TAKING THE NEXT
STEP
Preparing to land a job after graduation
Blake Baxter, a recent BYU-Hawaii graduate, proved that it is possible to find a great job after graduation. He landed a good job that also allows him to surf during his lunch break. He shared his secret for success. After graduating, he went home to California and started working at a restaurant while looking for a better job. Although he was attending a single’s ward, he would often talk with members of his family ward. He said, “I would ask successful people in my ward if I could take them to lunch one day and talk to them about their field. Most of the time they would turn that around and say, why don’t I take YOU to lunch and we can talk.” He did this frequently for 2 months and said that at least half of the time he would leave the lunch with an interview opportunity, if not a job offer. “The church is a really amazing network and can be a great resource for potential opportunities,” Baxter said. He now works for an entrepreneur that runs an e-commerce website in his hometown of Encinitas, California. When the economy is as grim as it has been lately, it can be a seemingly impossible task to get a good job, even with a college degree. Brother David Dooley, Career Services program manager, gives tips to students to find employment after graduation. Here’s what Brother Dooley suggested: • Start Early - “It takes time. It’s a process,” Dooley explained. “Don’t wait until the week before you graduate to start applying for jobs. Many companies hire six 6
Ke Alaka‘i