fundraising, have advanced computer skills and know your way around a database, work well in teams and with tight deadlines, and have strong oral and written communication skills.  The deadline to apply is this Friday, November 20, so get your resumes in!

Communications Officer – York University Foundation

The York University Foundation is also looking for a Communications Officer to help “build and steward relationships among current and prospective donors, alumni, media, board members and other key stakeholders”.  If you have a minimum of two year’s experience in communications,  possess excellent writing and computer skills (with a knowledge of design programs) and have an interest in fundraising, this could be the opportunity you’ve been looking for.

Responsibilities for this position include:
• Researching, writing and editing donor materials including stewardship reports, major gift proposals, cases for support, letters of intent, etc.
• Driving content targeting broader communities through print and online communications, and marketing collateral such as print and e-newsletters, advertising, brochures, etc.
• Assisting in public and media relations activities including special event scripts, speeches as well as media pitches, news releases and advisories.
• Maintaining full confidentiality of all oral and written communications relating to donations, donors, faculty and staff.
• Other related duties as assigned.

For more information, view the job listing in its entirety (PDF)

Special Projects Officer – Canadian Stage Company

The Canadian Stage Company is Canada’s leading not-for-profit contemporary theatre company.  As a member of the Development Department, the Special Projects Officer is responsible for coordinating specific projects which complement the Individual Giving and Corporate fundraising campaigns. These projects include special events, such as the annual Canadian Stage Fundraising Gala – Theatre Ball, as well as Opening Night dinners and the Take-a-Seat Campaign. The position offers exposure to all aspects of fundraising, including cultivation and relationship management, prospect research and event
coordination.

According to the posting, the ideal candidate for the special projects officer position would have a relevant arts-related degree with “a committment to fundraising”; demonstrated initiative, multi-tasking and organizational skills with an eye for details; excellent written and oral communications skills; two years experience in philanthropy and fundraising; and a passion for the performing arts.  The position is full-time permanent and would begin immediately.  For more information on the position and details for how to apply, click here to download the listing. (PDF)

Communications Officer – Social Planning Toronto

Looking to combine your communications experience with your interest in community development and advocacy?  Social Planning Toronto currently has an opening for a Communications Officer.  Social Planning Toronto “works to improve the quality of life for all people in Toronto through community capacity building, community education and advocacy, policy research and analysis, and social reporting”.

The duties of the communications officer will include:

• developing and implementing communications strategies;
• designing, editing and disseminating SPT publications, print and promotional materials (e.g. reports, newsletters, journals, periodic publications, brochures, written and electronic bulletins, flyers, press releases, etc.);
• managing information on SPT website;
• developing and maintaining media contact list;

To qualify for this position you should have a minimum of three years’ relevant experience, strong interpersonal skills, creativity, experience working with the media, knowledge of and experience in the not-for-profit sector, excellent computer skills, including design and web development, strong writing skills, and the ability to train/teach others.  A bit of a lengthy list, but with a salary range of $42,500 – $58,250 along with union representation (read:  good benefits), you’ll be compensated well if you fit the bill.  For full details, please view the job listing.  Deadline to apply is November 22, 2009.

PR Coordinator/Junior Account Manager – Mackay & Co.

(Straight copy and paste of the job listing here, as it’s pretty succinct.)

MacKay & Co. is a well-established boutique PR firm with top luxury goods, retail, cosmetics, luxury travel and medical clients. We’re seeking a Coordinator/Junior Account Manager to work in our small, informal and busy office located in mid-town Toronto.  This is a position with tremendous potential for the right candidate.

Key Responsibilities:
- Assist in managing PR projects
- Help organize special events
- Conduct media relations and communicate with clients
- Database management
- Oversee office administrative duties

Knowledge, Skills and Requirements:
- Highly organized and able to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines
- Excellent communications skills, both verbal and written
- Works well independently; creative and resourceful
- Proficient in MS Office and Adobe Photoshop
- Accurate, precise and attentive to the smallest details
- Knowledge of pop culture and social media an asset
- PR school grad preferred

Please email your resume and a letter telling us about yourself to: jane@mackayandco.com. No phone calls please. Note that only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

While I do appreciate posts of the wedding announcement and/or traveling the world variety, the ones I am most interested in are those that are job-related.  Who’s doing what?  How’d they get it?  Who’s still looking?  Who’s making big bucks?  Who’s totally abandoned their degree and gone in a completely opposite direction?

Earlier today I logged into Facebook and saw this:

(Obviously the names have been changed to protect those who don’t realize their status updates are fair game for blog fodder.)

