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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ new databook on women in the labor force, women have made significant progress in the areas of educational achievement and earnings over the past 40 years. Labor force participation is significantly higher among women today than it was in the 1970s, but it seems to have peaked at 60 percent in 1999. By 2011, only 58.1 percent of women were in the labor force, down .5 percentage point from 2010.

 While there are a variety of reasons women may be exiting the workforce, the economic benefits to promote female employment are pretty clear. According to the recent paper from Booz & Company, “Empowering the Third Billion: Women and the World of Work in 2012,” “… if female employment rates were to match male rates in the United States, overall GDP would increase by 5 percent.” 

 Employers can help to stop this decline by stepping up their efforts to recruit women – and that means understanding how women search for jobs and what they look for in potential employers.

 Recent CareerBuilder research shows females are more willing to learn new skills outside of the scope of their current position (68 percent vs. 63 percent of men). Attracting more female workers could be as easy as highlighting your organization’s training and re-training programs. This finding also indicates an opportunity for employers to keep current employees by providing more training and development opportunities for them.

 Additional tips for attracting and retaining female workers include:

Implement practices that reduce conflicts between work and family demands (i.e., promote flexible work schedules, provide access to daycare, promote a Results-Only Work Environment, etc.).

Change the way jobs are structured/described and roles/behaviors enacted to make them gender neutral. Jobs should de-emphasize masculine and feminine stereotypical attributes. Application and hiring information should be gender neutral.

Make it easier for women to work in male-dominated companies/industries by adapting working styles to allow women (and men) to accommodate family demands.

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Stephanie Gaspary is the director of social strategy and creative services at CareerBuilder.

By Sonia Acosta, Special to CareerBuilder

 You did it. Four years of college went by in a haze of parties, new experiences and hopefully at least a few dozen textbooks. Now it’s time to go out into the world and get a job. Should be easy, right? You’ve done your part, and someone out there owes you a job. Wrong.

 Companies are looking for qualified workers that will bring something to the table and help their businesses move forward. Beyond a college degree, you will need to show prior experience, concrete skills, emotional intelligence, tenacity and a myriad of other qualities.

 Here are three tips to help you navigate the thin line between qualified and entitled and honestly evaluate your skills as a recent graduate or entry-level worker.

 Evaluating your personal brand

Jaime Radow, a certified life coach in Scottsdale, Ariz., poses five questions that can help recent graduates and entry-level workers take the first important step in any job search, evaluating your brand as an employee.

 1. What education do I have? “This list should include everything from college, to those 10 years of dance classes, to that weekend workshop you took in film making,” Radow says. “Write it all down. Don’t edit yourself.”

 2. What experience do I have? “Paying jobs and internships obviously make the list, but also include that six months of volunteering at the retirement home, i.e., skills gained, communication with the elderly, patience and compassion,” Radow says. “Even selling baseball cards or Girl Scout cookies as a kid is sales experience. You may amaze yourself with all of the things you can do.”

 3. What do I enjoy doing? Here again, it is important that you do not edit yourself, Radow advises. List your passions and interests, and be honest about what these are.

 4. If I could have any job, what would it be? Why? Dig deep. Think about what you really want to do and what you envision yourself doing for a living. When you’re honest with yourself about the kind of job you’d like to have, you’re more likely to find a good fit.

 5. What jobs do I believe I am qualified for, and what is the pay range for my level of experience? Based on the skills and experiences you’ve listed, what kind of positions do you think you’re qualified for? Research these positions online, and find out what the starting pay is in your area.

 Honestly appraising your skills

Once you’ve evaluated your personal brand, make an honest and well-rounded appraisal of your skills. Step one gets you started, but here is how to take it to the next level.

 Julie Bauke, career strategist and president of The Bauke Group based in Cincinnati, Ohio, suggests you:

 1. Make a list with three columns: good/very good at, can do it/adequate at and not so good at/don’t ask me to do this.

 2. Collect honest feedback from those you have worked with — professors, peers, former/current managers — and compare that to your own self-assessment.

