We are less than three months away from 2017 graduation ceremony, which means less than three months away from adulting and I think all of my fellow seniors can agree that we are all in denial. At least I know I was up until about two weeks ago when I started talking about what job I plan to be working at in May, and that’s when it all came crashing down. On average it takes a recent college graduate 7 months to find a job in their chosen career path. That’s right 7 months.
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t expect a job to be just handed to me, but I definitely assumed I would be way ahead of everyone else out there trying to get a job. WRONG. So now with about 10 weeks until graduation, I have put together my master plan. A plan to ensure that less than total destruction occurs when graduation arrives.
Week 1: Get the resume up to date. Although I have a pretty solid resume it definitely could use some work and I wouldn’t mind having a few different versions on hand for different jobs. The best way to keep a good resume up to date is to create a CV first. This is a document that includes everything you have ever done and your explanation. Once this exists, then create a template that you can easily copy and paste the appropriate experiences into. Some companies will want to know more about your experience as a manager, while others might want to know about your service experience. Having a complete list somewhere will make it much easier to compile a resume quickly.
Week 2: LinkedIn and other social media. Now is the time to keep that branding going, you want to market yourself to your ideal company. Take a look at people who have the jobs you want and mimic their social media profiles. It is important to not only be representing yourself online in the best light but also to be frequently posting so that people can see your content. Go to Klout.com to see what sort of presence you actually have online and set some goals for how to improve this. LinkedIn has been my worst enemy, but this week I am committing at least 4 hours to completing my profile and connecting with all of my mutual connections.
Week 3: Create some alternatives. For some, this may include looking into service opportunities after graduation or internships. Check out the Her Campus job board for some great internships. I am going to be using this time to map out a small business plan, something to keep me busy until I find THE job. Don’t restrict yourself with alternatives really take this time to explore all the exciting options you have ahead of you.
Week 4: Make a list of your top 3 companies. We all have a dream job, so take this week to find out what yours is and to do some research. Research who has that job now and how they got there. Then look into the company you want to be working for, including mission statements, what makes them unique, and why you fit in that company. You should also keep an eye out for their requirements for jobs, many times they name software or certain skills they want you to have. If any of these companies are close to you email them for an informational interview!
Week 5: Learn a new skill. Nothing makes you more employable than knowing more than your competition. If the company you are looking at uses ViralTag or Hootsuite or Google Analytics, then take this week to learn up. Another option is to enroll in a General Assembly workshop or something similar, especially if self-teaching isn’t for you.
Week 6: Reach out to old connections. You can do this via email or a handwritten letter. Just let them know you are thinking about them and thank them for the help they have given you in the past. You never know what could come from just starting a conversation.
Week 7: Meet with your career counselor. You have resources on your campus so make sure to use them before graduation. They can help connect you with alumni and give you advice on creating cover letters, formatting your resume, or asking for interviews. This is their job so come with a lot of questions and follow up afterward!
Week 8: Apply. If you haven’t already started applying, now is the time. A lot of times jobs are posted when they need them filled, so applying too early won’t help you if you can’t actually start. I recommend applying to 3-5 jobs a week from here on out. Make sure to still take time on your applications, and have someone review them before you send them in. Silly errors often times lead to big losses.
Week 9: Study for those finals. The job hunt is important but graduation is crucial, so make sure you are on track with your studies.
Week 10: Graduate. Take what you’ve learned from the past 9 weeks and keep that in place as you persist. There will be many rejections before the final yes, but don’t let that discourage you.
With 10 weeks of preparation we can at least hope that shortens the 7-month journey to maybe 5… Happy job hunting, collegiettes.