The post-graduation job search can feel daunting.
You may be feeling pressure from both yourself and family members to secure a job quickly. Although a bit of pressure can help get you get going, there are some practical tips for recent college graduates who are trying to find a full-time job.
I hope you can use this advice as a guide to make the job search less stressful. Finding a full-time job is possible – but it does take extra patience, dedication, and hard work.
Here are a few practical tips for recent college graduates that I found useful when I was a college graduate.
Do your research
Take time to brainstorm what types of jobs you want to be applying for before you start the application process.
Take a few minutes to analyze the work you want to be doing and the industry you desire to be in for the long-term. Doing so will help save you time in applying to jobs that fit your preferences and needs. If you have no idea where to start, think about the areas that you excel in or things you are good at. If you can’t think of things you are good at, try asking close friend what they see you doing.
Utilize company research websites, like Glassdoor that display reviews from real employees. Sometimes reading other people’s views or opinions of a job title and company is beneficial. It is always nice to get insightful from either past or current employees.
Craft a flawless resume
Making sure that your Resume is clean, updated, and relevant is very important.
Ensure that your Resume matches your industry. Customizing your Resume to match the industry you want to be in makes a big difference in the type of jobs you are applying for. Feel free to check out websites like livecareer.com to view resume examples by industry and job title.
Use the keywords that you found from your job research for your Resume! If job titles from the 5-10 top companies you want to work with have the word “Business Associate,” try to incorporate those words or words from the descriptions into your Resume.
Stick to a one-page resume! If you are struggling to stick to one page, try cutting out the non-relevant information like your first job as a host or food runner. While all work experience matters, it is more important to focus on the experience related to the jobs you are applying for.
Have friends or family members proofread it. Editing your Resume multiple times before sending it out is extremely important.
Sign up for online job boards
My favorite job search website is LinkedIn but there are other ones that I used, including Indeed and Google Careers.
Put effort into your profile page by adding a recent and professional profile picture, a clear message of who you are, and relevant work experience. Don’t forget to also brag about your past accomplishments or certifications that you have received!
Sign up for “daily” notifications and emails when a specific company or job title that you are following matches your search. If you receive information that sparks your interest, be sure to apply as fast as possible – being an early applicant is always better than waiting weeks to use after hundreds of other people already have.
Use your school connections
Look into your college’s alumni network or school job board. Most colleges provide free access and tips for recent college graduates and alumni that can be extremely helpful.
For my school, we used Handshake – a popular online job board, specifically targeted to students at my school. I didn’t know that my school offered free access even after graduating, but finding that out was cool. Your school WANTS you to get a job.
Network with alumni from your school – even if they are not recruiters. I believe that people genuinely like to help people, especially if they have something in common with them. You never know who could make you an introduction or connect you with a recruiter at their company. An excellent way to find alumni is to use the free LinkedIn search for alumni outlined here.
Stay organized
One of my favorite tips for recent college graduates is to stay organized. Staying organized is key to success. If you do not think of yourself as an organized person, take little steps to become more organized in your job search.
A simple tool that helped me stay organized was to keep a “job tracking” excel sheet that showed the company I applied to, the job title, the date, and if I heard back yet for the next steps or rejection. By keeping a tracking sheet, I could quickly refer to which jobs I applied to and when I applied.
Conclusion
Overall, applying to jobs can be a lot of work. But with a few simple steps every day, you will be on your way to success.
Try to stay patient and positive – as getting hired can be a long process. Keep a forward-thinking mindset, and don’t let rejection get to you too much. Continue to talk to friends, get good sleep, and stay active by taking daily exercise and breaks on the days you apply. And remember – you got this!
Do you have any personal tips for recent college graduates or advice that worked for you when you graduated? Comment below to share your own tips.
Ashley is a finance graduate from the University of San Francisco and currently works at a financial technology startup in San Francisco that is focused on providing affordable and accessible 401(k) retirement plans to other startups and small businesses. Prior to working at a startup, she was an associate at a large private wealth management firm working with high-net-worth clients. She is born and raised in Orange County, CA, and loves spending time at the beach, in a pool, reading, and with her friends.