 3. Get your mind around the fact that you are not great at everything. No one is.

 ”I once spoke to a group of about 75 MBA students and asked who in the room was really great at managing large amounts of detail,” Bauke says. “Every hand went up. There’s no way. Honestly evaluating the experiences you have already had, plus your gut, plus feedback from others, will point you in the right direction.”

 Focusing on the interview

According to Stu Coleman, partner and general manager at Winter, Wyman, a recruitment company based in Boston, the difference between entitled and qualified often balances on the turn of one phrase or the choice of one word over another.

 ”You can’t assume anything,” Coleman says. “Remember it [the interview] is an interview, not a meeting. Ask questions, leading ones that will result in a conversation about how you can add value. Ask what their opinion of you is, what concerns or hesitations they may have.”

 Maria K. Todd, president and CEO of Mercury Healthcare International, cautions new graduates and entry-level workers to avoid coming into an interview with an entitled attitude.

 ”I have been plagued with these candidates who feel a sense of entitlement,” Todd says. “They walk into an interview as if they are the ones who are very busy. They have no idea about our company, and want to ‘cut to the chase’ with their deal breaker offer to be employed for a minimum of $70K.”

 As a recent graduate or entry-level worker, it is important to have and exhibit confidence with a healthy dash of modesty. Know your strengths and celebrate them, but be careful not to give off an air of arrogance or entitlement. Employers want to hire people who are confident but humble, enthusiastic and ready to roll up their sleeves to help the business succeed.

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Sonia Acosta researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.

 Job-searching can feel like being a contortionist, trying to fit and shape yourself to exactly what the job description asks for. Often times you need to tweak your experience and skills to match their phrasing. But what if you find yourself easily meeting the job’s requirements or even surpassing them? While you may feel confident you’re a sure pick for the role, hiring managers may deem you overqualified. Where’s the line between a perfect fit and overqualified? Learn how to understand if your qualifications will work for or against you, and why hiring managers care.

 The problem for both job seekers and employers

A person’s career tends to ascend with higher titles and more responsibility as time goes on. “An overqualified job seeker is someone who, because of salary, experience or education, is considering taking a step down in job or pay out of short-term convenience or personal necessity,” says Jeff Zinser, principal of Right Recruiting, LLC. Although this may sound like a plus for employers, who can benefit from the extra skills and experience, overqualified applicants can be viewed as a flight risk. “This situation is a problem for employers because there is a high probability that the person will leave the job as soon as a position at their historical level appears. In many situations, once the person becomes productive, they leave. Then the employer needs to refill the position. Job specifications and requirements are designed to fill professional positions with people who will be happy and challenged for the long term.”  

Send the right message

The hiring manager has valid reason to be concerned about overqualified applicants, but job seekers are willing to settle if a job is needed immediately. How can you translate your experience to be interpreted as hire-friendly without lying? “We never recommend editing or omitting vital information like experience or education from a résumé to prevent from being labeled overqualified,” says Peter Zukow, general manager at Lock Search Group, a recruitment and staffing firm. “Instead it is important to tailor a résumé to the specifications of the role.  Highlight the qualifications and experiences that are most applicable to the role.  If an individual misrepresents themselves on their résumé, it can be extremely embarrassing or even lead to immediate disqualification if uncovered during interview or background checks.”

 Address the issue

No matter how experienced a job seeker is, the key to convincing an employer that you’re the right person for the job is making a clear business case for yourself and the company. After you’ve tailored your résumé to include key phrases and experience the description asks for, take the time in your cover letter and interview to address your overqualifications. Acknowledge your overwhelming credentials and how this position fits into your career path, as well as how the business can benefit from your experience. Also come prepared with ideas for how you can fit into the company culture and business values. An ideal job has responsibilities that play to your strengths and challenge you, so find duties in the description that you would like to get better at and communicate your approach to this position as a learning opportunity.

 Being an overqualified job seeker doesn’t have to result in instant rejection. Research the roles you’re applying to and how your experience can benefit the team as well as yourself. Employers look for a job candidate who’s a good company fit and will be around for a while. By making it clear you’re interested in the job and have more to learn from that particular role, you’ll make it clear that you are the best person for the job.

