If you are getting ready for the start of your senior year of college, this is an exciting and empowering time.

You have just one year left of college, and while the “real world” is right around the corner, you can still enjoy the cushy protection of your academic home for two more semesters. In the meantime, however, there is no small amount of work to be done to prepare yourself for graduation — and I’m not even talking about your senior thesis. I’m referring to making final decisions about graduate school or career choices.

We all hope that by next May the economy will be in a full recovery, but today those odds are looking rather long. If you wan to be sure you’re ready for life after graduation, check out these three back to school tips for college seniors:

It’s never to early to network.

Whether you are going for your dream job in engineering, or you haven’t gotten the faintest idea what you want to be when you grow up, networking is a great way to figure it out! Start by making a list of everyone you know who might be able to be helpful in your career exploration — from professors and past colleagues to job supervisors and even friends of the family! Draft an email to send to each one of these people, asking for face-to-face meeting or ‘virual’ help in figuring out your next steps. Before you know it, you may have networked your way into a job!

Review your resume.

Writing a resume can be a daunting task — especially since the job is never really done. A good resume is formatted well, written in active voice, focused on measurable success stories, and free of errors. A great resume is all those things, plus constantly tweaked each time it’s submitted speak so that it speaks to the specific needs of the job. If the thought of writing your resume freaks you out, come check out our advice on the JobMonkey, and seek out the competent, professional advice of your on-campus Career Planning Center. You might even find workshops or individual counseling sessions to help you perfect your resume.

Jump in with both feet.

I know that your senior year is a busy — and fun — time of your life, but here’s one more thing to put on your to do list: Finding an internship or volunteer placement that rounds out your academic know-how. If you really want to get a leg up on your competition, interning is a great way to build skills, make connections and discover what truly makes you tick.

How are you planning to make the most of your senior year?

During the summer, many companies offer internships to students. Even though these internships are often unpaid, you can still gain valuable experience by working in a professional setting. JobMonkey has a great job board for internships, and no matter where you can work, you can use the following tips to make the most of your time with the company this summer:

• Check with your college before you apply. Many schools offer college credit for summer internships, but the job has to meet certain requirements, such as offering you a minimum number of hours. Before you spend time applying anywhere, find out if your college has any criteria and ask the potential employer if they’re willing to fill out the right paperwork for you to receive college credit.
• Make connections while at work. The company offering the internship may not have full-time positions open when you graduate from college, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use the internship to transition into a real job. Make sure that everyone in the company knows your name and sees that you’re a dependable employee. Through networking, you might be able to get a job with their recommendations, so make an impression.
• Take every opportunity to learn. An internship isn’t just a job; it is a learning experience. The reason companies don’t have to pay interns is that they are taking you on knowing that you have little knowledge of the field and need to be taught new skills. Take opportunities offered to you to gain experience, even if it means helping on weekends or staying late. If you aren’t offered these opportunities, just ask! If your internship is unpaid, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to at least observe, as long as you’re willing to put in the extra hours.
• Learn from your mistakes. In an internship, you’re going to make mistakes. That’s ok, as long as you learn and don’t make these mistakes again. Employers are typically more lenient with interns, since you have little experience in your industry, but you could get fired or receive bad feedback to your college professors if you don’t improve your skills. Listen to all the constructive criticism you’re getting, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Remember, with any internship, you need show that you’re a good worker by being punctual, respecting all company rules, showing initiative, and doing every task to the best of your ability. You may not know how to do the specific job right away, but just because this is a learning experience doesn’t mean that you can’t have good general job skills.

Oh my goodness, I just checked the blog archives and realized that is has been almost a month since I last posted a Hot Jobs post!

Have you been in complete withdrawal? So sorry about that. The holiday season obviously got the better of me.

Well, I’m climbing back on the hot jobs “horse” and have I got a doozy for you this week: Internships. If you are a college student and you don’t know what you’re doing this summer, it’s high time that you figure it out. A paid or for-credit internship is a super solution. It can help you make networking connections, explore your career options and maybe even lead into a job once you graduate. Be sure to check out the free JobMonkey Job Center today for a host of great internship opportunities (beyond the three I’m going to tell you about now). Or go to the JobMonkey section on internships to learn more about it as well.

