Finding a Job after College
Obtain Career Advice and Take Advantage of Campus Recruiting
A college student's job hunt begins freshman year. Job search steps include getting career advice and participating in campus recruiting events.
Finding a job is not something that can be done in a single day; job hunting takes forethought and careful planning. Colleges provide many tools students need to find jobs (including career centers and possibly even on campus interviews), but it’s up to each student to learn the system and interview their way to a wonderful job.
When is the Optimal Time to Start a Job Search?
It’s never too early in a college career to begin thinking about the ultimate goal of getting a job after graduation. Students should consider the state of their resumes during freshman year and map out a plan to obtain the requisite experience and credentials for their chosen career path.
Steps to Finding a Job after College
Every college student has different job targets, but there are general guidelines that all students can follow to ensure they land one of their target jobs. The following is not an exhaustive list, but should help students map out a rough plan of attack.
- Identify jobs of interest.
- Determine what types of qualifications are required for those jobs.
- Research various employers in the chosen field(s).
- Jump at every chance to interact with potential employers at campus recruiting events such as career fairs, special events sponsored through student organizations, or conferences.
- Continually work at resume building activities.
- Become familiar with campus recruiting timetables.
- Apply for jobs at the appropriate time. Employers will often schedule interview times on campus, and the deadlines to sign up may even be a semester in advance.
- Polish interviewing skills and purchase proper interview attire.
- Stay on top of the interview process by sending thank you letters or emails immediately after an interview.
- Be proactive – if on-campus interviewing doesn’t work, consider contacting companies directly or attending another school’s career fair
Resume and Career Advice
Some college students land jobs through the standard interview process offered by their schools. Others find jobs through contacts acquired by networking. Every college student knows someone who can either advise him on career possibilities or introduce him to someone who can help. Most colleges offer career centers where students can go to research jobs and get advice on their resumes.
At the beginning of a college career, many students have little or no work experience to include on their resumes. Employers don’t expect college students to have tons of experience to list on their resumes, but they do expect students to display qualities that will translate into promising work habits. Creating and executing a successful job search plan is a fine lesson in effective time management, a trait many employers value.
