What advice/tips would you give a graduating college student beginning their job search?
Recently I was asked what advice I had for a graduating college student that was looking for a job. They were frustrated that they had applied for jobs and not received any responses or interviews. I shared some tips from a recruiting perspective and what has worked for me in my past job searches, but was wondering what others could share with respect to finding a job after graduating from college.
Answers (26)
Lisa A. N.
Writer - Blogger - Telephone Operator
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1. Realize that not every employer is going to get back to you--just let it go if you don't hear back.
2. Realize that the world does not owe you a job.
3. Don't have your parents involved in your job search.
4. Consider temping and contract work.
Dave M.
Professional trade show booth traffic builder and party entertainer. Corporate and private sector events.
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With increased competition for jobs, be prepared for a lot of rejection.
If you can, start your own business.
John G.
SEO applications, Website based marketing, small business consulting
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Plan your job search project. Sometimes it takes
several jobs and allied experience and self-study
to reach your planned career.
Do some research and begin building your
"brand." Start preparing for job interviews-now.
Build your list of good questions and your
excellent answers. Do mock interviews. Tape
the interview-have others critique your performance.
Links:
Peter C.
Senior Software Engineer at Say.So
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They should as themselves, "Would I employ me?".
If the answer's no, they need to work out why not, and concentrate on that area.
If the answer's yes, they should employ themselves and start their own business. They can do this alongside a search for real employment, and they'll learn an awful lot while doing it.
They should network - get out and talk to people. Unfortunately, a web-based job-search does sometimes seem like throwing resumes down a black hole. Taking internships seems to work with some industries (personally, I hate them - if you work for me, you're entitled to be paid for your efforts)
It may be worth them trying to contact a few of the companies who never replied, and ask for an honest appraisal of why they didn't make the cut. The truth might hurt, but it may also provide some useful insights for the next round of applications they make.
Christina C.
Special Education
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I would suggest volunteering in a field that you are interested in. It will help you gain experience, enable you to try on the job and see if you really like it, help increase your network of connections, and possibly lead to a job if they like the service that you are providing. I would also go to the EDD office and take their free resume, interviewing, and job search classes. The mentors there can help you start heading in the right direction.
Sahar A.
Diversity& Inclusion|Leadership training|Social Media Marketing|Social Media Training|Public Speaker|Culture Competence
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Find your niche and have a plan
Dont just apply everywhere
Make a list of companies you want to work at
Network online or offline with people that work there preferably hiring managers either through LI or Twitter or F2F events of any
Find your USP and perfect it
Have a great resume that should be tailored to each position and dont do mass resume mailing
Volunteer at events that has to do with your industry and will offer you exposure
People neglect the cold-call followup. Find out who the hiring manager is via LinkedIn or Jigsaw. Follow up with a phone-call 2-3 days after a resume / application and even if you never talk with them, this sets you apart from a majority of candidates.
If your on a FT job search, target 10x companies a week, 2-3 industries. Do your research and include 1-2 paragraphs in an email (if possible) to the hiring manager as your "cover letter" (because noone reads cover letters anymore). Build the paragraph as if you already HAVE the position, and exactly how / what kind of value you will be adding.
Applying to 20 positions a day online is not the most effective form of job search.
Attend local networking groups.
I like a few of the points made by Sahar. One of the best technique that worked for me was to basically figure out what the ideal position was for me, then figure out what company had the best environment with this position and established a relationship with the person making the final hiring decision. Contact them and explain to them your goal: You want to know what key factors will influence their decision making and what attributes they are looking for. Take them to lunch or coffee and pick their brains. Create a relationship that will show them you are serious about this job. Find common grounds with that person. Doesn't matter if the position is not advertise to the general public. 80% of jobs are not advertised out there. It might take a bit longer but trust me, it's well worth it. And DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS.
In order to get into an interview the graduate must do their homework and compose a cover letter which emphasizes their personal goals, the strengths that bring them the ability to achieve them, and how they will impact the prospective employers business. They should turn their lack of experience into a positive by expressing their coachablility and how they will not only take direction but implement it. At this stage of the recent grads career, one could say their cover letter may be more important than their resume.
Lee S.
