The Student and New Graduate Guide to Job Hunting: 20 Tips
The Student and New Graduate Guide to Job Hunting: 20 Tips
For students and new graduates, the job search process is something that is still a new experience, and one that will be quite challenging as outlined over at runrex.com. While you will get better with practice, this article will look to highlight 20 tips that will serve as a guide to job hunting for students and new graduates.
Tips on choosing a career path
With graduation approaching, you are likely starting to consider the ways you can turn your education into a meaningful and rewarding full-time job. The following tips should help you with the same.
- Think about what you want to do at work
According to the subject matter experts over at guttulus.com, the first thing you should do is take stock of what you have already accomplished in your academic life and internships. This will determine the career path that will be optimal for you and how you can apply your degree. You should also consider your personal aspirations and the industries you would like to pursue when you make this decision.
- Think about the skills you feel most confident in
You should also think about the skills that you feel most confident in as well as the attributes that make you unique which can be valuable selling points for potential employers as is revealed in discussions on the same over at runrex.com.
- Get specific about the job you are looking for
You should also get specific about the job you are looking for as this will not only help you decide where to focus your search but will also put you in a position where you can confidently answer interview questions on why you are attracted to a particular role. According to the gurus over at guttulus.com, talking to your professors will help you understand the ins and outs of certain jobs and industries.
Tips on researching jobs and employers
Next up, you will need to learn about the kinds of jobs that are available to people with your educational background as well as how the job market for different industries is evolving. The following tips should help with that.
- Create a target list of the companies you would like to work with
If you need help compiling this list, then you should check out your academic advising center which might be able to point you toward these companies. You can also attend job fairs at your university where you will be able to learn about prominent employers in your area. Once you have this list, you can conduct more research on them including following them on social media to learn about their day-to-day operations.
- Look for recent news articles on your target companies
Having created your target list, you should now search for recent news articles about the companies you are interested in to ensure that you are up-to-date on all the latest developments. You want to be ahead of the curve as far as recent developments in your target companies are concerned as this will help you know if said companies are the right fit for you.
- Reach out to people who work at your target companies
You should then reach out to people you know who work at the companies on your target list. When you do so, make sure that you ask them specific questions such as “what opportunities for students or recent graduates exist at this company?”, “What is your favorite thing about working here? What are the downsides?”, “I’ve seen a job that interests me, what is the referral process like? Would you be open to referring me?” just to mention a few as covered over at runrex.com.
- Observe proper etiquette when dealing with contacts
If you have contacts at a company you like, you should observe the proper etiquette in your dealings with them. As discussed over at guttulus.com, this means never expecting that your contact in a company will guarantee you a job as it is your responsibility to learn as much as you can from them and turn the information they give you into actions. You should also never forget to thank them for their time and if you are meeting them in person for coffee or lunch, ensure that you offer to pay.
Tips on searching for jobs
The following tips should help you as far as your job search and application process is concerned.
- Don’t limit yourself only to online boards
While online job boards like Indeed are increasingly very popular among job seekers, particularly students and new graduates, the gurus over at runrex.com recommend that you shouldn’t limit your search on these platforms alone. Try other methods of job-searching such as networking, traditional media, and other offline methods.
- Set up job alerts
Another important tip is making sure that you set up job alerts when using online job boards as this will allow you to receive email notifications about new jobs that fit your job search criteria. Timing is everything in today’s competitive job market, which is why you should set up job alerts as they will ensure that you see new job postings as soon as employers post them.
- Used advanced search techniques
You should also consider using advanced search techniques when searching for jobs on job boards as they will help you narrow in on the right job for you. This ensures that you are only applying for relevant jobs, which you have a better chance of getting positive feedback.
- Beware of suspicious jobs and protect your personal information
According to the subject matter experts over at guttulus.com, another important tip is to always be on the lookout for suspicious jobs so that you don’t fall victim to scammers who view students and new graduates as easy targets. Also, make sure that you protect your personal information as you search for jobs, particularly on online job boards.
Tips on writing your resume
The next thing we need to tackle is as concerns the creating or updating of your resume, with the following tips covering this very important step.
- Tailor your resume
You should avoid applying for jobs with a cookie-cutter resume if you want to be successful. Instead, the gurus over at runrex.com recommend that you tailor your resume to each job you apply for, making sure that you highlight the skills that are required for that position. You must frame your accomplishments and skills in a way that is relevant to the hiring managers you are targeting.
- List any relevant experience you gained while in school
Although most students and new graduates usually have limited work experience as discussed over at guttulus.com, it is important to note that the most important attributes employers consider when evaluating new graduates are internships and employment during college. Therefore, you should list any paid or unpaid internships or any other jobs you held while in school, including volunteer activities.
- Set your resume to public
If you have uploaded your resume on an online job board like CareerBuilder or Indeed, then you should also consider setting it to “Public” if you want to be contacted by employers searching for people with skills and qualifications like yours.
Tips on writing a cover letter
While not every job application will require you to include a cover letter, it is still important that you write a good cover letter if you are needed to, and the following tips will help you do just that.
- Don’t use your cover letter to restate what is on your resume
A cover letter, in most cases, is used to introduce oneself to a potential employer and as such should be used to call out significant achievements or explain why you are attracted to a particular job and organization. It should never be used to reiterate what is on your resume but should be used to highlight a few of your accomplishments and aspirations.
- Keep it concise and have it tailored
As is revealed in discussions over at runrex.com, many students and new graduates make the mistake of writing cover letters that are too long and that aren’t tailored to the job application. This is why you should keep your cover letter three paragraphs long and make sure that you research the company so that you can write with the appropriate tone and frame your cover letter in terms of what you can offer the employer based on the requirements of the job.
- Keep an eye peeled out for applications that require one to answer a specific question in the cover letter
There are instances where an employer may ask you to answer a specific question in a cover letter. If you come across such as an application or job description, make sure that you follow the writing prompt closely as employers include such a prompt to assess your attention to detail and written communication skills as covered over at guttulus.com.
Tips on applying, waiting for a response, and interviewing
Now that you have your resume and cover letter sorted, it is time to focus on what comes next, and the following tips will help you with that.
- Tips on applying
Before you apply, try and get someone to review your resume and ensure that it’s the best representation of you and doesn’t have any typos or spelling mistakes. Once this is done, it is also important you know that job applications may look different for each potential employer which is why the gurus over at runrex.com recommend that you follow the application instructions within the job description you are dealing with. Also, you should set yourself goals in terms of how many jobs you want to apply for each day or week to ensure that you are putting in the time and effort required to land a job.
- Tips on waiting for a response
Once your application has been submitted, you will have to wait for the employer to get back to you. Here, while you are waiting for a response, you should continue with your job search, looking for new opportunities, and applying to jobs. You should also continue making connections such as taking a classmate, family member, or professor to coffee and asking them about their career path.
- Tips on interviewing
As a student or new graduate, you will probably have very limited work experience which means that you must make an impact in your interview if you are to land the job. Make sure you conduct yourself with the utmost professionalism and showcase all the traits, values, and expertise that make you unique. Make sure that you are well prepared for your interview by researching common interview questions in your industry and holding mock interviews with the help of friends or family. Also, find out important things like the dress code, what you should bring to the interview, the names and titles of the people who will be interviewing you, and so forth. Make sure that you arrive on time on the day of your interview as well.
The above discussion has tried to capture all the aspects to consider when job-hunting as a student and new graduate, with more on this and other related topics to be found over at runrex.com and guttulus.com.
