The job market’s still crappy. It’s a rough time to be coming out of college looking to get to where you imagine yourself being for your career. In fact, according to a recent MSNBC poll, more than half of recent college graduates are unemployed or underemployed. It can be scary to look at the stats. It can be scary looking at the market. However, there’s always hope. There are ways to work to make yourself an attractive candidate. There are means at your disposal to get a job, a good job, and to work towards getting your career on track.
Make A Plan
Get organized. Set yourself a schedule and goals for how many resumes to send out. How much time per day will you spend looking for a job. Make a list of the kind of entry-level positions you want to apply to. Look around at what places hire along the lines of what you want to be doing. To make a plan though, you need to…
Research, Research, Research!
You can’t get a job by sitting on your couch. Odds are that you learned how to conduct research in college. That’s all be prep to get you ready for this stage in your life. Look into the field you majored in and see what’s out there. Look around for every opportunity related to what you’ve studied. Keep organized notes of the postings, what qualifications are needed, and how to contact those companies. The more info you gather, the more tools you give yourself.
Network Like It’s Your Business…Because It Is
The number one goal you have to have is to make every connection you can. The beauty of starting from scratch is that there’s nothing to lose but everything to gain. Get business cards. Hand them out to anyone in a position at a place or affiliated with a company that sounds interesting to you. Follow up with thank you e-mails after you make a connection, offer to take them out to lunch to ask for advice (people love giving advice), and keep them updated on your job search. The more people you know, the more possibilities you’re opening up for yourself.
Go Back To Your Internship Contacts
Hopefully, you had a chance to do one or two internships over your four years as a student. Well, now it’s time to further develop the relationships you created there. You may not get a job but you will make yourself remembered. Those people become allies. They can help point you in a direction of an opportunity. Volunteering, part-time, could be a positive step but be careful…if you demonstrate you’re willing to do something for free then you aren’t providing them a reason to pay you.
Every Communication Is An Opportunity
Whether it’s a job interview, a pre-interview, an e-mail to submit your resume or a phone call to human resources to ask how to submit your resume, it’s a chance to learn and grow as a professional. The more work you put in to how you communicate clearly, effectively, and respectfully, the more professional you look, therefore the more desirable a candidate to work with you appear to be. And actually become.
Social Media Check!
Go to every social media account you’ve got: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, and make sure nothing can be seen that you wouldn’t want a potential employer to see. I know you’re proud you did sixteen jello shots at that amazing toga party sophomore year but maybe make those photos private. You have to present yourself as someone an employer could rely on, both in person and on the ‘net.
Be Flexible and Be Patient
Be realistic and practical. You can’t expect your dream job right away. You should go for it but you should do it smartly. In the meantime, while you’re working on your plan, keep yourself open to what other opportunities may come your way. In life, you usually embark on multiple careers. You will be presented with opportunities or find yourself applying for positions that you never had any serious interest in. Be open to exploring them. Be practical as to what their short-term and long-term benefits can be. Don’t just wait around until the job you want opens up. Keep working. Keep hustling and bustling, it keeps the fire alive and keeps your skills sharp. Yes, you may end up doing something that makes you unhappy for a time but you won’t know it until you try. That’s how you learn what you can do, what you’re willing to do, what you want to do, and what you should say “no” to.
These are just tips. The work us up to you. Make no mistake about it, it takes work to find work and to get work. The same kind of work that’ll be expected of you when you do get the job.
Keep at it,
The Dude
[Lead image via Sean De Burca/Shutterstock]
The Best Tactics For Finding A Job After Graduation
