The Best Ways to Find a Job After Graduation
by Sam Ashe-Edmunds
Build your résumé and line up job prospects as early as possible.
Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
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The best ways to find a job after graduation include taking steps well before you earn that sheepskin to increase the chances you'll find a job that's exactly what you want. Starting a job search after you graduate isn't hopeless, but you might have to wait longer and settle for less, depending on your financial situation. Using tried-and-true career development methods before and after graduation will help you find work sooner.
Build Your Résumé
As soon as you determine your major -- the field or profession you want to enter -- begin signing up for campus clubs, internships and summer jobs that will get you experience in your chosen area. Look for opportunities that not only look good on your résumé but also give you work samples you can put on your website or in your portfolio. Talk to human resources people at the type of companies where you'd like to work and ask them what type of experience they seek in recent college grads.
Learn as much as you can about companies to which you're applying. Visit their websites and look for specific job descriptions and hiring information, CNNMoney contributor Anne Fisher recommends. Perform Internet searches for news stories and reviews from current and former employees. Contact anyone you know who works there or who has a friend employed there. To find jobs in your field, look for job boards that specialize in certain industries and professions as well as more general job boards that allow you to search by job title or profession. Look for job fairs in your area and contact your school's career services department.
Prepare "Sales Materials"
To sell yourself, prepare a high-quality résumé, a cover letter you can modify for different positions, a personal website or a professional social networking page, such as a Facebook page. On your personal pages, include your work history and samples. Consider making these pages private; when you post your email, phone address or other information typically contained in a résumé, database scavengers will collect and sell your information. Perform an Internet search of your name to see what comes up and try to remove any negative or embarrassing posts, even if you made them when you were in high school. Get on professional networks such as LinkedIn to help you showcase yourself to headhunters and potential employers. Practice your interviewing skills to make sure you can sell yourself in person.
Build and Use Your Network
Some of the best jobs are never advertised and go to people who knew someone at the hiring company. Ask your parents, uncles, aunts and adult friends if they know anyone in your field and profession and if they would be willing to introduce you or pass on your résumé. Ask your classmates to do the same. Contact people in your profession, even if they are not hiring, and ask if they will give you an informal informational interview. Use these interviews to learn about how to climb the ladder and to make an impression on people who can help you. Don't offer your résumé unless asked, or you will seem disingenuous in your request for an informational interview.
It might take months to find a job. Volunteer at trade associations in your industry or profession to gain experience and make contacts. For example, if you want to work in sports marketing, volunteer to work at a large event as early as possible. If you have a law degree, contact a legal association and offer to edit newsletter articles.
CNNMoney: Get a Great Job After Graduation
University Language Services: How to Find a Job After Graduation
JobBank USA: Top Four Tips for Landing a Job After Graduation
University of Wisconsin, Madison: Job Hunting on the Internet
University of Illinois: Career Exploration
Sam Ashe-Edmunds has been writing and lecturing for decades. He has worked in the corporate and nonprofit arenas as a C-Suite executive, serving on several nonprofit boards. He is an internationally traveled sport science writer and lecturer. He has been published in print publications such as Entrepreneur, Tennis, SI for Kids, Chicago Tribune, Sacramento Bee, and on websites such Smart-Healthy-Living.net, SmartyCents and Youthletic. Edmunds has a bachelor's degree in journalism.
Ashe-Edmunds, Sam. "The Best Ways to Find a Job After Graduation." Work - Chron.com, http://work.chron.com/ways-job-after-graduation-3188.html. Accessed 17 January 2020.
Ashe-Edmunds, Sam. (n.d.). The Best Ways to Find a Job After Graduation. Work - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://work.chron.com/ways-job-after-graduation-3188.html
Ashe-Edmunds, Sam. "The Best Ways to Find a Job After Graduation" accessed January 17, 2020. http://work.chron.com/ways-job-after-graduation-3188.html
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