I found this comment so intriguing, because I think it says a lot to the frustration and pressure a lot of young people are faced with after graduation.  In the case of good ol’ Brad here, he actually did have two Honours B.A.s – which as anyone who’s struggled through even ONE Honours program can tell you, is a lot of work.  Chances are good he graduated last Spring if not sooner, and yet, here he is, relieved that he’s at least scored some seasonal work at the neighbourhood liquor store.

In all likelihood, Brad probably just need some income to help stay afloat and pay the bills.  But just as Jen pointed out in her (arguably somewhat rude) comment about his, like, 3 BAs, the only REAL answer one can seemingly give post-graduation that will mean you are winning at life is “my internship offered me a full-time, permanent position once I graduated that pays well above average for my experience level and also offers great benefits.”

It can be a rude awakening for students who have laboured through a university program to come out and realize that in many cases, it guarantees them, well, nothing (a stark comparison to the message we were getting from high school teachers and guidance counselors, who essentially said “get a degree or flip burgers”).  Given the current job market, it definitely seems like it is a particularly bad time to be out there sending out resumes.  But I have to wonder if perhaps the pressure is generally greater today than it was in years passed.  Pre-Internet you just had your ten-year reunion to worry about.  Thanks to Facebook, you now have to prove yourself to your peers almost immediately.

So tell me, fellow Facebook creepers, how are you finding the post-graduation “real world” adjustment?  Do you secretly enjoy keeping tabs on everyone’s employment progress?  Doing really well for yourself and love the satisfaction of broadcasting it out to 200 of your closest random acquaintances?  Still unemployed and kinda wish everyone would just keep their mouths shut about how much money you spent on that degree?

The biggest lesson I learned from getting this job was that the old cliche is true:  it is ALL about who you know.  A connection I made through an old job hooked me up with this one, since she knew that I was a) looking for work and b) totally qualified, since the position was practically exactly the same.  The best part?  It paid considerably more, and the work environment was much better.  (The downside of course is that it was only a short-term position, but hey, let’s focus on the positives here, okay?)

So, basically, it pays to spread the word if you’re unemployed.  I find this advice comes up again and again, but the reason is because THAT is how you unlock the so-called “hidden job market” everyone likes to talk about – by letting people know that you need work, and being available for whatever they end up passing on to you.  This doesn’t have to mean networking in the traditional or formal way we often think about it (aka, no business cards or elevator pitches required), it’s just about letting people who have jobs know that you need one.  And if they hear of any openings, they should give you a call.  (Hi Shannon!  Thanks for calling!)

The second big thing I’ve learned, which I’ve been considering quite a bit lately, is the value in being open-minded about what it is you want to do.  Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with being focused and determined on your career goals – in fact, way to go if you are! – but it seems like more and more people I come across established in great careers seemed to have fallen into their line of work.  I’m actually beginning to notice it happening in my own life as well – I spent about a year after graduation in a job directly related to my degree, but since then I’ve stumbled upon another path.  It’s definitely not what I set out to do expressly, but it’s been working out pretty well, and lots of doors have been opening (like the corporate position I’ve just finished up).  Even if you do still want to work towards a specific career goal, if you are unemployed in the meantime, try being open to things you never considered.  At the very least, you’ll make some extra bucks without having to wait tables or serve drinks, and in the best-case scenario, you might end up finding your dream career.

Now that I’m settling back into blogging, I’ll be posting more job ads and articles, but for this post, I’d like to hear from you.  Ever stumbled upon a great job, or had someone hook you up?  What have you learned from old jobs that’s helping you now as you build your career?

Robert Kennedy Publishing publishes a number of fitness- and health-related magazines including MuscleMag International, Oxygen, American Curves, Maximum Fitness, Reps!, and Clean Eating. They are looking for an intern (no experience required!), to assist with online promotion of their titles in return for some great experience and the possibility to be hired on full-time at the end of three months.  This includes promotion through social media (also known as using Facebook and Twitter for a living – let’s be honest, that would be awesome), and website-specific tasks such as analysing traffic, and search engine optimization.  If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Gee, I wish somebody would pay me for the time I spend on MySpace” and you understand the needs and wants of the fitness/bodybuilding audience (or, “Gee, I wish somebody would pay me for all the time I spend in the gym”*), AND you’d like to get some real experience for your resume, then I’ve basically handed you the perfect job.  You are welcome.

*This is not necessarily to imply you need to be a fitness fanatic, of course.  I have a penchant for reading back copies of Oxygen and yet I have absolutely no interest in pumping iron**.