By Larry Buhl, Special to CareerBuilder

It happens — the job market changes continually, you overestimate the demand for medieval art experts, or your dream career at 21 becomes a nightmare at 35. But these possibilities don’t mean your degree must be a five- or six-figure white elephant. Thriving professionals weighed in on the relationship between their college studies and their current professions, and the consensus was that college prepared their current careers in unexpected ways.

“My degree helped me mature, understand the importance of research and planning and allowed me to get a job after an internship. I don’t think that the type of degree matters as much anymore as long as you at least have one.” – Sara Croft, media specialist; Bachelor of Arts, art history

“Rabbinic training and the in-depth learning of the Talmud and Jewish wisdom for the last 30 years have made being a marketer so much easier.” – Rabbi Issamar Ginzberg, marketing strategist and consultant; BA, Jewish law

“My degree taught me how to work with people and give clear communication. Planning a course of rehab or therapy for a client requires a skill set of goal-setting, task-management, materials sourcing and continual evaluation of progress. Planning the creation of a wedding gown requires much the same.” – Lori Del Genis, director and dressmaker, Conscious Elegance; Master of Science, speech-language pathology

 “My degree gave me the ability to research, speak confidently and work independently.  In addition, having a degree from Smith, no matter what the degree is, has helped me market and present myself as a well-educated, connected individual.” – Kara Tyler, business and financial consultant; BA, theatre

 “Computer Science teaches you to think everything out before acting. It taught me how to apply logic to every situation. I attribute my success in business to my background in computer science.” – Leila Chang Ripich, CEO, Florida Dental Benefits; Bachelor of Science, computer science

 “Much of my job is about negotiations and contracts. The degree prepared me well in this area. My minor in sociology gave me a feel for people, what motivates people and how to get the most from work relationships.” – Nikki Gastineau Johnson, VP of residential real estate; BA, criminal justice

 “I handle all of my negotiation, contracts and accounting, thanks to the business law courses I took as part of my business degree. These skills have been absolutely priceless in helping me build my business to its current level. Also, having a computer minor and being computer literate has also been invaluable.” – Dan Nainan, comedian, actor, voiceover artist, computer expert; BA, business administration

“Spending my undergraduate career honing my writing skills helped immensely when trying to translate technical specifications into plain language. I also value my degree for my personal website, because it helped me to achieve the skill of very fast and effective drafting and publishing.” – Erin Callaway, IT technical writer/editor; BA, American studies and history

 “When I became a doctor of clinical psychology, my training as an opera singer afforded me familiarity with the world of creative artists. In private practice in Hollywood, I work with many celebrities and so understanding the creative process firsthand serves me. Further, my experience on stage prepared me for public speaking that I do extensively.” – Heather Shannon, psychotherapist and certified holistic health coach; BA and Master of Arts, opera performance

 “Working through Middle English and Anglo-Saxon texts with lots of words that are difficult to define provides good practice for decoding equally complex and thorny legal statutes. My experience shows that it’s more important to take college courses that one finds interesting rather than trying to prepare for any given career.” – Eli Lehrer, VP, Washington, D.C. Operations for The Heartland Institute; BA, Medieval studies

  “My undergraduate degree helps me relate to my clients and listen to them speak about their businesses, their fears and challenges related to opening a new operation in a new country.” – Hendrik Pretorius, immigration attorney; BA, economics and finance, Juris Doctor

 “As a classroom teacher, you have to deal with so many systems, rules and standards; children learn to be quiet and follow instructions. As a clown, I feel the amazing power, creativity and energy of children. It is my job to tap into those elements that make childhood special and amazing and truly celebrate them.” – Christopher Lueck, clown; MA, education

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 Larry Buhl researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.ca

 While many people consider college as preparation for the real world, the decisions made during high school can have the biggest impact on their career success. This issue is examined in the book entitled “College Majors Handbook with Real Career Paths and Payoffs.”