1. Summer Diversity Internship, The Nature Conservancy, Little Rock, Arkansas or San Antonio, Texas

The Nature Conservancy’s 2010 Summer Diversity Internship program is seeking students currently underrepresented in the conservation field for paid internship opportunities available in locations throughout the U.S. and set to begin on June 7, 2010. Among the intern’s responsibilities will be working on the Conservancy’s digital tools, particularly for Web sites within the Conservancy’s Southern Region. Candidates must have experience in creative Web design, including DreamWeaver, Flash and Adobe Photoshop. Applicant’s resumes should include links to Web pages or animation applications they have designed. Experience with either video editing and/or writing for the Web are a plus.

2. Trails and Greenways Program Internship (Spring/Summer 2010), Rails to Trails Conservancy, Washington, DC
The Trail Development/Policy Team of Rails to Trails Conservancy is seeking up to two full- or part-time interns for the spring and summer semesters. The role of the interns will be to assist in the creation of reports and web content, to maintain the RTC’s trail database and to help map out new trail projects. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students with excellent writing and communications skills and a strong interest in environmental issues and/or trail development.

3. Paramount Pictures Marketing Intern, Hollywood, CA

I’ve heard it said about finding a job these days that it’s not what you know, but who you know. I wouldn’t say that’s entirely true, but there’s no doubt that networking is exceptionally important. And nowhere is that truer than in tinsel town. If you want to get your start in Hollywood (behind the scenes — I can’t even begin to help you with becoming the next Jen Anniston), here’s a great opportunity: Paramount Pictures is looking for a part- or full-time marketing intern to create compilation reels, archive and analyze competitive campaigns, and assist in creating timelines for marketing materials. Oh, and by the way, you will get to work in the office of the president, gaining face-to-face exposure with the processes and PEOPLE behind Paramount. I.e. this is a prime networking opportunity! Applicants must be in at least their junior year of college up through a Master’s Degree program. Course work or previous internship experience in marketing and/or film is ideal. Night and weekend hours are likely and a background check will be performed.

Good luck with your internship search this week!

I feel like the weeks are flying by even faster now that fall has officially hit. As you probably know by now, every Wednesday, I feature three of the hottest job leads from JobMonkey’s free Job Center.

Our Job Center is the web’s #1 free resource for job seekers in search of an adventure — and a paycheck.

While the September job loss report from last week may have been doom-and-gloom, but that doesn’t mean you should throw in the job-searching towel just yet. In fact, a great way to get a leg up on your competition is through a college internship, which is why that’s the focus of our Hot Jobs report this week. Believe it or not, a number of firms are already hiring the intern crew for next summer — and the competition is going to be red hot!

You can learn more about summer and semester-long internships from JobMonkey’s extensive section on college student internships or from my post about how to find a college internship.

1. Tax Intern, Weyerhaeuser,  Federal Way, Washington

One of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of wood products, Weyerhaeuser is currently seeking a tax intern for its Tax Department at Corporate Headquarters in Federal Way, WA. The position can be either part-time (20 hours/week) or full-time (40 hours/week) and will involve assisting in the preparation of Weyerhaeuser Company’s consolidated federal income tax return, and state income tax returns for Weyerhaeuser and subsidiaries. The ideal candidate will currently be enrolled in an accredited Bachelors of Accounting degree program, have excellent computer skills and strong problem-solving skills. Also important are organization, flexibility, teamwork and willingness to learn.

2. Finance Management Associate Intern Program, Bank of America Corp., Charlotte, North Carolina

The Bank of America annually selects thirty interns, with the aim or providing them the opportunity to expand their academic knowledge while developing technical skills, knowledge of the industry and familiarity with the corporate environment. Interns may be involved in on-going operations, financial and non-financial trends, financial analysis of business investments, internal planning, external reports for shareholders and regulatory authorities, and taxation issues. In conjunction with their job duties, interns will have the opportunity to participate in training sessions, networking events and community service opportunities. Eligible interns may be invited to join the Bank’s two-year associate development program. Qualified applicants should be pursuing a degree in Accounting or Finance and have strong academics, leadership skills and business acumen. This is a paid internship in Charlotte, North Carolina, which runs for two months starting in early June.

