Searching for your first full-time job as you approach graduating college can be quite daunting.
Your final semester in undergrad is already stressful as it is – staying on top of your schoolwork and finals to make sure you finish strong, managing whatever part-time job you might be working and just trying to experience as much of student life on campus as you can before it’s time to leave. Here are some tips from a soon-to-be graduate on how to handle it all.
Tip #1: Start early
Don’t wait until graduation day to start sending out resumes. Make sure your resume is up-to-date, and start getting an idea of what kind of job you are looking for a couple months ahead of time. I started filling out applications around midterm season. Though you likely aren’t ready to start working a full-time job just yet, it’s still good to get your name out there to hiring managers. Even if it’s too far out for you to get hired right away, just getting a chance to practice your interviewing skills can help you later on.
Tip #2: Networking
Have you ever heard the saying, “it’s not what you know, but who you know”? Having contacts in your desired career field help get your foot in the door of the industry you want to pursue. If you did any internships, research studies or were published in any journals during your undergrad, reach out to the professionals you met there to give them a reminder of who you are and what you did, and let them know what goals you are now pursuing as an upcoming graduate to see if they can help. You can also ask any professors or advisors you’ve had good relationships with for advice on how to pursue your next steps. Additionally, creating a LinkedIn account and attending job fairs at your university is a great way to meet face-to-face with recruiters and secure future interviews. Follow up with the employers you meet within the next few days to thank them for their time and remind them of your interest in the position.
Tip #3: Stay active on the job hunt
Spending hours each week applying to jobs and going to interviews can be exhausting with everything else going on as a student. Still, try to prioritize sending out those job applications. Have a professional review your resume to make sure it contains all your best and most relevant experience for your desired career field. Your university career center is a great resource for this. It can also be helpful to create a master document for yourself with all of your work experience, including your responsibilities in each position and the contact information for your references. Most job applications can be quite tedious, asking you to repeat much of the information already included in your resume. If you have a document handy with all of this information listed, you can quickly copy and paste it to shorten the time you spend filling out each application
Tip #4: Practice your interview skills
When you do hear back from a hiring manager to set up an interview or preliminary job screening, prepare yourself in advance. If it is an in-person interview, arrive a few minutes early and dress in professional business attire. If it is a virtual meeting, familiarize yourself with the video conferencing software and make sure you are in a quiet place with a neutral background. There are many online resources that provide potential interview questions that you can study beforehand so you have an idea of how to answer them. Also do your research on the average salary for the position. There are plenty of online tools you can use to do this that allow you to adjust for factors such as your degree, level of experience and area where the job is located. Make sure to send a follow up email with the recruiter in the next few days to thank them for the opportunity to make yourself stand out as an applicant.
Tip #5: Don’t neglect your other responsibilities
As established, figuring out your next steps can be difficult and time consuming. While you are probably very excited to begin the next chapter of your life, ensure you are still on top of your current responsibilities. Don’t neglect your schoolwork; make sure you still complete your assignments on time and put your best effort into them. Nurture the relationships you have with your current professors, advisors and supervisors. They could potentially be a reference for you in the future!
By following these tips you can help yourself stand out amongst the thousands of other college graduates looking for their first full-time position. Looking for a job can sometimes feel like a job itself, requiring lots of time and dedication, but as long as you stay committed, you can set yourself up for success as you move into this next chapter of your life. Good luck!