 According to the book, “The problem for many students, and even parents, is that they fail to think of high-school education as an investment good … Despite the fact that they can receive a free high-school education that will cost taxpayers an average of about $40,000 over four years, nearly one in three students won’t graduate … The gap in labor market success between those who choose to finish high school and those who drop out is large and has risen sharply over time.”

 The book provides insight into the four key issues that need to be addressed in high school to help set students up for career success. These four areas are explored below.

 1. Basic skills and economic success

According to the book, access to employment has become strongly connected with the attainment of basic skills, i.e., reading, writing and mathematics. In fact, the effect of basic skills on labor-market outcomes surpasses the effect of education. “Firms are more likely to employ and try to retain and pay a higher annual salary to those college graduates with the strongest basic skills than to those graduates with the same degree level but lower basic skill proficiencies.”

 The book notes that workers who have high basic skills levels benefit in a variety of ways, including:

• Increased chance of being hired
• More hours of work over the year
• Higher hourly or annual earnings
• Increased benefits offerings, such as health insurance
• Greater employment stability
• Better upward mobility
• Increased chances of employer-supported training

 “The most rapidly expanding industries in the U.S. are dominated by occupations that require strong basic skills. If students fail to develop these skills by the end of high school, they will essentially be locked out of access to the best employment opportunities.”

 2. Investing in work experience

Many high-school students consider an after-school job as a way to make some extra cash. Yet working during high school pays off in many other ways. “The gains to students working in high school go well beyond the earnings they generate for themselves and their families,” the book notes. “Working at an early age is a developmental activity akin to developing basic skills or occupational proficiencies in a school setting.”

 According to research cited in the book, high-school seniors who worked 20 hours per week had annual earnings as young adults that were 25-30 percent higher than those seniors who didn’t work. Much of this is due to the soft skills learned on the job. The skills that are developed — willingness to learn, respectfulness for other workers or supervisors, strong work ethic, capability to communicate effectively, the ability to follow simple work rules such as punctuality — are all characteristics that employers look for in job candidates.

 3. The educational attainment decision

The decisions high-school students make about their education cause a ripple effect throughout the rest of their lives. If a high-school student doesn’t have a foundation of basic skills, it can cause him to fall behind, making him more likely to drop out of high school. If he drops out of high school, he won’t have access to a college education. If he doesn’t receive a college education, he may have a harder time finding employment or securing higher-paying jobs.

 Pay levels can also vary based on how much higher learning is obtained. As the book explains, graduates of two-year degree programs earn 22 percent more per year than high-school graduates with no degree. Bachelor’s degree holders earn about 66 percent more per year than their high-school graduate counterparts.

 4. Developing/investing in occupational skills

While majors are often determined once a student is in college, decisions such as the kinds of pre-college courses to take or the type of college to pursue are made during the high-school years. And as the book notes, “The choice that students make about their major field of study is a key component of developing their career plan.”

 The book points out that due to the changing economic landscape, certain majors offer more post-college opportunities than others. Companies are increasingly seeking workers with high-level occupational skills or those with skills in newly emerging fields. According to the book, “The choice undergraduates make about their major will have widely varying impacts on the kinds of careers they can pursue after graduation. For example, students who choose one of the very demanding engineering majors will find they have a much broader array of employment as well as educational options, than say, a student who chooses a social sciences or humanities field.”  

 The takeaway from the book is that students — and their parents — need to pay close attention to the decisions made in high school, from elective courses they take to the after-school activities in which they participate. Not only will it help them in their pursuit of postsecondary education, but it will help them in their pursuit of a fulfilling career.

Debra Auerbach, CareerBuilder Writer

Working between undergraduate and graduate school has its advantages. “A graduate student can benefit so much more from graduate school after working in the ‘real world’ for two years or so,” says Bettina Seidman, career coach with Seidbet Associates, a career management company. “Friends and colleagues of mine who teach management courses agree. They tell me that the level of understanding and class participation is much higher among students who are working or who have worked.”

Working before beginning a graduate program may not be right for every person or major. Here are six factors university graduates should consider when deciding whether to work between undergraduate and graduate school.

