The Post College Job Hunt Starts Now

Being that I started working like a month ago (feels like a year, actually), I thought I would be the perfect person to impart a little career advice on everyone I meet…or communicate with via collegecandy.com.

By Lauren

Whether you are a recent grad or a recently crowned freshman, it is never too early to start thinking about life after college. Yes, I realize that is a difficult task between heavy drinking and scouting the streets for available bachelors, but take it from me: the more prepared you are the better off you will be in the long run.

And it doesn’t matter if you know what you want to do or not; simply taking some steps to build your resume will help you out immensely. Here are a few good places to start:

1. Volunteer: Nothing looks better on a resume than a little good old fashioned unpaid work. Giving back to the community is always good for your soul, but it is also a great way to prove to employers that you are committed to making a difference. Oh, and that you can balance your time well between school and other activities. If you know what field you want to get into that’s even better. Try volunteering at a company that you would want to work for. You can get experience, meet important employees/execs and prove to everyone that you are a perfect candidate.

2. Get Involved: Remember when you joined 1,036,326 clubs in high school so you could wow the admissions committee at your dream school? Why not do it again in college? By joining student groups (and even taking on the responsibility of taking a position) you are gaining valuable skills that can be applied in the real world. It is a harsh reality, but simply spending your college days on your couch with your girls will not fill your resume. And, in case you didn’t know, an empty resume will not impress anyone.

3. Attend Career Fairs: I used to think that those things were only for people on their way out of college who really (really) needed a job. I was wrong. The point of a career fair may be to find a job, but they are also great learning tools. You can make great contacts, learn how to interview and find out what different jobs require. When the time comes for you to really find a job, your knowledge and professionalism will put you ahead of the curve.

Graduating sucks. Finding a job sucks. Make your life a little easier and get started now.