Get a Job

How grads can find work in Philly.

by Annette B. Mattei

Congratulations to the tens of thousands of area college students who graduated from Philadelphia schools over the past few weeks, and welcome to the working world. It’s a tough time to be entering the job market with the economy in recession and world events preoccupying the nation. I too graduated during a recession -- in 1991 -- so I can appreciate the tough challenge ahead of you.

We all know it's a tough job market, but being a recent college graduate in Philadelphia is a tremendous advantage. Philadelphia is America's fifth largest city and fourth largest metro area, with more than 2.5 million jobs.

So how can you get your career started when it seems you're only running into brick walls? Here are some suggestions for jump-starting your job search in Philadelphia.

Build your own network of contacts. Because Philadelphia is one of the most accessible cities in America, an enterprising young person is only two or three contacts away from the powers that be. When I moved to Philadelphia I managed to get a meeting with a city deputy mayor using a graduate school contact; this meeting went so well he personally recommended me to several of his colleagues in and outside the city, which led to the job I’m in today. Philadelphia is filled with these kinds of stories. It just takes tenacity, poise and patience.

Get involved. Another great way to find opportunities in your field of interest is to be out there meeting Philadelphia's other young people who have gotten their careers off the ground. Here are a few groups worth considering: the Young Professional Network or YPN (

www.philachamber.com/ypn.asp), a Philadelphia Chamber-sponsored group giving young people an insider’s view of the region’s business community; Young America PAC (www.youngamericapac.org), a bipartisan political action committee that seeks to expand the sphere of influence of young people in Philadelphia; and Young Involved Philadelphians (contact Josh Sevin at jsevin@hotmail.com), a group of young activists who have been in the forefront on key city issues.

Consider Philadelphia’s nonprofits. Philadelphia's known for its wealth of nonprofit organizations, spanning from health and social services to arts and culture to civic and business groups. These organizations provide great opportunities for young people to tackle some very worthy causes and often take on significant responsibility. Your best bet in finding these opportunities is to look off the beaten path. Two excellent websites can help you get started: the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance's job bank (www.philaculture.org) and La Salle University's Nonprofit Center (www.lasallenonprofitcenter.org).

Take an internship. Internships, even postgraduate ones, are a great way for you to become familiar with a company and vice versa. And chances are good that it will turn into something more permanent -- research suggests that as many as 50 percent of internships turn into full-time jobs; for some industries the conversion rate is as high as 75 to 80 percent. Make sure you ask companies you're interested in if internships are offered, even if there are no job openings. Even volunteering is a great way to get your foot in the door. Check out www.careerphilly.com for advice on finding an internship.

Be your own job creator. Young educated people are the most active group in starting businesses, and being a young entrepreneur in Philadelphia has its advantages. With the fourth largest consumer market in the U.S. and a great location along the East Coast (35 million people are reportedly within a two-hour drive of Philadelphia), fresh ideas and energy go far in Philadelphia. Just look at our latest success story -- Josh Kopelman, Penn graduate and founder of Half.com (among other ventures and many more sure to come). Innovation Philadelphia (www.ipphila.com) has put out an entrepreneurs’ guide that’s a big help in finding the resources you need to start and grow a business in the Philadelphia region.

I’m interested in hearing your ideas and especially your success stories -- I have no doubt that many of you are finding jobs in Philadelphia. Please e-mail them to me and I will post them on the Knowledge Industry Partnership’s website (www.kiponline.org).

Annette B. Mattei is director of research for the Pennsylvania Economy League and project manager of the Knowledge Industry Partnership. If you would like to respond to this Slant or have one of your own (850 words), contact Howard Altman, City Paper editor in chief, 123 Chestnut St., third floor, Phila., PA 19106 or e-mail altman@citypaper.net.

-- Respond to this article in our Forums -- click to jump there




	search citypaper.net