1. Does your school require experience?
Find out whether the specialty you’re pursuing or the program you’d like to attend requires you to have work experience before starting — or being accepted. According to online graduate-school directory GradSchools.com, some professions — doctor, lawyer or educator, for instance — usually require some work experience prior to graduate school. Sometimes, it may be mandatory to receive schooling while working. And as the site points out, while some schools may not require it, having real-world experience never hurts and may enhance your time at graduate school. 

2. Do you know what you want to specialize in?
Perhaps you’re still figuring out exactly what career path you want to take and if that path even requires a graduate degree. Or maybe you’re interested in something  business-related, for example, but you aren’t yet sure what kind of specialty you want to pursue. Gaining work experience can help to either confirm or rule out a particular focus area. If you think you want to go in one direction but aren’t 100 per cent sure, look for a job that lets you try the specialty on for size. If you’re indecisive, seek out a position where you’ll be working across a variety of roles. That way you can see what comes most naturally to you and what may not be as appealing.

3. Can you get a job in a related field?
If you’re planning to work, see what the hiring environment is like for your area of interest. If it’s challenging to get a job in your discipline, consider volunteering or applying for an internship.

“When working between undergrad and grad school, it is extremely important to consider the relevancy of the work experience,” says Lynda Zugec, managing director at The Workforce Consultants. “In some instances, it may be best to volunteer in order to gain experiences in a field applicable to the intended grad-school studies, rather than obtaining paid work in an area that may be less pertinent. Working within the field will demonstrate an interest in pursuing related grad-school studies for the long haul and provide a sense of what the field entails.”

4. Does the experience add value?
While working between undergraduate and graduate school certainly has its benefits, make sure that you’re not working just to work and that you’re gaining experience that will add value to your education. “As far as the type of work a potential applicant should look for, the bottom line is how well that experience will enable you to add value to the classroom experience and contribute to group assignments,” says Bruce Bachenheimer, clinical professor of management at Pace University’s Lubin School of Business in New York.

5. Do you need the financial boost?
A major factor to consider is whether you’re financially able to go straight to graduate school post-college. Create a spreadsheet that includes the various expenses associated with the program, such as the school itself, housing, meals, transportation and some disposable income. Chances are you’ll need to work while you’re at school anyway, but for some, getting a financial head start will help ease the transition.  

6. Are you ready to go back to school?
After going to school for 16 years straight, it’s understandable if you need a break before putting your learning cap on again. You shouldn’t feel guilty for taking some time off from sitting through long lectures or cramming for exams. Also, consider that graduate school will likely be different from your experience as an undergrad. While high-school graduates attending university typically go straight to get their undergraduate degree, people attend graduate school at all different ages and experience levels. While you might be zero to a few years out of school, your classmates might be 10 to 20 years older than you.

So if you think spending some time in the “real world” will help you better prepare for the graduate-school lifestyle, take all the time you need.

By Debra Auerbach, CareerBuilder Writer

 But even if an employer can’t be counted on to offer stability, accounting and finance professionals can take certain actions to create their own safety net. Here are three things you can do to obtain greater career security and peace of mind:

1. Wear multiple hats

Being able to boast a versatile skill set is a big plus. Companies place a premium on professionals who can perform multiple roles — for instance, a controller who can also assume accounts payable duties is likely to be perceived as more valuable than someone who can only perform one job function.

 A Robert Half survey of 500 hiring managers underscored this point. Asked which characteristics best described the ideal new hire — aside from having the basic job qualifications — the top response was a multitasker who thrives on a variety of projects.

 Can you boast a broad repertoire of skills? If so, make sure you highlight your multitasking abilities as you look for your next position or seek to enhance your standing with your current employer.

 On the other hand, if you feel you need to round out your skills, and you’re currently employed, ask your boss about cross-training opportunities, which are often encouraged in accounting and finance departments. Maybe you can even take on a colleague’s duties while he or she is on vacation or a leave of absence.

