Once the end of your education approaches or you have just gotten your college diploma, you are getting in the midst of your first job search. However, the fierce competition and prerequisites of today’s employers are very different from those in the past, which means that finding a job without a great deal of experience and impeccable recommendations is hard.
Ever since the Great Recession, the number of jobs has been steadily increasing, but there is still a lot that needs to be changed in order for college graduates to get a proper shot at a good job. Preston Cooper presents the key findings of the Manhattan Institute in the Reality Check: ‘Nearly half—44 percent—of recent college graduates from four-year institutions are underemployed’.
The fact is, the majority of students do not look for a job ahead of time. If you are one of them and simply do not feel prepared for your first job search, we present you a couple of things that will help you get a good job after college.
1. Get Career Help from Your School’s Career Services Office
The school’s career office is your first and most promising way to get a good job after graduation. They can help you prepare for the job interviews, write your resume and cover letter and get in the alumni database.
2. Do Not Procrastinate
When it comes to finding the best possible job, it is always best to give yourself an edge and start looking early on. If you wait for too long to start looking for a job or even a connection that will help you get one later, your chances are getting smaller by the minute.
3. Create a LinkedIn Profile
A LinkedIn profile is one of the best ways to make connections with potential employers early on. However, even if you are way behind in doing this, creating your profile is always a good idea.
Your LinkedIn profile should include everything you find relevant, starting from extra-curricular activities, awards and even skills you possess. If you have held any jobs before, you can add them to your profile to show not only experience, but responsibility and independency, too. As you move forwards and start with your career, you will accumulate more experience to your profile and can then delete early jobs such as babysitting or working at a summer camp.
4. Find a Good Mentor
Many students pick a family member or a professor as their mentors. If you want to find a more promising job, one good way to get closer to this goal is by getting creative about your mentor.
In order to find someone who is an expert or works with what you are interested in, you should take advantage of the social media and connections of people you know. Find someone you can rely to and use their experience to find your dream job.
5. Start a Blog or a Website
So far, a very small number of students have understood the influence and importance a blog has in their job search. Establishing a presence on platforms such as WordPress and constantly blogging about personal interests and career goals can help you get the attention of an employer that offers the kind of job you are aiming for.
6. Start Interning
Even if you neglected to do this while at college or high school, it is never too late or too early to start interning. Students are often aware of the importance of internships, but still fail to land them due to numerous reasons and limitations.
If you are starting interning late, it is always best to pick a company with wide brand recognition. This will allow you to quickly widen your circle of acquaintances and get you a better shot at finding a good job fast.
7. Join an Industry Related Group
The majority of colleges give students the opportunity of joining big professional groups and associations that can help them connect to people. The more groups and associations you choose, the bigger your chances are at learning how and where to apply for a job.
8. Craft Your Elevator Pitch
An elevator pitch is a term used for selling products, but can also be applied to this case. Since looking for a job includes selling your abilities and skills to prospective employers, you need to create a 30-second pitch that will get you chosen from a bunch of other candidates.
Your job pitches should be short and to the point. When speaking to a new client, always include the most important details of your training and expertise.
9. Create a Perfect Resume
Being considered for a job position starts with the resume. If your resume is bad, your chances at getting the job are set to the minimum.
In order to create the perfect resume, you need to make sure that you only include qualifications that are relevant to the job. Making a long resume filled with unnecessary qualifications will only make the employer throw your resume away.
10. Stay Positive
Finding a job after graduating is not easy. The competition is huge and chances are, it will take you some time to find a promising job. Therefore, you must stay positive and just keep trying.
If you take the time to create the best resume and make good connections, you are very likely to succeed in your goals. Be patient – your dream job is just around the corner.
