5 Tips to Find a Job After College

As a new graduate, you feel a range of emotions. While the excitement of finally graduating dies down, you’ll feel something new; this feeling is potentially anxiety or fear of the future. Thinking about finding a job after college can leave a pit in your stomach because you always hear people talking about how difficult it is to find a good job. To assist in your search, here are a few tips to help you find a job after college.

1.Build and Rebuild Your Resume

If you don’t already have a resume, you can build one easily. Building your resume is easy, especially if you don’t have much experience. Your resume should include your education and previous job history. Once you have a resume, you should tailor it for each job that you apply to.

Many employers use applicant tracking software that pinpoints exact keywords in your resume, which means that the first look at your resume will be by a computer and not a person. By tailoring your resume for each job that you want to apply for, you’ll be able to get past the first step of the recruiting process. For example, if you’re applying for an assistant job or a copywriting job, you’ll need to tailor your resume to include the keywords that are listed in each job posting. Of course, you should only do this if you have the experience.

You should also aim to update your resume every time you get hired for a new job and every few months so that you can add your new duties and skills without worrying about updating them later.

2.Do Research

If you already have a career path in mind, you need to do the proper research so that you can learn what steps to take to get the job. For example, some jobs have a path that you must follow. You may have to start out as a marketing assistant with the goal of one day becoming the marketing director.

During your research, you should also look for the salaries of the positions that you’re interested in so that you can negotiate. For example, if you’re becoming a phlebotomist, you might not get a phlebotomist salary of someone who has a decade of experience, but you can leave room for negotiation by asking for what’s fair and taking your inexperience into account.

3.Check Job Postings Daily

When you don’t have a job, you need one quickly, which is why it’s a good idea to check job postings on job boards daily. The best time to apply for a job is within two days of it being posted so that you can catch the attention of hiring managers and recruiters. If you can’t seem to find time to look at job postings, aim to start your day off by sipping your morning coffee while scanning job boards.

4.Network

Networking can help you land a job quickly. By leveraging your alumni network and making new contacts, you can find job opportunities before anyone else knows about them. Reaching out to people who have already found jobs can help you learn about opportunities. Not to mention, these individuals are typically trusted by their employers, so they can help you get a foot in the door.

5.Prepare for Job Interviews

You should prepare for job interviews before you have one scheduled. Practice having interviews with your family and friends so that you can get a boost of confidence and know how to answer any question that’s thrown at you.

To better prepare, go through topics about your industry so that you can be prepared for specific questions even if you don’t have experience in the field yet. Be prepared to answer questions like why you’re the right candidate for the job even though you may have less experience than someone else.

Finding a job after college may be one of the first major challenges you face as a young adult. However, with these tips in mind, you can improve your chances at landing a job and jumpstarting your career.