So you’ve crossed the stage in your cap and gown, grabbed your diploma and graduated college — congratulations! Receiving your degree and graduating is a tremendous milestone and massive accomplishment in any person’s life. For many grads, the next step is joining the workforce and pursuing a career. However, with a competitive job market and minimal experience, the job search can sometimes be daunting. But never fear, through smart networking, relentless searching and responsible planning, college grads can land the perfect job.
Network, Network, Network
Being personable and showing your face can pay huge dividends to recent college grads on the job hunt. Networking plays a huge role in navigating the professional world, so prepare to get out there and meet some people. While digital professional networking sites, such as LinkedIn, play a huge part in getting your name out to recruiters, making connections in real life allows your personality to shine. Find some young professional mixers and meet-ups in your area, and come with a smile! These are great ways to meet people who work in the field that you’re trying to enter, and showing your interest and demonstrating your personal skills can carry you far. By developing relationships with colleagues and potential employers, you show your desire to be considered as a candidate in the field, and furthering your career opportunities.
Searching for Positions
Depending on your field and your location, the job market can vary greatly. The best way to view listings for open positions is by utilizing online resources, like ZipRecruiter, Indeed and Glassdoor. These platforms allow HR departments and hiring managers to view candidates directly, and also help to facilitate the application process with factors like 1-touch apply, resume saving/sharing and direct messaging. Users are also able to filter jobs by salary, experience and location, making it very easy for job candidates to pinpoint that perfect role. When searching, don’t be discouraged if you don’t meet every requirement set forth by the hiring manager, especially for an entry-level position. Remember, all it takes is getting your foot in the door; once you have the interview, anything can happen.
Get Your Finances in Order
Going from being a broke college student to earning a wage can be a very gratifying transformation, but it’s up new graduates to prepare for making money! Start by selecting a bank account that best fits your lifestyle. One of the most important factors when selecting a financial institution is their mobile banking platform; this can help you check on your accounts on the fly, have access to direct deposit information and monitor savings. Once you have your banking set up, it’s best to stick to a budget and set your financials accordingly. When you save, you set yourself up for financial stability down the road. By maintaining a level of financial responsibility, stability will come in time and you can stay ahead while earning and saving!
Getting a job and adapting to the working world can be an intimidating endeavor for recent graduates, but by practicing these steps, college grads can transition into a solid starting job. Networking, job-searching and being financially aware will help exponentially in this transformation to the working world, and will give you a leg up in the competitive landscape that is the job hunt.