**But the idea of getting a “tight butt in only MINUTES A DAY!” does sound kind of awesome.

Multilingual Customer Service, Proofreading, Administrative Support – Randstad Recruitment & Staffing

Ignore this posting completely if, like me, the only language you can speak in any meaningful way is English (notice I said ‘meaningful’.  Being able to swear in German or order a beer in Spanish totally does not count.).  To the rest of you, congratulations, this might be your ticket out of entry-level town!  Randstad is looking for someone with some serious language prowess (the posting lists “English / French/ German/ Spanish/ Portuguese/ Chinese/ Japanese” – I sincerely hope they don’t mean all of those!) to fill a customer service/proofreading/administrative role.  They will train you and are specifically looking for someone who has finished school recently (yay for you, recent grad!).  They are also upfront with the pay and hours ($31,500 and 2:30-11:00pm, respectively) which I totally appreciate on your behalf as few things are more frustrating than preparing for an interview and bringing your A-game to find that they only plan to pay you a wage you’re wondering is even LEGAL and, oh yeah, you have to work weekends and you don’t get a lunch break (I may or may not be speaking from experience).  Also, they are clear about the entry-levelness of this job, so as long as you can demonstrate that you have good organizational skills, are willing to work hard, and have some customer service experience, you will hopefully be a shoe-in.  Answering each interview question in a different language will also be helpful.  Well, maybe not, but if I were the recruiter, I would be impressed!

Design & Communications Coordinator – Scotiabank

“Must be highly skilled in CSS, Javascript, HTML code and Flash, with a strong aptitude for web/graphic design”.  If this sounds like you, then Scotiabank has a 4-month contract position you may be interested in.  An entry-level position for digital media or communications grads, Scotiabank needs someone to help with the design and maintenance of their Intranet site (this is where the coding stuff comes in handy), as well as event planning tasks and project manager.  As you can probably guess, they are looking for someone who works well under pressure, multi-task, and who has an eye for detail.  Click the link for more details.

Marketing & Communications Coordinator – Jones DesLauriers Insurance Management Inc.

Another web design-y marketing and communications position.  Duties include maintaining the website, planning events, creating newsletters and Intranet articles, preparing reports, drafting press releases, and other related tasks as required (see posting for more detailed info).  The good news this is an entry-level position without a specific minimum experience requirement (this is where you dazzle them with your eagerness, impressive work ethic, and brilliant personality!), and it’s also a permanent full-time position (nice to see at a time when contract entry-level positions abound).

Administrative Assistant – Hunt Personnel

29k plus benefits and three weeks holidays – ‘adminstrative assistant’ might not be your dream job, but if that sounds pretty good to you (and let’s face it, who WOULDN’T want 29k plus benefits and three weeks vacation if it means you don’t have to move back in with your parents and default on your OSAP loans?), you’ll want to apply.  Requirements are as you’d expect:  strong computer skills, eye for detail, ability to multitask, etc.  Position is located in Etobicoke.  Click on the link to apply.

Marketing Coordinator – Dovetail Communications

If you are “an energetic and bright young professional who is eager to start their marketing career”, then Dovetail Communications has an opening for you.  Located in Richmond Hill (saving you 905-ers a not-so-awesome commute), Dovetail is looking for a marketing coordinator to assist with on-line initiatives, market analysis, administrative tasks and team-based communication projects.  1 to 2 years of relevant experience, along with a high level of proficiency with a number of standard computer programs is required.

With the job market becoming increasingly more competitive, there’s no question that you need to up your game.  Particularly as someone fresh to your industry (whatever that may be), remember that you must always be aiming to be the kind of employee recruiters want to hire.  While you may not be able to compete with years of experience when everything else is equal, there are ways to give yourself an edge that can make your lack of experience less of an issue.

• Focus on the skills you gained in university…: This sounds obvious, but many new grads fail to realize all the transferable skills they gained while they were students.  Did you volunteer for anything?  Run for student government?  Organize rallies?  How bout simply just pulling off an awesome group assignment or presentation where you had to lead others or deal with difficult people?  Work experience is valuable because it gives the employer an idea of the type of employee you will be and how you’ve been taught to handle certain tasks and situations.  Experience at school can do the same thing.

• …But don’t assume that will stand on its own:  If your time in school gave you some valuable experience, then by all means, use it as a way to illustrate your skills  to an employer.  Just be sure to remember that none of those things alone expressly qualifies you for the job you’ve applied for.  What will allow you to stand out from other applicants will be traits unique to you:  your interest in the field, your eagerness and willingness to learn, and the way you can prove that you are a committed team-player who will go above and beyond to prove yourself.  As a new grad, nothing will kill your job search faster than assuming you know it all just because you went to school.

