Job-Search Tips for Recent College Grads

Job-Search Tips for Recent College GradsJob-Search Tips for Recent College GradsJob-Search Tips for Recent College GradsIf youre a recent college grad and havent landed your first entry-level job yet, dont panic.College graduation often comes with a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand, youre incredibly excited to close this chapter and move on to the next in the real world. But on the other hand, you know this major change comes with a lot of uncertainty and with that, anxiety. This is especially true if you find yourself unemployed and totenstill searching for an entry-level job.While some college graduates look forward to one last summer without any real responsibilities, many others feel the pressure to get a job out of college and move out on their own as soon as possible.If you find yourself itching to start your career, heres some good news. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment tarif is currently at its lowest point in a decade, at 4.4 percent. And over 90 percent of employers surveyed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Job Outlook 2017 Report rate the job market as good or better for the class of 2017.Below are some job-search tips to help you take advantage of this favorable job market to land your first entry-level job after college graduation.Figure out your next moveStart by giving your job goals some serious thought. You dont have to map out your entire career path in fact, I recommend that you use these first few years after college to explore different fields and types of organizations to discover whats best for you before committing to any long-term career goals but you need to narrow down your search to some degree.For instance, is there a particular industry or company that especially interests you? While its unrealistic to assume your first entry-level job after college graduation will be your dream job, its not unreasonable to target jobs at companies that are in your dream industry. I f you need a little inspiration, take a look at this list of the hottest entry-level jobs for recent college grads.Related What to Expect From Your First Job out of CollegeCome up with a job-search game planAs French writer, Antoine de Saint-Exupry, once said, A goal without a plan is just a wish. Simply saying I want a job wont help you accomplish your career goals. You need to make a solid plan to keep your job search on track. For instance, once your personal branding materials are in order, make a goal for the number of job applications and networking activities youll complete each week.Click on the following link to download my free job-search action plan to jumpstart your job search and keep your momentum going. Dont be afraid to internIf youre having trouble breaking into your desired field, be willing to pursue an administrative or customer support role, or even an unpaid internship, to get your foot in the door. Many entry-level jobs today require one or more years of relev ant experience. If you didnt intern during college to gain the prerequisite experience, you are at a disadvantage when competing for an entry-level job. Target internships that offer part-time hours or a flexible schedule so you can build up your resume with relevant experience and still have time to take on a part-time job to pay the bills. Its a lot easier to land an entry-level job within your desired industry once youve gained some relevant internship experience and have begun to build a strong professional network in that field. Plus, internships can turn into full-time jobs if you play your cards right.Update your college resumeIf you answered these important questions before applying for an entry-level position, but your job applications are still greeted with radio silence, then your college resume may be to blame.As an entry-level job seeker, youre expected to have a one-page resume. Remove any references to your high school career and focus on highlighting your best sellin g points, such as your education, leadership skills, internship experience, and any awards you achieved during your college career. The following links will show you how to write a resume for your first post-college job.Click on the following link for an excellent entry-level resume example for a recent college grad.If youre still unsure if your college resume is good enough, request a free resume review from TopResume to receive some expert and objective resume-writing advice.Clean up your social media habitsAccording to a study by Jobvite, 93 percent of employers will search for your social media profiles before deciding if they should interview you. Make sure your online presence isnt sabotaging your job search by auditing your online brand to see if your social media profiles are unintentionally raising red flags for employers.If you have any personal social media accounts you dont want employers to associate with your candidacy, nows the time to increase the security settings a nd change the usernames to a nickname so youre confident your private accounts are well-hidden from recruiters. Also, set up a professional LinkedIn profile to advertise your candidacy to employers.For more job tips to ensure your online brand supports your job-search efforts, download my free personal branding checklist.Network like its your job (because it is)Studies find that youre 10 times more likely to land a job when your application is accompanied by an employee referral. However, you cant get those coveted references without networking. Make it your mission to become an active networker.Build a valuable professional network by getting involved in your alma maters alumni events, joining relevant LinkedIn groups online and finding face-to-face networking opportunities through relevant Meetup groups, professional association, and trade shows and conferences.Informational interviews will become your best friends. As you grow your network and discover new people who work in a fi eld, industry, or company that interests you, reach out to them to set up an informational interview that will allow you to learn how they got to where they are in their careers and what you can do to get your foot in the door. This article by Danny Rubin will help you craft the perfect networking email for such requests. Click on the following link for the best questions to ask in an informational interview.Take advantage of free job-search toolsThe resources listed below are all free job-search tools that can help you during each stage of your job hunt.Exploring Career Paths If youre struggling to narrow the focus of your job search, do a little research into different career paths with some help from Vault and The Muse.Research CareerBliss and Glassdoor offer information on interviewing, pay, perks, and corporate culture at various companies. Hoovers provides company, industry, and market information, which can be very useful when youre developing your target company list.Salary Prepare for upcoming negotiations by researching and comparing average salaries for your target job with PayScale and Salary.com. I also recommend reading this free PDF version of Jack Chapmans book, How to Make $1000 a Minute, to help you know exactly how to handle those dreaded salary interview questions.Networking Danny Rubins blog, The Template, has tons of great and free advice for entry-level professionals. You can also click on the following link to download five free templates from his new book, Wait, How Do I Write This Email? Im also a fan of FindSpark, a community dedicated to setting up every young professional for career success. In plus-rechnen to your usual job-search tools, FindSpark puts together a bunch of in-person networking events for interns and recent college grads.Also, dont forget about your alma maters Career Services department and alumni services. They often offer free job-search tools and services to help you find an entry-level job. Click on the follo wing link for more free job-search tools every job seeker can use.Click on the following link for more job-search advice.Another free job-search tool? TopResumes free resume critique. Submit yours today to find out where you stand.Recommended ReadingThe Best Jobs for 2018 and What That Means for College StudentsTop Entry-level Jobs for Recent College GradsHow to Write a Resume Webinar for Recent College Graduates