Youth unemployment rate has reached 16.8% in the US and currently is 22.7% in the EU. What should a... [+]
The young generation is overqualified, has high expectations, but is jobless. I spent the summer working at the Forbes headquarters in Manhattan and I am now based in Paris, France. In these cities, considered by many the capitals of the world, I have met many recent graduates, who although being overqualified – holding masters degrees from top schools and speaking many languages - are having a hard time finding good jobs. The youth unemployment rate has reached 16.8% in the US and currently is 22.7% in the European Union. What should a recent graduate do to find a good job? Go partying!
To find good jobs, the common strategy recent graduates follow is to apply online, reach out to alumni, make cold calls, go to career fairs (where thousands of young people are also desperately trying to make a good impression), or try some creative methods – my favorites are Googlepleasehireme and The Creative Ransom. What used to be unorthodox career paths are becoming more and more common: many join the startup fever and launch their own ventures. Others move to emerging countries like Brazil, where the unemployment rate has reached a record low of 5.3%. I am not sure about which strategy is the most effective, but I know one that really works: Go Partying!
Informal gatherings propose a different value proposition if compared to websites such as LinkedIn or Monster. Networking events let recruiters call for interviews based on behavior instead of selecting based mainly on past experience. How can the personality of the candidate be considered just by analyzing a resume? Besides, we are used to spend so much time in the office that I am convinced that one of the key criteria when hiring someone must be: would I like to work with this person? Would I like to see him everyday? I believe a relaxed event lets recruiters answer those questions with more accuracy than any formal assessment.
Take, for instance, the Regatta, a yearly event completely organized by students that takes place in islands of the Gulf of Naples such as Capri and Ischia. Notorious companies such as Boston Consulting Group and Ferrero have never failed to attend it from its very first edition in 2007. Since its beginnings the idea was to offer participant an occasion to meet, strengthen their network, have fun and why not, find jobs. A number of prestigious sponsors, including Peugeot, Avio and Kappa have participated with the aim of attracting interesting students.
One of the selling points of such an informal gathering is that it provides recruiters the possibility to get to know potential candidates in an informal and relaxed context. It may be easier to find out real competencies of potential employees when they are acting naturally rather than in interviews with young and nervous applicants in suffocating offices. Managers and recruiters not only spend time with co-workers from the same company but they also get the chance to meet students as well as representatives of other enterprises in a safe and casual environment.
Based on my personal experience, I know parties can change your professional life. In 2010, the Financial Times ranked the business school I was attending as the best worldwide. I went to an event organized by the school to celebrate this achievement and met an alumnus who was working for one of the most important logistic companies in the world. What started as small talk over a few glasses of champagne quickly moved to serious interviews and exams at the company headquarters. A few weeks later, partially thanks to a great party, I moved to Guinea Conakry to work as a project manager in one of the biggest project of integrated logistics in West Africa.
My conclusion: want to find a good job? Forget about cover letters, perfect resumes and formal applications. Go partying!
You might also like...
