If you’ve recently graduated and haven’t started to seek new employment, you should roll up your sleeves as soon as possible and start looking for work. Being eager to find work is understandable, but how to find a job after college might be a nerve-wracking process. You better be ready for it.
You might be wondering: Is it hard to find a job after college, or How do I find a job after college, but keep in mind that graduates looking for their first employment are in a much better position than other candidates who haven’t got diplomas.
There are plenty of ways to start your first position – you need to follow some handy tips and use the right strategies. Luckily, we’ve got you covered.
Career Center Can Help You
Career centers are usually located on university campuses. They are specifically designed to help students with sharpening their employment search skills, identifying professional goals, finding suitable vocations, getting referrals to employers, etc. Here are some of the basic services you can expect from your career center’s office:
- Help with choosing your occupation and company
- Resume and cover letter writing
- Learning how to present yourself well in an employment interview
- Recruiting
- Finding networking events
- Internship opportunities
Types of Career Centers
Besides those at college, there are several types of career centers available to help unemployed people, such as American Job Centers and Private Career Centers. Depending on your needs and budget, you can get professional development and apprenticeship programs, or work one-on-one with experienced guidance technicians.
Consider Entry-Level Jobs as a Good Opportunity
When you have less experience and know-how, you should think about entry-level jobs. They are an excellent way to provide you with training and advancement opportunities, and a regular monthly income will be an additional benefit. Of course, this kind of work won’t be paid as much as other jobs in your career.
What Are the Best Entry-Level Jobs to Start Your Career
If you don’t have a clear picture of what you should be doing, several jobs might be a good fit for you. They might have the potential for advancement, excellent salary, and opportunities for professional improvement. If you’re wondering what might be the best entry-level job for you, it depends on your education, as well as personal interests, goals, skills, and characteristics:
- Business administration/management
- Building and transportation trades
- Communications and design
- Education, research, and non-profit
- Engineering
- Financial services
- IT
- Healthcare
- Sales and marketing
Resume Is Important – It Should Be Tailored for Every Application
Why is the resume crucial? Firstly, it explains your skills and requirements in a page or two. Secondly, it helps employers make a selection and get your first interview. But, to find yourself among the chosen candidates, your resume should stand out in the sea of others. That’s why you should tailor it for every application implementing the right keywords and required abilities.
Why Is Your Resume Relevant to Employers in the Process of Getting a Job
When the potential employer studies your resume and cover letter, he tries to get a deeper understanding of your skills, experience, and strengths. Since this paper represents the employer’s first impression about you, it should reflect all accomplishments that align with your professional development and goals. Simply put, your prospective boss should like it.
Building a Social Network Is One of the Most Effective Ways to Be Hired
Keep in mind that the best way to get the desired position is to ask for professional advice instead of directly asking managers or executives to hire you. If you’re not sure how to start, you can contact friends, neighborhoods, professors, and coworkers and get some leads. Also, it might be useful to join professional organization meetings in your field and participate in conversations.
Create a LinkedIn Profile While in School or Join Like-Minded Groups
LinkedIn is a social network that has established itself a long time ago as one of the most important and most effective when it comes to finding new employment. It’s also a great place to build a network, personal brand, join different groups, follow company pages, and exchange ideas and skills with others if you like to communicate that way.
Creating a LinkedIn profile can give you plenty of benefits, even without any work experience. You can highlight your background education, internships, competences, and ask people for words of advice and recommendations.
Spend Some Time Volunteering and Connect With Employers in Person
Volunteering is a great way to get new experiences and meet interesting people, potentially even employers. Doing things you like might give you plenty of opportunities to connect with managers and proprietors in person. And volunteering can be the right step in finding employment that meets your needs and competences.
Face-to-Face Situations Are Scary Just at First Glance
Even though your resume can tell a lot about you, it doesn’t represent your whole story in a unique and interesting way as an in-person meeting. Be ready to highlight your knowledge and interests and take advantage of face-to-face situations. Every employer likes proactive, open-minded, and passionate potential workers. Be yourself, and don’t be afraid to tell your wishes, goals, and expectations. Experienced employers will recognize your strengths and possibilities.
Additional Tips on How to Find a Job After College – Consider Job Search Resources
There are tons of valuable resources to support young and ambitious graduate students looking for a new and perfect position. It’s always good to have several options, especially when you’re unsure where to start:
- USA Jobs
- After College
- College Recruiter
- Job-search boards such as Indeed and CareerBuilder
- Staffing agencies like Avenica
The Right Career Coaches Can Be Great Resources to Support You in Obtaining Employment
Career coaches are experts who can help you in many ways – from professional planning, interviewing, resume building, giving precious words of advice, to negotiation. These experts understand how to pinpoint the best aspects of your skills, knowledge, and experience. Since they are up-to-date with current hiring practices, they can find the best approach to market all your competences in the most attractive way to potential employers.
Although their services are not cheap (from $75 to a few hundred dollars per hour), cooperating with them would be useful. Whether you’re planning to hire a moving company and relocate, wondering how to move to a new state with no job, or thinking about professional development in your homeland, you should find the right coach to guide your career most efficiently.