 If you’re job seeking, be open to roles that may be viewed as a step backward in pay or prestige but will allow you to hone your skills in a new area. Whatever your current employment situation, think a job or two ahead. Envision what you hope to be doing and consider whether there are complementary skills you could acquire that would make you more marketable in the long run.

2. Really network

Everyone knows networking is essential to career advancement, but many people aren’t willing to truly engage with their professional contacts. More and more, technology is taking the place of face-to-face interactions. And while different forms of online networking are becoming necessary tools in today’s professional world, it’s important for ambitious professionals to avoid hiding behind technology.

 As more professionals look to advance their careers by playing a networking numbers game — e.g., simply amassing contacts — you can stand out by cultivating real connections with people in your network. If people are going to open doors for you and put their reputations on the line by recommending you, they need to feel comfortable with you. This requires a personal connection that is best developed through face-to-face interactions.

3. Keep learning

It can be difficult to make time for training and development activities. But by doing so, you’ll be taking a critical step toward greater career security. After all, who is more valued: the person who has a skill that no one else in the office has or the individual who’s failed to keep pace with professional developments?

In addition to staying up-to-date on any continuing professional education requirements of your current role, explore other ways to make yourself more marketable. For instance, if you’ve yet to earn your certified public accountant designation, this would almost certainly enhance your professional prospects. Or perhaps consider taking courses to become certified with Microsoft Excel or Access. Study the backgrounds of those in positions you aspire to and seek their advice to determine where your time and effort is best invested.

 By Robert Half International

Don’t concentrate solely on your closet, dining-room table or other household areas. Also look to your workspace. Chances are your desk and computer could use some freshening up, too.

Here are some of the benefits of cleaning around the office:

It increases your efficiency. Filing emails about the training session you organized six months ago, deleting out-dated messages that clog your inbox and going through papers crowding your desk will make it easier to find necessary information. This can be especially important when under a tight deadline or if you’re out of the office unexpectedly and need a colleague to fill in for you.

It reduces your stress. Having a cluttered workspace can be stressful. Just think of the last time you had to rifle through a stack of papers or a mountain of emails for a single buried document. Tidying up can reduce your feelings of pressure and constraint.

Enhance your image at work. When you entertain guests at home, you usually straighten up beforehand so people feel welcome — and impressed. Take the same approach with your workspace. Why? Because appearances matter. According to a Robert Half survey, 83 per cent of human resource managers surveyed said the appearance of a person’s workspace affects their perception of that person’s professionalism. The tidier your desk, the more put together you’ll seem.

Uncover forgotten items. One immediate impact of cleaning your workspace is discovering forgotten ideas from past brainstorming sessions, assignments that never made it to your to-do list or emails that have gotten lost among other unread items. Even if you don’t consider yourself particularly messy or unorganized, it’s easy for any number of things to slip through the cracks during a busy workday.

Gain a sense of accomplishment. Don’t forget that cleaning up simply feels good. Unlike other items on your to-do list, giving your desk a good once-over can be crossed off relatively quickly, and you can see tangible results afterward.

Even if these benefits sound great, you may be wondering where you’ll find the time to actually clean up. Don’t worry — you don’t have to invest several hours to make a noticeable impact. By taking just a few minutes each day to organize your space, you can gradually clean the clutter and keep it at bay.

The key is to set small goals. If you have thousands of messages in your email inbox, yes, it will take a while to put everything in order. But organizing your emails from last October may only take a half-hour. The next day, you can tackle November and slowly work your way toward present day.

Also, be prepared to make some tough decisions. Do you really need to keep a report from 2008? A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself if you have referenced a certain document or email in the past six months. If you haven’t, there’s a good chance you can toss it or, at the very least, file it away. Just be sure you understand your company’s policies on handling confidential or sensitive information. You may need to retain certain documents, even if they’ve been collecting dust at the bottom of your file drawer for months.

By Robert Half International

One of the goals of researching a college before applying is to find out what life would be like if you chose to attend that school … what your classes would be like, what kind of dorm room you’d live in, what you’d do on weekends and how far away from home you’d be.