3. ConAgra Engineering Internship, ConAgra Foods, Council Bluffs, Iowa

The ConAgra Foods Corp is seeking an engineering intern to assist the Engineering Manager in a variety of assigned tasks including initiating improvement efforts, gathering and analyzing data, and identifying and resolving process and procedure issues. The ideal candidate will have completed at least two years of his or her Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering/Physical Science at an accredited college or university. One should also be involved in research groups or projects outside of class.

Didn’t find the internship or job of your dreams on our hot jobs lists this week? Be sure to check out the JobMonkey Job Center for hundreds of other listings in every imaginable field.

Good luck with your job search this week!

The JobMonkey team has been at it again, adding in tons of new content about all kinds of cool jobs.

If you are interested in working for the Federal Government, we have recently expanded that section to include information about:

Health and Human Services jobs
IRS jobs
Federal Career Internship Programs
Drug Enforcement jobs
Environmental Protection Agency jobs

And don’t forget, if you are currently searching for a federal government job, you can search through hundreds of openings in Washington D.C. and around the country at the JobMonkey Federal Job Finder.

We also recently expanded our section on Reality TV jobs. Check out the inside scoop on landing a gig with one of these top rated programs:

Survivor Auditions
Amazing Race Auditions (my personal favorite of the reality TV line up!)
American Idol Auditions
So You Think You Can Dance Auditions
America’s Next Top Model Auditions
Top Chef Auditions
Biggest Loser Auditions
Project Runway Auditions

And finally, we added a brand new section for all you would-be day traders. It’s not a career field for the faint of heart, that’s for sure. But if you think you might have it in you, check out our section on Day Trading.

If you are about to graduate from college, you are probably feeling a bit nervous about finding a job in the current climate. The Boston Globe recently answered a question from one such student — a January ’10 grad with concerns about making himself attractive to would-be employers. Some of the Globe’s suggestions included:

• Taking full advantage of your campus career services office

• Networking with professors and other on-campus professionals in your field

• Setting a quantitative goal for your job search — for example, five face-to-face networking meetings before the end of fall semester

• Joining a professional association in your field

In addition, I’d also add that if you have just a semester of school left, now is the perfect time to look for a college internship. And you can build up your resume (and your networking connections) by volunteering  over the summer and throughout your job search.

Hungry for more job tips on finding a job post-graduation? Check out this jobs for graduates blog post from last month, where a New York native contemplated moving to Boston and launching her job search there.

Thursday is Reader Mailbag day, in which I answer questions about job searching from our readers. Do you have a question? Send me an email or leave a comment!

Dear JobMonkey,

Thanks,
Julie in New York

Dear Julie,

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation. What a wonderful accomplishment!

It sounds like you have a stress right now, which is being compounded by your student loan burden.

I am optimistic — and you should be, too — that you will find a job quickly. It sounds like you definitely have a can-do, will-do attitude, which is a huge plus. If for whatever reason you haven’t found a job by the end of your grace period on your loans, you do you can apply for a hardship deferral of payments, right? (You can find more information on repaying your student loans and student loan deferment at Financial Aid Finder.)

Now, as for your job search situation, you asked about moving before you land a job. In the current economy, local candidates have a decisive advantage, since few companies have the cash to splurge for relocation — especially for entry-level positions. If you are already in town, you increase your chances of getting called for an interview.

Do you have a professional network in Boston? If not, now is the time to start building one. Be in touch with all your contacts in New York, and ask them to help get you in touch with Bostonians. More than ever, networking is going to be key in landing a job.

You will also need a good personal network to help support you, emotionally and practically, during your job search. The need for support is always there, but especially when you are moving to a new city. Do you have friends or relatives (or your boyfriend?) with whom you can crash while you job search? If possible, bring a reserve of cash with you — ideally a few month’s worth of bare bone expenses — to help you stay afloat while you’re job searching.

Additionally, sign up with a temp agency or two when you get to town; hopefully you will be able to bring in some cash even while you look for your job.  If the job search lasts longer than your resources, consider taking a job in retail or at a restaurant. And don’t be worried that a job selling women’s blouses will deter from your career goals. Given the economic situation, potential employers will be more likely to hire someone who is enthusiastic about working… even if it’s not in their preferred field. Meanwhile, volunteering and interning are two great ways to make connections and keep your skill set fresh, even during a potentially protracted job search. (Here are some past blog posts on volunteering and college internships).

