From Rookie to Professional
by Katie Keyser

Katie Keyser
Writer
Chicago, IL
Hear Katie's Audio Reference

As a fresh college graduate, I was challenged by the myriad of factors involved in job search. It was not until my experience with Job Search: The Total System™ that I really became aware of the intricacies of resume preparation, how to network, and how to “sell myself” to a company. One of the most valuable aspects of the program is its real-world business perspective. Gaining this perspective was essential to understanding how to present myself to potential employers.

By comparison, my university career center's approach was academic. In a sense, the difference made me feel that my wonderful alma mater had somehow let me down. In speaking with other recent graduates from various schools, I realized that I was not alone in this feeling. Entering the job market for the first time is intimidating, and often university career centers do not seem to be able to put students at ease. The following are, in my experience, some of the major concerns that plague college students preparing to graduate:

— Resumes

Throughout college I had to pay for many of my own expenses, and so I spent summers working as a nanny and a waitress rather than preparing resumes and finding internships. The career center helped me create a resume template, or a general “look,” and I often asked for advice on how to organize my experiences and activities when applying to jobs. However, no one ever presented me with a set of rules or guidelines to follow. Through The Total System™, I was struck by how simple it really is: for each experience put what you did and then give a result of that action. A completely novel and brilliant idea that no one had ever told me about before, it makes a world of difference in getting noticed by an employer. Also, my career center never mentioned including a “summary” section, another element of my resume that really made it come alive by succinctly presenting my unique skills and qualities. The quasi-prose style of my summary allowed me to creatively present my skills and what I have to offer an employer — all right at the top of my resume!

— Networking

I went to a school known almost as well for the camaraderie among alums, students, and fans as for their obsession with football. Everyone told me, “Oh you'll have so many connections when you graduate.” True, but when I left I still did not know how to use my connections or approach anyone. I was intimidated at the thought of trying to pass myself off as a professional and did not really know where to begin. I talked to the career center about contacts and they gave me several, but I never really learned how to establish a strong rapport and successfully get what I wanted — job leads! I did not even understand the basics of networking. The Total System™ provides templates for networking letters/e-mails/phone calls and really helped me understand the process of networking. It was a revelation to me that 80% of the time people get jobs from networking. While I know many students relied on the career center's job search engine and career fairs, I never seemed to find employers or jobs that appealed to me. As a liberal arts major, when I attended career fairs I felt that everyone wanted finance, accounting, or engineering majors, and so it was difficult to find the right connections. The Total System™ helped me realize what networking is and provided me with the tools and knowledge to be successful at it: Talk to people, anyone and everyone, and let them know who you are and what you are looking for; do not be bashful about contacting people and actively pursue potential opportunities.

— Communication

As in the case of networking, I think many college students are intimidated by communicating with potential employers. Trying to find the right amount of professionalism to complement your own unique personality is something many college students doubt is possible. From writing a cover letter, to speaking on the phone, to interviewing, The Total System™ refined my communication skills and helped me develop an “air of professionalism” while allowing me to maintain my own style and personality. A lot of times I thought my career center assumed that I should know how to communicate and establish a relationship with a potential employer; practicing and listening to examples helped solidify an understanding of how to properly communicate professionally.

— C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-C-E

This is undoubtedly the most important concern for college students: going from being a relatively big fish in a small pond to being a very small fish in an ocean! Hands down, THE most important result of learning and applying the techniques of The Total System™ was the feeling of confidence it created — confidence that I can actually get a job I will like and that will challenge me. In my own experience, entering the workforce and the real world is beyond intimidating, and having confidence is the best antidote. Optimism, a positive attitude and encouragement permeates The Total System™ at every step and combines with real world advice to transform a mere rookie job seeker into a professional. The Total System™ should be available to every university student and graduate — it is the launch pad for a successful career!