But perhaps even more important than finding out what your life will be like while you’re at school, is to find out what it’ll be like after you graduate.

If you haven’t even started college yet, graduation may seem like a lifetime away — but it’ll be here before you know it, and you’ll want to make sure you’re well-prepared for “the real world.”

So, even though sampling the school’s cafeteria food and perusing its course catalogue may seem like the more relevant research right now, be sure to check out its career services programs, too. In a few years you’ll be glad you did. To help you out, we put together this quick guide to choosing the best college for getting hired.

Check the job placement report:  ”Students and parents should request a job placement report from colleges under consideration,” says Christine Bolzan, founder of Graduate Career Coaching, a Massachusetts-based firm that provides career coaching to college students and recent grads.”Most schools will have this information posted on their website and the numbers usually reflect how many students who were actually looking for a job had one by three months post-graduation.”

The report will also tell you how many students opted to go to grad school instead of straight into the workforce.

Ask the right questions: If you have an admissions interview, or attend an orientation session at the school you’re interested in, prepare some questions beforehand that will help you determine how career-focused the school is, and the types of programs and resources it offers.

If you get some one-on-one time with a representative from the school, Bolzan suggests asking the following questions:

• “Which companies hire the most students from each graduating class?”
• “How many companies come to campus?  How many on campus interviews are held each year?”
• “What percentage of students obtain their post-grad job as a direct result of on-campus recruiting activity?
• “What is the student to career counsellor ratio?”

Find out about internships: Internships are one of the biggest determinants of post-grad success. They’ll give you real-world experience, bolster your resume, and provide invaluable networking connections. Thus, it’s imperative to not only find out about a school’s internship programs, but to take advantage of them once you enrol.

“The strongest career development programs have focused their resources on [internships], and are getting students in the door earlier (freshman/sophomore year),” Bolzan notes. “It is wise to ask about internship support. Many schools have terrific programs funded by alumni that will offer grants to students who have taken unpaid internships but still need summer funds to contribute to the cost of their education. Inquire if the school has such opportunities.”

Additionally, it’s a good idea to ask whether or not the school provides credit for internships. “In this current market many companies are only offering internships for credit but your school has to be willing to accept the credit for the student to be considered for the role.  Schools not offering credit take their students out of the running for many terrific opportunities,” Bolzan warns.

Talk to alumni: You’ll be one of them in a few short years, so check in with alumni to see how they’ve fared in the job market. You can track them down on Facebook or LinkedIn, or check out the alumni area of the school’s website.

Once you find someone who is willing to talk with you, “ask how the school’s reputation is perceived in marketplace, how strong the support was while in school and post-graduation, and how supportive the alumni network is,” Bolzan suggests.

Additionally, while you’re researching, pay attention to the social media groups for alumni. “Does alumni relations support a Facebook community?  Is there a large LinkedIn group of alumni? Are there subgroups in  the fields you are interested in?  Often the social media channels are used to post jobs exclusively for alumni before they are shared more broadly and some schools are more advanced than others in this regard.

Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter.

For many people, regardless of age, summer is a time when work is low on your list of priorities. Perhaps all those years of three-month summer vacations as young students conditioned us to think of June, July, and August as reprieves from using our brain. Even many offices let their workers leave early on Fridays during the summer.

For job seekers, the summer months can be particularly troublesome due to several factors. Aside from wishing they were outside sunning at the pool rather than inside typing up a résumé, many job seekers have children at home for three months and need to entertain them. Not to mention scheduling conflicts of the employers who are off at some resort enjoying the sun and don’t have time for interviews.  Despite these problems, however, summer isn’t a lost cause for job seeking.

Why summer is a good time to job hunt
“Conducting a job search during the summer can be tricky, and it is important to avoid the biggest hazards for job seekers during the summertime — timing and schedules,” says Patty Coffey, a partner in the information technology division of Massachusetts- based staffing firm Winter, Wyman.  “Candidates shouldn’t feel discouraged if the interview process takes extra time, and those who can withstand a longer process may just find that perfect job.”

