Wednesday, August 27, 2008

(ARA) – With employers facing a looming shortage of skilled professionals, your recent college degree can lead to more opportunities than you might imagine. Increasingly motivated employers may, however, leave you with an overwhelming array of choices. How do you – a soon-to-be or recent college graduate – set your career on a course towards lifelong fulfillment and financial reward?

“Members of Gen Y - or the ‘Millennials’ - have a clear vision of what they want from a career, and it’s a vision that is unique to them and the technologically advanced, environmentally and socially aware world they grew up in,” says Deb Marquette, manager of field talent attraction for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. “This generation of workers is motivated, conscious of their place in the global community and determined to make a difference in the world.”

While it’s difficult to generalize characteristics of an individual based on their generation, there has been a lot of research conducted to find commonalities among members of Gen Y. Here is what the research says you might be looking for in a career, and tips to help you find a career that is a good match for you.

1. You want to make a difference.

More than 60 percent of 13- to 25-year-olds feel personally responsible for making a difference in the world, according to research by Cone Inc. and AMP Insights. Look for companies whose values align closely with yours. You may find the most career happiness with companies that support your activism and charitable efforts, and participate in or support charities and issues important to you. As an example, Thrivent Financial matches a challenging career with outreach opportunities, including Thrivent Builds—an alliance between Thrivent Financial and Habitat for Humanity.

2. You’re not afraid of competition; in fact you crave a challenge and hard work.

Being competitive with themselves and others comes naturally to Gen Y employees, who want to do their work better and faster than their co-workers, research by NAS reveals. Look for companies that nourish your competitive nature with rewards programs that recognize performance.

3. You would like to be self-employed, or at least in a career that provides plenty of autonomy.

While many Millennials would like to be self-employed, few are able to do so because of high start-up rates and the cost of paying for health insurance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Look for companies and careers, like Thrivent Financial’s sales opportunities, that offer entrepreneurial-type benefits, like flexibility and unlimited income potential, along with the support and backing of a Fortune 500 company. “Look for a job where you can be on your own, but not alone,” Marquette advises.

4. You understand the value of experience.

More than half of graduating college seniors don’t expect job offers upon graduation and 74 percent think relevant work experience is most important in getting a job, according to monstertrack.com. Seek companies, like Thrivent Financial, that offer internship programs where you can accrue relevant work experience while you’re still in school.

5. You want to work for a company that speaks your highly technological language.

In 2006, 97 percent of college students polled by Harvard Institute of Politics reported they had visited Facebook in the past month. Look for an employer who understands how you use technology to communicate – from e-mail and intranet to YouTube and social networking sites – and is willing to speak the same language.

To learn more about career opportunities with Thrivent Financial, a company committed to conducting business with integrity and respect for your values, visit www.thrivent.com/careers/college/.

Courtesy of ARAcontent