Employers Seek Leadership Abilities - Great organizations hire students who:

Are purpose-driven - "Leaders have a vision and an end in mind. They know what they want to accomplish and where they want to be five or 10 years from now. They have a dream, a purpose, and that purpose is what wakes them in the morning and causes them to be alive. A purpose is bigger than a goal. A goal is temporary. A goal is, 'I want the job.' Great employers don't want to hire a college graduate who just wants a job. They want to hire a graduate who wants to own a home, be an active community member, be a business leader, and be part of growing something that is bigger than themselves."

Have a strong work ethic - "This purpose impacts a college grad's work ethic. Great leaders, gutsy leaders, leaders who are blowing the doors off 'leadership as usual' these days are people who work like crazy, but it's not a vocation, it's an avocation and it's not a 'have to,' it's a 'want to.' Work brings them life versus sucking the life out of them."

Are able to execute - "Can a student do what she says she can do? A lot of college graduates come out of school and maybe they've succeeded and done well on certain projects, but executing in the work world and making things happen is really different than doing it in a protected academic environment. Great employers want people who take incredible initiative, execute, and get results. Students should be able to go to a potential employer and say, "I didn't just do this incredible paper. Let me tell you about the results that I got when I worked on this project.' Again, purpose and work ethic drive this quality."

Put service first - Employers need to see and sense in someone that it's less about them and more about a holistic approach to work and life. It's hard to be a college graduate and not be egocentric. Life has revolved around them. What great employers are looking for is service over self-interest. Someone who has the potential to be a great leader is someone who has served rather than just worked. That means someone who has taken the time to go down to Mexico to build a house, or fed the homeless during the holidays. Employers like to see a track record of service to others. That is what leadership is all about."

(NACE Spotlight Online, February 28, 2005)

New graduates with some work experience are in a preferential position. Students should try to land an internship early, following their sophomore, or even freshman year. A large percentage of colleges graduates get permanent jobs through these work experiences. The level of skill that an entry-level employee needs is much higher than it is in a better market.

Students should polish networking and interviewing skills. Those who really work the system are the successful ones.

For those who don't need an immediate job, a tough employment market is the best time to get that graduate or law degree or M.B.A. "It will improve your earning power throughout your career." says economist Paul Harrington at Northeastern University.

(CAM REPORT, Career Advancement Management Facts & Trends, July/August 2003)