Trying to get a job is hard work, and it’s especially intimidating if you’re still in school! You probably don’t have much experience looking for jobs and doing interviews, so it’s completely normal if you’re feeling lost. Luckily, there are some easy steps you can take to raise your chances of finding a great job. It’s never too early to begin planning your career after college, so get started today.
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Where to Look
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Check online job sites for postings in your field. The internet is a powerful tool in your job search, so take advantage of it. Make accounts on websites like Indeed, Glassdoor, and Monster. Then set the search preferences to focus on the industry you want to enter. [1] X Research source
- The best way to get relevant results is search for jobs based on what you studied. If you studied English, for example, you could get the search preferences to editorial or creative writing positions.
- If you aren’t sure which field you want to work in, spend some time thinking about the career path you’d like by weighing your interests and skills.
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Look for postings at specific companies you’d like to work for. Not all jobs are posted on general job boards like Indeed. If there are particular companies you want to work for, it’s best to look on the career page on their websites. These pages should have lots of available jobs at the company, so you can find one that fits your qualifications. [2] X Research source
- If you really know you want to work at Apple, try doing a search for “jobs at Apple” to find their career page. Then search through the openings to see if you’re a good fit for one.
- Check back on these pages regularly so you don’t miss any new postings.
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Attend school career fairs to meet potential employers. Most colleges host job fairs a few times a year to connect students with employers. Attend as many as you can and introduce yourself to recruiters in the fields you’re interested in entering. Also bring plenty of resumes to hand out for them to keep on file. If they have openings, they just might give you a call. [3] X Research source
- Remember to look your best when you go to a job fair! You want to impress potential employers.
- If you chatted with a recruiter and are interested in joining their company, be sure to follow up. Even a simple email thanking them for the talk could be the start of a professional relationship.
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Ask some of your friends if they know of openings at their companies. If you have any friends with jobs, they can be a great resource for you. Lots of jobs are never even posted publicly, so word-of-mouth is the only way people hear about them. Tell them you’re looking for work and would love to hear about any openings in your field to get a jump on the competition. [4] X Research source
- Even if a job is advertised, ask your friend to put in a good word for you with a hiring manager if they can. The competition might be stiff, and this could push your application to the job of the list.
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Visit your school’s career center to speak with a career counselor. It’s completely normal to feel a little confused about all this. A career counselor can help. They can review your job materials, give you pointers on searching, and point in the right direction for your career after college. Don’t be shy about making an appointment and seeing what advice they can offer. [5] X Research source
- Some career centers have job boards for businesses recruiting from your school. Remember to take a look!
- Remember that a career counselor can’t find a job for you. You still have to put the work in and make the most of their advice.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Connections and Experience
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Start a LinkedIn or professional website for yourself. Employers and recruiters search online for potential employees, so having a visible presence will help them find you. Make a strong LinkedIn profile with a professional picture, description of your interests, and list of qualifications and accomplishments to impress any visitors to your page. You might also want to create a personal website to showcase your qualifications further. [6] X Research source
- A personal website is great if you’re a writer or artist. It lets you really display your portfolio to visitors.
- Potential employers will also probably search online for you before making a hiring decision. Having a professional website and LinkedIn page creates a positive web presence for you.
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Get a part-time job while you’re still in school. The key to landing a great job after graduation is starting early. Any job looks good on your resume and gives you important experience to talk about in interviews. Even if it’s just working as a cashier at a local gas station, it’s worthwhile to help your job search later on. [7] X Research source
- You might need to work on some time-management if you’re working and going to school at the same time. This might be tricky, but you can definitely do it.
- Remember to keep your grades up! You’ll need a strong transcript for some jobs, or if you want to go to graduate school after college.
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Try a campus job if you can’t find one off-campus. If an off-campus job isn’t feasible, then check out your school’s work-study program. These programs match students with different jobs around campus. This is an easy way to get work experience if leaving campus is hard for you. [8] X Research source
- Work-study jobs are usually assistant work for departments or campus offices. It might not be pretty or exciting, but it will put some money in your pocket and give you important work experience.
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Attend events for your school’s alumni association. Alumni associations are full of graduates who have probably moved on to fruitful careers. Attending these events and connecting with them can give you the contacts you need to get your foot in the door at a great job. [9] X Research source
- When you graduate, be sure to join your school’s alumni association too. These events are great networking opportunities to further your career.
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Complete an internship before you graduate. These are great ways to connect with companies and gain valuable work experience and contacts before graduation. You’ll usually do daily tasks around the organization and learn the ropes of that field. Some intern sites might even offer you a full-time position after you graduate! [10] X Research source
- Internships are usually unpaid, but some might offer payment.
- Some schools have internship programs that match students with companies to intern at. Take advantage of these resources if your school has them.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Application and Interview Skills
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Make a professional email address for job applications. This might seem obvious, but it’s easy to overlook. When you’re applying for jobs, you don’t want your email address to be something like “kegdrinker420.” Make a simple email that’s just your name or initials and a few numbers before sending any applications. [11] X Research source
- If you have a school email address, this usually works fine as a professional email account.