P.S. If you’re serious about getting a job in communications, you might want to have a look through JobMonkey’s section on Broadcasting Jobs.  You can also search through our Broadcasting Job Board, with openings in radio and TV.

Good luck to you in your move and your job search! Keep us updated when you find your new position.

Welcome to our Hot Jobs! As you hopefully know by now, each Wednesday I feature three of the hottest new job listings from the JobMonkey Job Center.

If you are looking for a job, the Job Center is a great place to start.

Our listings feature opportunities from around the country and the world, with new gigs posted daily. Best of all, it’s a completely free service for job seekers! So come early, and come often!

This week, I’m focusing on college internships in honor of our newest resources: The Internship Job Board . We’ve got paid internships in every imaginable field. Many of these great opportunities are cross-posted on the regular job board, so be sure to check both sites if you are in the market for a summer or year-round internship.

1. Equity Research Services Technology Intern @ McGraw-Hill, New York, NY
Standard & Poor’s, the financial market division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is seeking an intern to assist with business system analysis in the Equity Research-Technology group. The intern will be response for:

* Documenting workflow diagrams of Equity Research Services
* Clarifying and explaining business requirements for software automation to team members

The ideal candidate will have excellent time management skills, conceptual business knowledge, and clear written and verbal communication skills. Candidates must be an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Mathematics, Computer Science or Engineering.

2. Business Administration Intern @ Boeing Company, Tukwila, Washington
The Boeing Company offers a full-time, paid internship to college students seeking hands-on experience in the large-scale financial operations of a major multinational company. Responsibilities may include:

* Assisting with the Skyline Financial Health index
* Preparing funding gap analysis
* Updating Financiers database
* Assisting in the planning of Boeing Capital Corporation events

The ideal intern candidate will have applied business knowledge, strong communication skills, progressive leadership experience and demonstrated financial acumen. Applicants must be MBA level students majoring in Finance.

3. Finance Intern Program, Bank of America Corporation, Charlotte, North Carolina
Bank of America offers a paid, two-month student internship program aimed at helping business students to develop their practical, technical skills while advancing their intellectual understanding of financial principles. Interns will work with the Bank’s Finance group and the Finance Management Associate Program, taking responsibility for:

* Forecasting financial and non-financial trends
* Developing models of financial analysis
* Supporting internal planning and management accounting
* Preparing external reports for shareholders and regulatory authorities

In addition to their job responsibilities, interns will also have many opportunities to participate in networking and community service events. Performance evaluations will help interns gain better insight into their own professional development. Up to 30 interns are hired every year; ideal candidates have strong academics, demonstrated leadership experience and adroit relationship building skills.

JobMonkey has just launched a new tool to help you find college internships. If you haven’t yet reviewed the Internships section of the website then please check it out! The new internships job board tracks postings from all over the Internet and is updated continually. We have configured the specialized board to show a wide variety of intern opportunities: paid and unpaid; business & finance; accounting; government internships; engineering; sports & entertainment. You get the idea! Check the job board frequently to ensure you don’t miss a perfect opportunity. Also, remember that not all internships are ‘summer internships.’ You could find a great year-round posting too. *College internships look great on your resume.*

There was a great article in the Wall Street Journal Online earlier this week, with job searching tips aimed at college students. Here’s the advice from their career experts:

• Use your youth to your advantage

Sure, new hires right out of college may be down by as much as 25% this year, but recent college graduates still have some things going for them: “Recent graduates tend to be more flexible than more-established workers. Without the burden of a mortgage, a spouse and children, many graduates are willing to take a less-than-perfect job that is located in a less-desirable city or may require significant travel or has a lower salary than an experienced hire would accept.”

• Be creative in your resume-writing

Focus on accomplishments, particularly in the realm of leadership experience. In fact, the article advises broadening the definition of “experience” beyond work and internships to include sports and volunteer activities.

• Network with gusto

In addition to networking in traditional ways such as attending industry conferences, WSJ also suggests reaching out in unconventional ways. Tap your parents’ friends (remember, you’re asking for advice, not a job), your alumni database, and even “cold” networking through social networking sites like LinkedIn.

The article also mentioned the value of internships, a topic we’ve covered extensively here on the JobMonkey blog. If you want to learn more about interning for credit (or for cash), check out the JobMonkey section on college student internships.