It’s only winter quarter, but we all know what that means: spring is just around the corner. With gorgeous weather, Friday afternoons by the rec pool, and the annual blackout we fondly refer to as houseboats, spring will undoubtedly fly by and rudely toss us into a summer that has been either poorly planned or not planned at all.
For graduating seniors, this means the real world is about to be staring us in the face, guilt tripping those without jobs for not being productive members of society or causing mom and dad to constantly nag us until we stop relying on them for food, money, and a place to crash.
For those not yet graduating, it means you’re less than a few years away from the frightening world your graduating friends and siblings speak of so coldly. Lucky for you, there’s no better time to start building that resume so when senior year does sneak up on you, you’re not entirely unprepared (or worse yet, stuck filling out applications at your local Starbucks; you and your hard-earned (not to mention expensive) college education deserve a better reward than that!)
As a senior graduating in June, and one who has yet to line up a post-college job, I offer you these words as an informal guide that you can and should tailor to your own specific needs.
The Graduating Senior’s Timeline
Don’t let a sluggish economy discourage you into thinking your chances of landing a job are hopeless. If you take things step by step and make the right moves at the right time, you’ll be at the front of the pack.
Step 1: Narrow your focus
When: Now
It’s important to realize that the world has a lot offer, and better yet, to be confident that you have a lot to offer right back. That being said, it can be overwhelming to work towards a goal as vague and broad as simply getting any job, so try to narrow your focus as best you can. If you’re starting from square one, begin by making a list of your interests. It can be as extensive as you wish, but give your mind sufficient time to let your creative juices flow. Depending on the person, this could take anywhere from 20 minutes to several weeks. Either way, once you’ve come up with an adequate list that exemplifies your interests, you’re already moving in the right direction. Next, sift through your ideas, toying with common themes you encounter and areas that match your strengths. At this point, you should have a more specific arena (or two), such as the media, sports, education, finance, arts, or design—a number of which even overlap each other. If you’re having trouble narrowing it down, you can also turn to the classic process of elimination, veering away from all jobs that you know you definitely don’t want to do. For example, if you hate writing and aren’t good at it, it’s probably in your best interest to shy away from a career in journalism.
Step 2: Sharpen your focus
When: As soon as you’re done with Step 1
Now that you have more concrete ideas to work with, you can begin to sharpen your focus. This entails coming up with an exhaustive list of every profession you would consider pursuing. For example, if you decide you want to work in the sports industry, your list might include professions such as coach, sports medicine doctor, sports analyst, sports writer, sports announcer, health instructor, physical educator, stadium operations manager, and advertising and sales positions, etc. Keep your options open and search for jobs that might help you eventually reach your dream job, too. If something sounds at all appealing, keep it in mind, as it’s probably worth looking into this early in the game. Hopefully at this point, specific ideas are starting to look more fun and interesting than others—a promising sign that you’re on the right path.
Step 3: Create a resume
When: ASAP
Compiling a resume can be tricky. Here are a few tips on how to build an impressive professional profile.
- Aesthetics matter here. If it looks sloppy, your reader will likely infer that you are sloppy, even if it’s not true. Take the time to make it visually appealing.
- Be professional. This is a professional profile, not just a list of things you’ve done. Write in a formal tone, and your reader will take you more seriously.
- Brag. You’re trying to sell yourself, so don’t feel bad about showing off what you got. Avoid coming off as a pompous ass, but make them feel like they’d almost be silly not to pick you.
- Don’t lie. You have no idea whether or not they’re going to conduct background checks, contact listed references, or call previous employers. It’s never worth the risk.
- Keep it to a single page if possible. You should be able to do this fairly easily by writing succinctly and omitting experience that is irrelevant or old.
- Ask someone to proofread it. A fresh eye is bound to catch mistakes that you won’t after staring at it for hours in a row.
Step 4: Actively begin your search
When: March
Once finals are over and you’ve properly celebrated by vegging out at home for a week, being perma-drunk on a Caribbean cruise, or tanning on the beaches of Maui for five days, it’s time to pick up where you left off. Fortunately, the break may actually prove to be helpful for the overall process; whether you realize it or not, your previous thoughts will get a chance to develop in your mind, even if your focus is subliminal. Here’s where you actively begin searching for jobs instead of merely thinking about them. There are countless ways to go about your search, including job search engines (indeed.com), local job listings (sacbee.com or cbssacramento.com), job fairs, trade magazines, and perusing individual company websites. (Not a senior? Try looking through similar resources for possible internship opportunities. Many industries offer internships that provide the same experience as a paying job—and they look great on a resume.)
While these are the most common job search tools, don’t be afraid to get creative and use any and every resource possible. Campus resources like the career center or alumni support groups are often underutilized, but they have been known to play key roles in landing jobs for graduates. If you’re looking for a job in another part of the state or country, don’t hesitate to seek out the best resources for that particular area; after all, Iowa isn’t California. Also, remember to take advantage of existing connections. Ask your family and friends if they may know anybody in a related profession who may have tips for you. Recommendations from someone currently in the field could provide invaluable advice that you might not get elsewhere. Plus, you never know who might come back to help you in the end; most people love being asked for advice, and simply starting the conversation might bring you more than just wise words.
Step 5: Continue your search
When: April and May
It may seem silly to devote an entire section to this point, but it can’t be emphasized enough. Once you’ve started your job search, you’re certainly edging closer to success, but you need to be persistent. As midterms, birthdays, and other can’t-miss-social-events spring up, it’s ok to relent once in a while, but you want to keep moving forward.
Step 6: Applying to jobs
When: April – indefinitely
Applying to jobs happens simultaneously with searching. As you encounter jobs in your area of interest that are available, you are interested in, and you’re eligible for, apply! Applying can’t hurt; it can only increase the chance you’ll get a “yes” in the end. You’ll also get a feel for what employers are looking for and what skills you may need to pick up in order to be a stronger (more desirable) candidate.
If you were totally lost when you started reading this article, hopefully you now have a sense of where you’re headed. Of course, perfect planning doesn’t ensure skillful execution; so make sure to follow through. If you’re the type who always wings it, you might worry less. The stress of finding a job alone accounts for a huge part of the struggle. If you’re relaxed and confident… good, just make sure you get something going before the evil stress monster climbs out of that bottle of tequila on your desk. If you’re the total opposite and must have everything planned months in advance, you may want to get to work (pun intended!). Or, take that trait for what it’s worth and consider a career in event planning. The truth is, you can follow every textbook tip and end up without a job, or you can do very little and score a killer career opportunity, but one thing is for sure: starting early will always better your chances. Timing is everything, and you should always keep your eyes and ears open for possibilities.