Source: Freepik.com
Job offer letters don’t just land into anyone’s lap from thin air; you might have to work hard for it unless you decide to get into a relationship with your interviewer. The idea of securing jobs could be daunting for some students who are either graduating or in their senior year. However, it is never too late to take the processes into your own hands and take charge of your professional career. Here, we’ll share some insightful tips and strategies that could help you land your ideal job right after college:
1. Lay your groundwork
Understand what you want to do in your professional career, yes, we know this a very irrational statement to make as people often identify their calling or realize their work competencies after a particular period down their career. But there’s nothing wrong with being a little proactive:
- Read all the job posting related to your field of interest.
- Explore the industries that involve your work competencies.
- Note down the requirements mentioned in the work profile of job posting.
- Analyze if your skills match any of those skill requirements mentioned in the posting.
- Now you know, where you lack and where to concentrate on making yourself a reasonable candidate for such opportunities.
2. Network
Networking is one of the best ways to get in touch with professionals and influencers belonging to your field of work interests. Now, there are too many tools and social media platforms at disposal for the graduates. Leverage Facebook and LinkedIn connections to get in touch with people in your area and people who work in the respective work environment in which you’re interested.
3. Champion an Internship
Find a work environment that offers summer internships or short term spells in the field of interests. The mainstream media has very evidently managed to showcase that internships are tough, but it is excellent for students who want to understand the industry and gain experience. National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) said that 52% of students who interned during their graduation received pre-placement offers from their companies.
4. Establish Online Presence
Apart from creating an account on LinkedIn, there’s a lot that could be done to increase your visibility as a job seeker. Create your website, start a blog, join dedicated forms- if you’re a developer, you should use sites like Stack Overflow, and contribute to the communities by helping fellow developers with their specific problems. Also, it is also a great place to learn and solve some of your doubts. Demonstrate your knowledge and what you’ve learned; brand your personality using digital marketing techniques which will help you in the long run.
5. Organize Employment Search
Treat your future job as your first step towards your professional career. Looking for a job itself is nothing less than full-time employment. Keep track of your applications and individuals you’ve contacted, maybe create database kind of file to store information. If you do not get any revert backs, its okay to send a follow-back message. Schedule set hours every week that you’ll dedicate to job searching.
6. Target Resume & Personalize Cover Letters
Create multiple versions of your resume, target the resume content based on the different types of jobs that you want to apply for, showcasing the skills, experiences, project, and knowledge representing the emerging job opportunity.
Consider the fact that an employer receives tons of job applications every single day, and if your main body of the application contains only- “PFA resume attached.” then presume another fact that your application will be overlooked. Write personalized and targeted cover letters for every job you apply, get advice from people working in the same industry, ask your mentors, and proofread your documents.
7. Consider the Organization
Always remember that it is not just you; the employer is also part of the two-way bridge. Employers are looking for hard-working, willing and committed people to join their work space. Don’t be afraid to ask a question during interviews. More importantly, ask yourself if you want to work there. Does the company’s mission and goals match yours? Does your work offer your growth in your field of interest? All said, no one ever wants to regret working in an environment- make smart decisions, apply rational logic, and find a balance. Good Luck!
__________________________________________________________
Guest Author Bio
Lucy Manole is a creative content writer and strategist at Right Mix Marketing, SEO-focused link building agency. She specializes in writing about digital marketing, technology, entrepreneurship, and education. When she is not writing or editing, she spends time reading books, cooking and traveling. You can connect with her on Twitter at @RightMixMktg.
