“You need to know this: Your job is not always going to fulfill you. There will be some days that you just might be bored. Other days you may not feel like going to work at all. Go anyway, and remember that your job is not who you are. It’s just what you are doing on the way to who you will become.” – Oprah, 2018 USC Commencement Speech
Graduation season is here. As Gen Z completes high school and college, and chooses its career options, we, the elders, can help in so many ways. I get a lot of questions from parents, aunts and uncles, godparents and mentors, on what can they do so that the next generation in their family or inner circle is ready to shine in today’s competitive job market. So I made a list of my top recommendations. Many of these require little to no money. Anything can be bought. But genuine support, care, wisdom and advice is priceless.
1 Proofread Resume & Cover Letter
A grad’s application documents have probably gone through many rounds of review. There’s different opinions on one resume vs. multiple, chronological vs. skills and creative vs. conservative. One thing that’s consistent is that whatever a candidate turns in must be flawless. So have them print their files and then you read everything out loud with a red pen in hand, to catch all those typos that neither spellcheck nor tired eyes on a screen will ever catch.
2 Conduct a Mock Interview
Ask your grad to send you a link of the job they’re interviewing for, along with the application cover letter, and do a role-play interview where you’re either pretending to be HR or the hiring manager. You can do this in person or on the phone. Even if it’s for a technical job that’s outside your own level of expertise, you can still ask them behavioral questions and then provide feedback on where they did well and what are the areas of opportunity. Too many “ums” is usually a culprit.
3 Offer Your Network
Of course the level to which you are comfortable doing this varies on many things, especially your level of both proximity with and confidence in the grad. Your network is something you’ve cultivated over time. But you can certainly make a key introduction between the grad and the leader that may be of great help to them. Consider asking your contact first if they’re open to it. This way they aren’t caught off guard and based on their own schedule will let you know one way or the other. They may even lead your grad to yet another important introduction.
4 Gift Them a Journal
The job hunt process is tough. The details are numerous. Research has proven that writing things down by hand helps our minds recall them better. Giving the grad a nice, well-made, professional-looking journal will help them stay organized. They can also use it to take down notes during the job interview. (Teach them to do so while still retaining eye contact with the person conducting the interview). In this journal they can also jot down their professional ideas, to-do lists and capture any post-interview notes and questions they may have, while still fresh in their minds.
5 Take Them Shopping
Depending on the situation, decide up front who will be paying for everything and what the budget will be. The gift you’re giving is your time and your experience. Take the grad to help them pick out the most appropriate interview attire. Whether a suit, shirt and tie or a tailored dress or anything in between, looking the part is critical for making the right impression. This includes the right professional bag: briefcases seem too formal for most jobs these days, while backpacks are definitely too casual. Your shopping advice also includes the right shoes, belts and any additional accessories. Dress them head to toe.
Graduation is an exciting time. The world is filled with possibilities. This is your chance to help your favorite grad find their way and get a jump on their career process. It’s also great karma for you.
image: Legally Blond
Alexsandra (Alex) Sukhoy. I’m a writer, marketer and career coach at Creative Cadence LLC, and teach business students at CSU. You can find my first business book, Date Your Career: The Longest Relationship of Your Life, on Amazon. I’m currently writing a film noir screenplay called Cleveland City.
Twitter: @creativecadence. #letstalk