While you may work during your time in college, most students view doing well in their classes as their primary job. Ultimately, the goal of pursuing a college degree is to find a job in your major field after graduation. It isn’t always easy to know where to start or how to find a job after college, especially in a challenging job market.
In this blog post, we’ve compiled some of the most effective tips for landing a successful job where you can put your knowledge to work after earning a degree.
1.Set career goals.
While this step seems basic, it is a foundational element of any successful job search. If you cast too wide of a net initially, simply looking for any sort of job remotely related to your degree, you may find something. However, odds are good it won’t be a job you want to stick with over the long term.
Think about elements of college coursework you particularly enjoyed (or disliked), including any internship or externship opportunities, and use these experiences to narrow your career search to one to three types of roles.
2. Create and cultivate a professional online presence.
There can be significant value gained from creating online job profiles and portfolios where you can showcase your experience and skills to potential employers and recruiters.
Consider setting up a profile on sites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, CareerBuilder, StartJobs and Monster. If your target industry has other specific sites dedicated to industry participants’ careers, establishing profiles and uploading resumes there can also be useful in your search.
3. Don’t be afraid of networking opportunities.
The idea of “networking” may sound intimidating, but it’s really about establishing and nurturing relationships with others in your target industry.
You can do a surprising amount of online networking through the sites mentioned above (and others like them), but there is no substitute for meeting people in person at career fairs, networking events, and even simply connecting with alumni from your college who are now working in jobs similar to those you seek.
4. Prepare for interviews and contact with potential future employers.
When you line up information interviews or, even better, actual job interviews for open positions, remember that you have one chance to make a first impression on the person with whom you’re meeting. Dress professionally and be as prepared as you can be for the meeting.
That means doing research ahead of time on the organization and the job, asking relevant questions to show you are interested and presenting yourself as a candidate who would make a great new hire. Go over your resume and cover letter carefully before submitting them, and ask a friend to review the documents for errors you may not have caught.
5. Rise to the challenge.
A challenging job market is just that, a challenge — not an impossible situation. When hiring in your industry and geographical area is tight, you may need to consider accepting part-time work or even a post-graduation internship while you look for a full-time position. Doing so can demonstrate your commitment to working hard.
Another thing to consider is volunteering to fill your free time while pursuing employment. Volunteering can help you meet and network with other people while bettering your community.
6. Take advantage of your school’s career services resources.
Perhaps the first thing (and, arguably the best thing) you should do when wondering how to get a job out of college is leverage the resources available to you through your school. Your college’s career services office is there to help students and alumni find work in their chosen fields. They can help you explore opportunities, proofread your resume and cover letter, and offer valuable suggestions and guidance to help you land the type of job you’re seeking.
At Generations College in Chicago, we know one of the biggest concerns of students is how to get a job after college. Whether you are a student nearing graduation or you’ve just begun looking for the right college, the tips listed above should help take some of the stress out of the process. To learn more, contact Generations College online or call us at (312) 922-1884 today.