In fact, Coffey offers these five tips for job seekers to keep in mind during the summer:

Some industries slow down in summer
“Employees of many companies may actually have more time to interview candidates in the summer, when they aren’t on vacation, because it isn’t a busy time for their organization,” she explains.

Don’t assume no one’s hiring
“Companies still need to hire even when it is 95 degrees outside,” Coffey reminds. “If you stop your job search, you could miss out on some great opportunities.  And you may face less competition if other job seekers are buying into the summer slowdown myth.”

Be prepared to act quickly
“While summer vacation schedules can prolong the interview process, they can also expedite it,” she cautions. “If the schedules of all involved align, companies will speed up interviews — to even just one day — to avoid the complexity of scheduling multiple meetings.”

Starting in the summer gives you more breathing room
“Summertime is typically a less hectic time to transition to a new job.  Prospects can get acquainted with the company when fewer people are in the office and things are slower.  It can also be less traumatic for families if a move is involved, since children wouldn’t have to switch schools mid-year,” Coffey says.

Use summer hours to your advantage
“Many companies have a more lax schedule in July and August,” she reminds. “Bosses are often on vacation or may take a long lunch, so employees can slip away unnoticed. Vacation days are more accepted — your boss won’t think it is odd if you take a vacation day or two in August.  In fact, you could even consider taking a ‘job search vacation’ where you conduct a week-long blitz of intense searching and interviewing.”

How to network and make connections in the summer
Now that you know summer is the perfect time to job hunt, and maybe even the secret to landing a job while everyone else has given up, you need to know how to do it. We asked some career experts to give their best advice for making the most of summer picnics and sports games in order to advance your career. Here’s what they think you should be doing:

“At the summer barbecue or pool party, networkers should listen as well as talk. Listening establishes rapport and people are more likely to help you when they feel listened to. Job seekers should never say, ‘I’m unemployed.’ It sounds passive and negative. If you are networking and not employed, the best thing to say is ‘I’m in [a] career transition.’ It puts you in the driver’s seat.  If you were caught in a downsizing, never say ‘I lost my job’ or ‘I was laid off.’ Instead say, ‘My position was downsized’ or ‘my department was eliminated.’ Then, it sound less like the layoff was about you and more like it was about the financial operations of the company.”  -- Marky Stein, career coach and author of “Fearless Resumes: The Proven Method to Get a Great Job Fast”

“The challenge of summer networking is that so many of the venues and places are outside. Most of us are not walking around with our briefcases and resumes in hand. We forget that these summer places offer real opportunities.

“[My] Best advice: Keep your business cards with you wherever you go — in your pocket or wallet or glove compartment of your car.  If you have a Smartphone, learn to use it by immediately uploading a new contact into it and beaming your contact info to the person you have just met. Be careful: since these are usually social or recreational, do not come across as too pushy. Keep it low key!” -- Larry Chiagouris, professor of marketing at Pace University

“The best thing about networking [at picnics, softball leagues or tennis matches] is people get to know the real you, the person behind the suit, the face and the personality. Be yourself! And connect with them on LinkedIn.

“Considering most conversations either begin or end up focusing on what you do for a living, have that elevator speech planned but don’t sound too canned. Bring business cards or connect with new contacts on LinkedIn but know going into it what you’re looking for. Identify what you want such as a company you want to work for and/or specific jobs and put yourself in the position to ask new contacts for help.” – Vicki Salemi, author of “Big Career in the Big City”

“At times, professionals forget the conversation starters and ways to look for making connections to build their networking. Ask probing questions to find out more about the other person. Don’t talk all business but ask them about their personal interests outside of work, their family, their occupation and what made them select that industry, where they like to vacation and what are their dreams and aspirations. When you find a common connection that is when the real magic begins to happen.

“I challenge people to keep asking questions on various topics until they find a common interest. I’ve personally done this and found people who attended the same university, from the same home town or like to vacation in the same type of relaxing vacations. This is how to build a professional network that can lead to long-term rapport.” -- Sarah Hathorn, CEO of Illustra Consulting, a corporate and individual professional consulting firm

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.