Waitressing after College
Q: I graduated from college two years ago and I have been waitressing ever since. I would really like to find a professional career but I am having a hard time getting started. What recommendations do you have for getting started especially in this economy? How do I make my serving job appear resume-worthy?
A: Please don’t let a discouraging job market stop you from searching for work. Clearly, times are tough, but that means job searchers need to be even more diligent.
Include your waitress job on your resume. In today’s job market, people understand the difficulty of finding work and can appreciate that you were working while looking. Also add classes that you have taken, hobbies or activities you have done in the last two years.
Additional tips to help you land a job:
Approach your job search as if it was your job. Work every day at your search. Stay focused. Set a number of activities, contacts or connections that you make each week. It is easy to avoid looking, but if you do, you won’t find a job. If you keep looking, you will increase your chances of landing work.
Continue to develop yourself. Expand your skill set. Take a class, learn a second language and read. Volunteer in your community. Not only are you helping others, but you never know who you might meet or what you may discover—maybe a whole new career passion.
Use all aspects of the web. Post your resume on job search engines, like CareerBuilder.com, but also use company sites and specialty job sites like College.monster.com, TechCareers.com, AccountantCareers.com, or Salesjobs.com, etc. Use social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. Some people use a blog or personal website to let prospective employers know about them. Google yourself to find out what future employers will find when they Google you.
Use the career center at your alma mater. They often have great connections. Job fairs can also be helpful.
Think about who you know. Again and again, people tell me that they got their jobs from people that they know. Let people know you are looking. Build a network and look for ways to add people to it. If you aren’t already, get involved in your professional associations. It will keep you involved in your career, help you learn about job openings and allow you to meet more people for your network.
And most of all, stay positive. Looking for a job is a stressful experience even in the best economic times. Take care of yourself: eat right, exercise and get adequate sleep. Don’t let negative self-talk take over. Remind yourself that you will find a job. It may take awhile in today’s economy, but it will happen.
