Hi Mom and Dad, I'm Home!

Given the economy, especially the depressed job market, an unusually large number of recent college graduates are returning home, and not just for the weekend! How can you, as parents, "survive" this experience while helping your son or daughter move forward towards professional employment and career security? Some thoughts:

• Establish some ground rules. Maybe reinstitute some of those you used four plus years ago or use those you regret not using back then.

• Encourage him or her to devote at least 40 hours per week in systematically and proactively seeking a position, a job. During at least those 40 hours speak, dress, and behave professionally.

• Expect your son or daughter to obtain any form of, hopefully, short-term employment. That work is likely to be in an area and at a level far from the intent of the recently acquired college degree. Nevertheless, any legitimate employment is necessary for two reasons. First, cover the young person's basic subsistence costs, so you don't have to. Second, create a postgraduate history-resume content-that demonstrates this potential employee's initiative, persistence, and sense of responsibility. Assume, after trying very hard, that part-time employment is simply not available. Then the young person should seek a meaningful volunteer role. What if your son or daughter objects to 40 hours per week of job searching plus a part-time job or volunteer work? Suggested response: welcome to the real world!

• View this temporary period as an opportunity for your son or daughter to move further toward career security by expanding their nontechnical or "soft-side" competencies. For example, improve time management, address speaking fear, or learn the fundamentals of project planning.

If you and your son or daughter follow the above advice, this soon will pass.

About this Author

Stuart G. Walesh, Ph.D., P.E., an author and independent consultant, helps individuals and organizations engineer their futures. Drawing on his employment experiences in the public, business, and academic sectors, he provides education and training (workshops, webinars), facilitation, writing and editing, marketing, and project management services. Those services and his self-study products are described at http://www.HelpingYouEngineerYourFuture.com. Walesh blogs at http://blog.HelpingYouEngineerYourFuture.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stu_Walesh