• Volunteer/Intern: Being a volunteer or an intern can sometimes trap you:  not all employers who hire interns have the desire or ability to hire them at the end of the placement.  What it CAN give you though is the chance to say “I have worked in this industry for X amount of time”.  Paid or unpaid, that counts as work experience!  As an added bonus, volunteering will give you a chance to get relevant hands-on training, will give you a chance to make connections with others in the field (who may come calling later on if they know of an opening and liked the way you work), and will hopefully demonstrate to future employees that you were serious enough about your career aspirations to work for free.

• Create your own opportunities: Sometimes the best way to get around the rejection of job interviews is to avoid them all together.  If interviewing isn’t getting you anywhere, it might be time to create a job yourself.  This takes guts, but it can yield great rewards!  Cold call.  Freelance.  Or, if you think you can swing it, start your own business.  At the very least, be sure to let people know that you’re looking for work – you may be surprised what opportunities come your way.

The Shopping Channel is one of those things I somehow find myself watching without any real recollection of how I got there in the first place.  But I digress.  If, like me, you have a strange and unexplained affinity for television shopping, and (much more importantly), an affinity for web writing and design, this entry-level position will be right up your alley.  As part of the Online Content Team, the Web Content Coordinator will help process product images (Photoshop skills will come in handy here), process videos for the web, categorize and setup products for sale online, and other tasks as required.  A great starting point for a career in Online Media – and, since The Shopping Channel is owned by Rogers Communications, you’ll gain the benefits of working for a massive media conglomerate (including the ability to move up the ladder and branch out into different things, if you so desire.)

Candidate requirements include a preferred post-secondary background in web design; strong knowledge of Photoshop, HTML and other relevant programs; excellent communication, multitasking, organization and time management skills; video editing skills; and the ability to show initiative and work well with a team.  For more information, visit the job posting.

Entry-Level Sales Representative – Marcus Evans

One of the downsides of entry-level work is that you aren’t always given many opportunities to prove yourself.  If you’re looking to hit the ground running, a sales job might be the best way to do that.  Marcus Evans is looking for an entry-level sales rep to encourage business executives to attend and/or become involved in the “more than 1,000 high-level, strategic business-to-business conferences” Marcus Evans produces annually throughout the world.  Sales reps will be trained for the position, and will receive a base salary + commission (great if you’re a motivated self-starter looking to make your mark).  In fact, according to the listing, “Top performing candidates should realistically expect to earn between $50 – 70K+ during their first full year of employment.”  Not too shabby.

Requirements include excellent communication skills, the ability to proactive, persuasive and self-motivated, cold calling skills, and the ability to function independently within a team environment.  If this sounds like you, click here to apply.

Outreach Coordinator – CBC (Children’s Department)

Not QUITE entry-level, but a great contract job I had to post.  If you’re great with multitasking, event planning, and general organization-staying-on-top-of-things-ness, you may be right for the position of Outreach Coordinator.  Working as part of the Children’s Department for the CBC, the Outreach Coordinator will work to assist with the preparation of the budget, identify and negotiate with potential suppliers, respond to viewer inquiries, update the website as necessary, manage events such as KidSummer, mascot appearances, and library visits, assist with administrative tasks, and take on various other tasks as needed.

Applicants should have three years experience with similar duties (though many of these skills are transferable, so experience can be drawn from a number of different past employment positions), along with strong problem solving, multitasking and computer skills.  An ability to work independently to meet deadlines is also required.

Assistant Editor – The Walrus

Volunteer for the student paper while in university or worked for free as an editorial intern after graduation?  The Walrus has posted a listing for a full-time, entry-level assistant editor.  Duties include participating in editorial meetings, generating story ideas, editing stories of various lengths and styles, assisting with the coordination of The Walrus’ internship program, and assist with administrative tasks as needed.  This is for you if you have at least one year of experience in an editing capacity, you are familiar with The Walrus (both in print and online), and have excellent oral and written communication skills.  The position pays $30,000 plus benefits.

Entry-Level Consultant – IBM

Is your resume heavy on impressive academics and light on direct work experience?  IBM has an entry-level consultant position that is applicable to job seekers from a variety of backgrounds.  A Bachelor’s degree is required, but they are flexible on the type of degree (check out the posting for the list).  You also need a minimum 2.8 GPA and be willing to travel to client locations.  A passion for ideas, demonstrated leadership abilities, capacity to learn new skills, and an interest in technology will help get you the position.  Due to the broad nature of the posting, you’ll need to be sure to make clear connections between your skills, experience and education with the position, and be sure to highlight your initiative and eagerness to learn.  If you are interested in technology and business yet are still looking for your first break, be sure to apply to this position.