Starting a career right out of high school
Many seniors are ready to get to work as soon as the graduation ceremony is over. If your senior is planning to get a full-time job, start looking early and ask for help.

• Remember, it is often who you know that helps land a good job. Seniors and parents should talk to friends and neighbors about good employment opportunities.
• Seniors, start preparing your resume early and ask your parents for help.
• Read the want ads and check out the employment Web sites. It’s never too early to start researching. If the job is right, maybe they can start on a part-time basis before graduation.

Start your job search before graduation
If your senior is considering entering the work world after graduation now is the time to start looking. The first step is to discover your areas of interest. Click here for a variety of advice and resources to help you determine a career path.

There are a number of great Web resources that can help the novice job seeker create a resume, develop interviewing skills and provide access to countless job openings. Here are a few key resources to start your job search:

www.hotjobs.com: Hot Jobs is one of the premiere job search Web sites. It was voted the "Best General Purpose Job Board for Job Seekers" in a recent survey of job seekers. It includes a “Career Tools” section. A great place for the new job seeker to start, this section includes helpful links to interview tips, access to communities of other people working in your industry, the ability to research salary, benefits and other job issues – it will even step you through the basics of resume writing and building resumes that get you interviews.

www.monster.com: Perhaps the most popular job search resource online, Monster helps you explore the possibilities and find the opportunities that are right for you. It publishes more than 800,000 job openings, and has an easy-to-use resume builder tool that will help you build and post your resume in their database. Monster also offers a variety of career search advice and resources.

www.careerbuilder.com: Careerbuilder leverages relationships with newspapers across the U.S. to post the employment classifieds of more than 130 local newspapers online. Leveraging partnerships with a variety of leading career management resources, Careerbuilder has an in-depth “Advice & Resources” section that will put you in touch with the right resource for your needs.

Additional considerations
Once your senior is no longer a full-time student, they may no longer be eligible for your medical, dental and car insurance. Plan ahead and research your options.

Is your senior having trouble getting a job in the area they want because the competition is so tough? An internship in the field might be the answer. Internships can develop excellent contacts and build resumes. Part-time employment is always an option during an internship.