You Graduated, Now What?
You Graduated, Now What?
Recent College Grads Job Search
College graduation is a moment of mixed feelings, students feel proud of their achievement and anxious about entering the world of work. It’s a time of transition and uncertainty.
Some students had the opportunity to work during high school and college, or have pursued internships or co-ops. Some students might have a strong sense of direction while others don’t. It’s okay not to know, this is a time of career exploration, a time to learn from others, to try new things, and find out what makes your heart sing.
As you start your career, here are some recommendations:
Create Targeted Resumes: Each time you apply for a job, you should tailor the resume to be more relevant, providing details of your skills and experiences relevant to that position.
Highlight your leadership skills, your internship or volunteer experience, and projects you worked on during school - match them to the employer’s requirements
Fully develop your LinkedIn profile
Networking is the most important activity for job searching, most students will secure an introduction from a network connection and be invited to intern or to work
Follow organizations on LinkedIn, their news will appear in your feed and you’ll be able to learn about their projects, challenges, and successes, this will lead to ideas of things you can pursue. Also, check their jobs section and set up a job alert
Attend your school career fairs, ask questions, and follow up with recruiters
Practice video interviewing, more companies are using interview platforms to screen candidates
Seek support: from a parent, older sibling, friend, or any other professional who can: review your resume, help you practice interviewing, or introduce you to someone at one of your target companies
Commit to be a lifelong learner, keep moving along to the next step by learning new skills, training, or shadowing an expert
Resilience: get used to dealing with rejection, it’s a job to get a job, don’t give up!
Remember: your career will not be linear, it will be a series of jobs, a journey of learning and growing
Don’t get overwhelmed thinking about the next 20 years, focus on your entry point and the next 2-3 years
Trying to figure out entry-level salaries: this is a great article from The Muse
If you need help, contact me!
Let’s get started!
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