- It’s also helpful to have a second email account just for job applications so your personal inbox doesn’t get clogged up.
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Tailor your resume and cover letter for each application. Since you’ll be applying to a lot of jobs, you might be tempted to use the same resume and cover letter each time. Don’t do that! Employers want to see applications tailored to their job posting. Write a new cover letter for each position to fully explain your qualifications, and rearrange your resume to present your relevant skills to each different application. [12] X Research source
- Even simple steps like mentioning the company name or the hiring manager in your cover letter show that you put in the effort to tailor your application. [13]
X
Expert Source
Lucy Yeh
Human Resources Director Expert Interview. 21 November 2019. - Be sure to mention some of the specific skills that the posting calls for. If the company is looking for a good team leader, mention that you were the president of a campus organization, for instance.
- Even simple steps like mentioning the company name or the hiring manager in your cover letter show that you put in the effort to tailor your application. [13]
X
Expert Source
Lucy Yeh
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Research the company before going to an interview. So you landed an interview—great! But the work isn’t over. Do some research and educate yourself on the company or organization you’re interviewing with. [14] X Expert Source Lucy Yeh
Human Resources Director Expert Interview. 21 November 2019. This way, you’ll be prepared and ready to nail the interview. [15] X Research source- It helps to drop little hints about your research during the interview. For example, you could say “I saw on your website that you really emphasize personal service in your business. That’s great, because I value the same thing.”
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Back up your skills with concrete examples. Employers don’t just want to hear about your list of skills; they also want to hear how you’ve used those skills. Have an example ready for every skill you mention to demonstrate that you’re a qualified candidate. [16] X Research source
- If you say you’re a good problem-solver, for example, you could share an example of a time at your campus job when you mediated a dispute between employees. These are the kinds of concrete examples employers want to see.
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Follow-up after every interview. At the very least, thank the interviewer for their time. This shows courtesy and good manners, which employers like to see. Also reiterate if you’re still interested in the job. Little steps like this could make a big difference in the final decision. [17] X Research source [18] X Expert Source Lucy Yeh
Human Resources Director Expert Interview. 21 November 2019.- Enthusiasm is always good, so mention how excited you are by this opportunity and how glad you’d be to get an offer.
- Don’t lie and say that you’re still very excited for the job if you already have other offers lined up. If you’re planning on rejecting an offer, just thank the person for their time.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat should I look up before a job interview?Lucy Yeh is a Human Resources Director, Recruiter, and Certified Life Coach (CLC) with over 20 years of experience. With a training background with Coaching for Life and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at InsightLA, Lucy has worked with professionals of all levels to improve the quality of their careers, personal/professional relationships, self marketing, and life balance.Do your due diligence. Look at the role, do some research on the company, and check their mission out. You could also look at their competitors to see what they do. The more you know, the more prepared you'll be!
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QuestionHow can I impress after an interview?Lucy Yeh is a Human Resources Director, Recruiter, and Certified Life Coach (CLC) with over 20 years of experience. With a training background with Coaching for Life and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at InsightLA, Lucy has worked with professionals of all levels to improve the quality of their careers, personal/professional relationships, self marketing, and life balance.Send a follow-up after the interview thinking the interviewer for their time. This will show them you really care about the job and will help them remember you.
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Tips
- If you’re having trouble finding your ideal job, there’s no shame in taking a “for now” job like working in a restaurant or store. You’ll be able to make some money while looking for something in your field. [19] X Research sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/news/2020/10/05/how-find-job-after-college
- ↑ https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-land-your-first-job-after-college-2059853
- ↑ https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/news/2020/10/05/how-find-job-after-college
- ↑ https://www.thebalancecareers.com/college-tips-to-get-job-after-graduation-4140204
- ↑ https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/news/2020/10/05/how-find-job-after-college
- ↑ https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-land-your-first-job-after-college-2059853
- ↑ https://www.phc.edu/learnphc/083017-should-i-get-a-job-while-in-college
- ↑ https://www.phc.edu/learnphc/083017-should-i-get-a-job-while-in-college
- ↑ https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-land-your-first-job-after-college-2059853
- ↑ https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/news/2020/10/05/how-find-job-after-college
- ↑ https://www.npr.org/2019/08/30/755803269/how-to-get-a-job-after-college
- ↑ https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-land-your-first-job-after-college-2059853
- ↑ Lucy Yeh. Human Resources Director. Expert Interview. 21 November 2019.
- ↑ Lucy Yeh. Human Resources Director. Expert Interview. 21 November 2019.
- ↑ https://www.npr.org/2019/08/30/755803269/how-to-get-a-job-after-college
- ↑ https://www.thebalancecareers.com/job-interview-tips-for-recent-college-grads-2059835
- ↑ https://www.thebalancecareers.com/job-interview-tips-for-recent-college-grads-2059835
- ↑ Lucy Yeh. Human Resources Director. Expert Interview. 21 November 2019.
- ↑ https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/news/2020/10/05/how-find-job-after-college
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