Search for Success

Recent College grads share tips

It takes more than a crisp new diploma and glowing references to land a job in your chosen field these days, say several recent college graduates. Their experience shows that students must take strategic action to compete successfully in a crowded and sluggish job market. Even then, the job hunt can be tough.

UNCW grad Meaghan Kacsmar knows this well. She graduated in May with a degree in communication studies and is trying to crack the public relations job market in the New York City area.

This summer she’s been living at home in New Jersey, working as a waitress and a sales associate at Banana Republic while putting in long hours on the job search.

Kacsmar has notable accomplishments she can discuss in interviews. Last fall, she completed a professional development program that gave her experience in her field and significant exposure to another culture.

“Working with executive chefs in Florence, Italy and the James Beard Foundation in New York, we put together four food and wine events for which I did the promotion,” she said. “We planned the events in Italy and executed them in New York. It was a huge opportunity that helped me expand my network.”

Kacsmar is leveraging that network, enhanced by LinkedIn and Twitter, in her job search. Thus far, however, she hasn’t gotten a public relations job offer.

“The challenge is that for entry-level positions companies want one to two years of experience, so now I’m applying for internships to gain that experience,” she said.

An internship paved the way to employment for Cape Fear Community College grad Jenna Willis, who knew she wanted to study law. She took a pragmatic first step by enrolling in Cape Fear Community College’s two-year paralegal program, from which she graduated in July.

“The paralegal program at Cape Fear is very helpful. I know a lot of people who have been placed in internship programs, and I have been told that many people get jobs through those internships. I did,” Willis said. “From January to May of 2012, I interned with a local law firm and was hired by the firm to work part-time at the beginning of the summer.”

Willis plans to continue working for the family firm, but she eventually wants to earn her bachelor’s degree at N.C. State before attending law school.
Realizing that success would depend on not just what she knew but who she knew, UNCW grad Monique Williams worked hard to expand her circle.

“I networked endlessly, attending every business event that I could,” she said. “I became strongly affiliated with the Cameron School of Business by becoming the president of the university’s Advertising Club chapter and ultimately, a member of Dean Clark’s Student Advisory Council.”

Williams, who majored in hospitality management and communications, eventually found her first job through SeaWork, UNCW Career Center’s online resume and job posting system.

Fellow Seahawk grad Corinne Kalsky’s online marketing and social media savvy helped her land a job as marketing director of Kure Beach-based Lagniappe Promotions.

Kalsky, who graduated from UNCW last December with a degree in marketing, handles online marketing and social media for the promotional products company, as well as setting up communications systems for accounts and generating leads.

“To prepare for a marketing career, I interned with a sales company the summer after my junior year in college, in which I focused on online marketing and the use of social media,” she said. “I also did event planning as a committee member for the UNCW Student Athletic Association.”

Cape Fear Community College grad Sally Varner was strategic in her choice of program as she switched careers after being laid off from her job in the boat retail industry.

“When the economy tanked in 2008, I decided it was time to go back to school and learn a trade that would extend my job opportunities. I chose Cape Fear Community College’s electrical technology program because of its quality, and because everyone needs electricity,” she said.

After she graduated in May, Progress Energy hired her as an instrumentation and controls technician. Currently, Varner is working on electrical systems that control the production of electricity: turbines and the systems that monitor them.

“I should mention that I am the first woman to hold a technical craft position within the traveling maintenance crew in the history of the company,” she said. “I am honored to be chosen.”