After years of climbing the educational ladder, new graduates can face a tough wake-up call when it’s time to find a job. Between building your resume, writing the perfect cover letter and competing with hundreds of other applicants, it’s not an easy or quick process. The first step to landing your dream job is to know where to search, how to search, and what resources are available for you.
Searching for jobs shouldn’t be the hard part of landing a position after graduation. Luckily, informing yourself with the right tools and knowledge gets you one step closer to your goals.
fongbeerredhot / ShutterstockHere are some things new grads can do to make the job search easier.
Take Advantage Of Your Campus Career Center
Most post-secondary institutions have a career center on campus. They provide help with job searching, resume and cover letter assistance, career advising and more. It’s a helpful department with services typically covered by tuition, yet 40 percent of undergraduate students never utilize this resource.¹
Post-secondary institutions want you to land a job not only for your own success, but also to show stakeholders and potential students that graduates can successfully find jobs in their field. This type of service will help both parties get what they want. If you’re approaching graduation, see what your campus career center has to offer. They might also have alum services available to you for years after graduation.
Use Job Websites And Apps
If you’ve ever looked for a job, you probably started by going onto a job search engine. This is one of the best ways to begin your search because it gives you an idea of the current job market in your area by telling you what’s currently open across different companies. Filter your desired position, location, experience level and other aspects to find jobs that are relevant for you.
Make an account with any of these websites and easily apply to jobs through the website, or be directed to the proper application page. You can even sign up for relevant job alerts sent straight to your email once they are posted. Download an app if there is one, and turn on push notifications for the latest updates.
Plus, making an account will typically save your search and make it easier to repeat that query next time you’re on the site.
Some job websites and apps to checkout include:²
- Indeed
- Monster
- ZipRecruiter
- Google for Jobs
Track Down Company Career Web Pages
Major companies have career web pages dedicated to job postings and application portals. It’s a good idea to check in with these sites occasionally in case something comes up, especially since not all companies will use general job posting sites like Indeed or Monster. Cover your bases and see if a company you’re interested in can send you email notifications once relevant job postings come up.
Search Keywords On Social Media
Social media is a fun way to stay entertained, but it can also be a powerful tool for job seekers. People working at companies might share new job postings when they come up and make their followers the first to know. Twitter and LinkedIn are two social media platforms where this discourse can happen.
Consider making a Twitter account for job seeking, or use your current one if it’s professional enough. Follow active leaders in your industry and see what’s available. You can even perform searches with keywords and relevant hashtags that might exist specifically for potential job opportunities you’re looking for.
Also make sure to see if companies you’re interested in have Twitter profiles or Facebook pages dedicated to job opportunities and announcements that might be posted.
Attend Networking Events And Job Fairs Within Your Industry
Searching online for jobs can be draining and repetitive. That’s why putting yourself out there at networking events and job fairs can be beneficial.³ It gives you an opportunity to meet with employers and professionals face-to-face, which makes yourself known to them. It’s also more memorable than sending an email or resume.
Networking is one of the best ways to find jobs. Knowing the right people can open doors you wouldn’t have access to if you were confined to your computer. It also allows you to charm professionals with your industry knowledge and experience so that when a job opportunity does come up, you might be remembered and contacted for an interview.
Attending job fairs puts you in a room with hiring managers which gives you an opportunity to talk with them about what they look for. Even if you don’t get the job you applied for at a job fair, at least you can say that you met the person in charge and can keep their card as a future contact. Developing professional relationships can give you a growth in status and even improve your self confidence.