Author of "10 Steps to Getting Discovered on LinkedIn" | Certified Professional Resume Writer | Career Transition Svcs.
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Before all else they must have a strong, professionally written resume and a solid Linkedin profile. From there I would ensure that they have strong networking skills and understand how to network effectively, both on line and IRL. Lastly, I would encourage them NOT to spend their days on line searching job boards.
Christine H.
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Be clear about your goals, how you provide value to those hiring you and persistent.
Neil P. M.
Marketing Specialist & Aspiring Polymath
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Don't simply settle for any offer, or any organization you see. Set your priorities, establish your goals, and know your desires. You have studied so hard for so long. You deserve to work for a company that's worthy of that effort.
No matter how difficult it gets, what's important is to do it with hope. Even though we continue to face this economic downturn, there are still jobs out there, and companies who are looking to hire. Don't give up. No one likes rejection, but if you keep trying, you and the right company will find each other.
Study and observe what others are doing, then do it differently. You are competing against countless applicants and candidates for the same position. Differentiate yourself, and stand out.
Lastly... "If you let people's perception of you dictate your behaviour, you'll never grow as a person. But, if you leave yourself open to experience despite what others think, then you will learn and mature."
Patricia P.
Principal at Pitsel & Associates Ltd.
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The answers above all have excellent points. A couple of others I would add not mentioned elsewhere:
Ask the teachers in the classes you liked best if they have any contacts they would recommend.
Ask family friends if they know of any openings in the area in which you wish to work.
A very large number of jobs are never advertised in the newspaper, or even on social media sites - they are filled because somebody knows somebody who knows somebody. Most new grads do not take advantage of this networking effect.
Become a new member of the alumni group of your college/university - great way to meet people who are probably employed, and perhaps even in the field you are interested in.
Get involved in a political campaign - you meet great contacts, and may even help a worthwhile candidate get elected.
Fehmida M.
Analyst - Software Quality Assurance
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1) Focus on companies with 500+ employees. They will provide training & opportunity to move up/around internally. At the same time, not worry too much about job titles.
2) Not compromise on where your interest lies. Stay on message.
3) In job interviews, demonstrate that you're a confident self-starter to compensate for lack of experience
4) If the job is not what was hoped for, use it as a stepping stone to get to a better job. Don't accept the situation as is.
Jon D.
Jon DiPietro: Internet Marketing Consultant, Author, Computer Geek
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The competition (and unemployment rate) among new graduates is unprecedented and so they need to employ non-traditional strategies to stand out. In this new world of linchpins and social recruiting, having a strong online presence is not optional.
One approach is to implement a process that results in a large, permanent, disruptive online footprint. This allows them to be found by people looking for their skills and develop a strong online network to support and enhance their employment chances.
Creating this online digital footprint involves three steps:
1) Build a home base. By registering your own domain name and building a personal website, you have an online “home base” where you can build and expand your digital assets.
2) Establish outposts. Social media sites and search engines act as outposts where you can engage with other professionals and drive traffic back to your home base.
3) Measure and improve. It’s important to monitor the size and effectiveness of your footprint so that you can constantly strengthen your career gravity field.
Links:
Richard K.
Helping MBA's and other execs reach their career potential - Executive Career Coach/Consultant, CMC, CPC, BCC, LION5600
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1. Don't apply for jobs online.
2. Study and learn how to be an effective networker.
3. Network, network, network ... effectively.
4. Get your parents to pay for the services of a job search professional.
Links:
Eric P.
Talent Acquisition Expert & Entrepreneur
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Don't create a single resume that says (for example), I am looking for an IT job (too general) or I am looking for a position as a programmer, support, DBA...(several jobs listed).
As a new graduate, many have a single resume that could be used for any job. As an employer, we don't want to hire people who want any job...we want people passionate about job for which they are applying.
So create several resumes for the varied positions you might consider, and send employers a resume customized and targeted for the job you are applying for.
Don't say looking for Financial Analyst or Accounting job. These are different jobs and career tracks.
In marketing they say if you market to everyone, you are ignored by everyone. Show specialization and focus in your search.
Michael W.
Interim Finance Director at Roscomac
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Network, College / University Allumini, and remember you need to kiss a lot of frogs to find a princess
Clare J. M.
