Are you feeling discouraged by your attempts to find your first job after graduation? It’s tough to compete for what feels like so few jobs when you have little to no experience. Before you give up, remember that things aren’t hopeless. You really can find a great job. All you need to do is follow these 10 tips.
1. [/b]Create a LinkedIn Profile[/b]
LinkedIn is the primary networking site for everything related to networking and the job search process. Don’t start looking for a job until you have completed your profile. Then, once you have your account set up, get active.
2. [/b]Volunteer or Find a Great Internship Program[/b]
Many graduates complain about the conundrum of failing to get a job without having any experience, and then not being able to get any experience because they can’t have a job. Well, there’s a way around that. Volunteering or getting an internship is a great way to get experience that employers are looking for.
If you are interested in a career at a major corporation, many of them have paid internships that last a year or more. If you complete these successfully, you can often find yourself on the fast track to management.
3. [/b]Use Your School’s Career Center[/b]
Don’t tackle your job search on your own. Take advantage of your school’s career center. They can help you with employment related counseling, and connect you with employers in your area. In fact, some employers choose to bypass other methods of recruiting and only use schools to find entry level job candidates.
4. [/b]Go to Job Fairs And Industry Events[/b]
If you haven’t done so, register with your local unemployment office. They have job search resources for you. Even better, they will keep you apprised of job fairs in your area. While there is nothing wrong with looking for jobs online, attending a job fair gives you the opportunity to speak directly with and make a personal impression on hiring managers. Finally, if you know the industry that you want to work in, read trade magazines and join online discussion groups. This is a great way to find industry events where you can get to know potential employers and colleagues.
5. [/b]Get a Professional to Help With Your Resume[/b]
Writing an entry level resume can be more challenging than you realize. Many recent graduates sell themselves short, and don’t focus on the right things in their resumes and cover letters. They also tend to make design and formatting errors. A professionally written resume from a company like Resumes Centre can make a big difference.
6. [/b]Create an Internet Presence[/b]
If you haven’t started building your professional, online presence, it is time to begin. Consider creating a social media presence, online portfolio, and a blog related to your professional experiences and accomplishments. Use these to talk about your accomplishments, share your industry related thoughts and opinions, display your talents, and to reach out to others. Then, link your professional profiles on your LinkedIn accounts and your online resumes.
7. [/b]Look For a Mentor[/b]
As you look for a job, you will find plenty of people that you want in your professional network. That’s wonderful, but if you can find a great mentor that is even better. This will be someone working in your field who has an interest in giving you advice and guidance that you need to find success.
8. [/b]Use All of Your Job Search Options[/b]
Don’t stick with a single job board or website, and don’t rely on one source for online classified ads. Take advantage of all online job boards that list jobs that are relevant to you. Also, don’t dismiss the idea of using recruiters and employment agencies. They tend to have information on entry level jobs that might not be advertised elsewhere. This is because many of these jobs are contract to hire jobs that give you between 90 days and six months to prove that you are capable of doing the job.
9. [/b]Send Thank You Notes After Interviews[/b]
This is an impressive touch that many young job seekers don’t think about. Shoot a quick email after each interview to thank the interviewer for their time, and reiterate your interest. If your interviewer seems particularly conservative or old-school, follow that up with a brief letter of thanks on high-quality stationery and put that in the mail.
10. [/b]Remember That Appearance Counts[/b]
Remember to show up to job interviews looking as nice as you possibly can. Get your haircut, polish your shoes, and iron your clothing. Here’s a good rule of thumb. Consider what you would wear on the job, and then step things up a notch. For example, if you would normally be in the field wearing jeans and a t-shirt, make sure you are wearing dress slacks and a shirt with a collar during your interview.
Conclusion[/b]
Instead of feeling stressed out and discouraged about finding your first job, try adopt a positive attitude. That, and these 10 job search tips should put you in an excellent position to find a great job.
About the author: Sylvia Giltner is a freelance writer and blogger