Finding a job after college is never easy, but with patience and practice, recent college graduates can succeed in getting to the next important stage of their lives. These tips, when put into practice, can help.
Get on LinkedIn Right Now
Some recent college graduates with no work experience believe that they have no one to connect to on LinkedIn and therefore don’t sign up. Do not be like them.
LinkedIn, which is used for professional networking, is beginning to be company’s go-to strategy for recruiting new hires, as the hiring manager can send the job description to his or her network and eventually someone will know someone that is a fit for the position.
Beyond making connections that way, some new graduates have a specific company in which they are trying to get their foot in the door. Some quick searching on Google can usually get the names of those on the management team. Looking them up on LinkedIn provides visibility into whether or not someone in they know is connected to them. At this point, asking for an introduction is an important next step.
Last but not least, LinkedIn has a growing number of professional organizations that can be joined based on career interest. By being a part of these groups, information such as emails for job openings or the ability to view or post message boards is accessible. The key here is to information gather and make positive connections.
Leverage the Alumni Group or Website
The last thing new grads want to do is get involved with their alumni group, as it usually represents contributing to the university they just left and paid an exorbitant amount of money to. However, it can be a great way to find employment.
Usually the school’s website will have an alumni section. This section will probably have links to alumni chapters throughout the country (and sometimes the world!) with a list of upcoming events. If there are no events coming up, the chapter president can usually be contacted.
Most universities have a section of their alumni website that is for networking and job postings. Job seekers can usually search for those in their geographic area, by career interest or major. It is much easier to reach out to those alumni for an informational interview – which may turn into a job – than just searching other places on the web.
Follow-Up After Sending a Resume
When a lead or job opportunity is discovered, don’t just send a resume and cover letter and wait for the phone to ring. Unless the contact for the organization has said specifically, it’s ok to follow-up by email or phone within a couple of weeks. In a down economy, most places that are still hiring are flooded with emails, so it may take them a couple of weeks to return communications.
Temp to Increase Experience and Connections
Although some may frown on the lower "status" of temping, this is a good way to keep some income flowing and also get some real world experience. Sometimes that is better education than any college class. The possibilities are endless – a position may open up while temping or after the assignment ends.
There are many ways to job search after college. While it is never easy, with patience, practice and a networking strategy, recent college graduates can succeed in getting to that next important stage of their lives.
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