Consultant | Marketing | Branding | Public Relations | Communications | Special Events
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A lot of excellent advice, I would urge you to volunteer with an organization that matches you interests and that you have a passion for. This way, you are networking, adding to your skills, giving back, and when asked the question, what are you currently doing... you have something to talk about that shows depth and maturity.
1. Determine who and where you are ....
2. Determine where you want to go .....
3. Determine what you bring to the table that others might not...
4. Target and Focus in your selected field.
5. Have adequate and relevant Documentation to present yourself effectively.
6. Network and Pitch
7. Be Selective and Engaging.
8. Practice
(9. Engage a Coach (optional but can be very effective..))
Sam M.
Founder, Sam's Dream Blog/Writer (Sports)/Bilingual Sports Media Professional
Best Answers in: Career Management (1)
Ken,
A couple things come to mind right away - Consider everyone as a networking contact. It's surprising how many people you wouldn't expect know someone who can help you or they themselves are just waiting for you to ask for help.
Second, be as clear as you can be in your goals and what you want. Sometimes people say, "I'd be glad to help you. What do you need?" It's helpful to be able to clearly articulate.
Figure out what is at the root of your passion. For instance, do you want to be a doctor mainly because you want to help people? Think about the different options related to that core value.
Links:
There are books on this, but will try to be brief
1) Know what you want to do. Don't go talk to people - companies, contacts, friends, recruiters and say "I'd do anything" - they are trying to connect you with opportunities. Do the Soul Searching before you start
2) Be prepared for a LOT of rejection. In a good job market, JobSerf found hit rates from applying was around 3-6% (e.g. calls for every 100 jobs applied to). Math says that 100s if not 1000s of people apply to each job you see on the net - that is just what it is.
3) Be realistic. Kid the other week went to a mediocre school, okay GPA and thought 'he might want to be an IBanker in Dallas'. Not a chance dude, few jobs plus the people that want them KNOW they want to do that and went to top schools and excelled. Also, 30s and 40s are going to be more prevalent than 50s and 60s for those who graduate without jobs.
4) Get something FAST. You don't want to start bumping into the December class, or worse, the 'next year'. Will permanently set you back
5) Winston Churchill - NEVER GIVE UP
I sent my resume to my first company out of college 7 times. Every time I saw a job, I'd apply. 7 was magic number. I sent my resume at least 5 times to my employer after my MBA. Last time, got someone on the phone, Fedexed it next day, and had an interview a week later.
Wish them my best, and remind them, what they invest into this process will set the stage for the rest of their life - both professionally and personally.
Angel L R.
Education Management | Marketing | Nonprofit | Blogger | Looking to make a permanent move back to Central Florida.
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@Ken
Let me share with you some excellent advice that a mentor gave me "People don’t offer you opportunities because they somehow feel you deserve it. They do so because they have a problem and need someone to help them resolve it." Plain and simple, right? Don’t ever forget that! Again, you could be the most educated person in the world with the best pedigree, but it doesn’t mean you’re entitled to anything.
I had to learn that lesson after graduate school. The economy has made it very hard for advance professionals to climb the ladder. Now you have what use to be mid-level positions within organizations are now considered entry-level. What that means the value of a higher degree doesn't mean as much in terms of opportunities for advancement.
Two books that brought focus and clarity to my career development in the current market:
1. Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring: Take Charge of Your Career, Find a Job You Love, and Earn What You Deserve.
2. "Headhunter" Hiring Secrets: The Rules of the Hiring Game Have Changed . . . Forever!
At the time I started to read these books, I was not actively seeking employment. I was however worried about the economy and lack of opportunities that would be out there after graduate school. What I got from them is basically a new mentality towards career development and advancement. I basically changed my approach and strategy of how I looked at at my career progression.
So, what I learned so far is to create a personal brand. Everyone is an expert in something. Create your own platform to share your knowledge with others. Put yourself out there, and you'd be surprised at the doors that could open up. One way that helped me with my personal brand was to develop my own blog and podcast about my personal growth journey. If you get a chance check it out and let me know your thoughts.
http://fromjaystobrooks.com/
If I can lend my expertise or share my insight, feel free to let me know how I can help.
Good Luck,
-Angel L. Ramos
Links:
Hello Ken
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