What’s next?
Soon-to-be grads can take steps to land first ‘real’ job
As graduation season approaches, many soon-to-be high school and college grads are faced with a big question: What do I do now?
The job market is competitive, and landing your first “real” job after being a student for so many years is not always easy. Often the best candidate, especially for entry-level positions, is the one who combines some experience with a willingness to learn and do whatever it takes to help a company succeed.
Many candidates boast such experience and enthusiasm, but there are some additional steps new graduates can take to improve their chances of landing their first jobs out of college.
Gain some relevant experience.
While college is the best time to gain some experience that’s relevant to your field, that does not mean you can’t still earn an internship now that you have donned your cap and gown and received your diploma.
Many businesses look to recent graduates to fill their internships, as recent grads have years of study under their belts and, because they are no longer enrolled in classes, more flexibility than current students. If the job market in your chosen field is tepid, start looking for internships. These can be a great way to start making some professional contacts, and many people find themselves ultimately working full time for the company where they first landed an internship.
Establish an online presence.
Another way for recent graduates to get noticed is to establish a positive online presence. Something as simple as creating a profile on professional networking sites can help recent graduates get noticed by prospective employers. Even if you have little or no relevant professional experience, create a profile that includes your education history, interests, accolades or awards you earned while in school, and perhaps even a brief summary of your career goals.
Another way to establish an online presence is to begin a blog. This blog should not be used as a tool to discuss your personal life, but rather to express your thoughts on topics that are relevant to the career you hope to pursue. Demonstrating an understanding — or even just a passion — for the industry can be a great way to show prospective employers that you are looking for a career, not just a job.
Join a professional organization.
Other options to network and improve your chances of landing your first job can be attained by joining a professional organization.
Many such organizations welcome new members, even those with relatively little or even no professional experience. Your university may even sponsor such an organization and host regularly scheduled forums relevant to your industry. Such forums often feature lectures or talk sessions with already-established professionals who can provide advice on landing a first job or internship or furnish grads with industry contacts who might offer similar help.
Membership in such organizations is often free or inexpensive, so take advantage of this opportunity if it presents itself.
Use every resource at your disposal. Many soon-to-be college graduates are unaware that they have valuable resources at their disposal that can greatly increase their chances of securing a job out of college.
The career services office at your university is an invaluable resource that is plugged into the business community in the school’s town or city. Such an office can connect you with fellow alumni, many of whom want to help their fellow graduates establish their careers. A career services office can also help new graduates fine-tune their resumes and cover letters to have a greater chance of landing a job.
Parents may also be a great resource in your job hunt. Your parents may have a career’s worth of professional contacts who might be able to help you land a job. Don’t be hesitant to ask your parents for help.
Getting a first job out of college is rarely easy. But there are some strategies motivated grads can employ to greatly increase their chances of finding jobs and starting their careers.