A Guide on How to Find Your First Job after College

You went through all those years in college with a single thought: you were headed off to a productive career. Now that you finally have that degree, you’re facing the greatest oxymoron of all: everyone wants employees with experience, yet no one is willing to give you a chance to earn that experience.

A CareerBuilder survey from 2016 showed that 32% of employers increased their requirements for education over the past five years. 37% of the respondents said that they are hiring people with college degrees for positions that used to require only a high-school degree. 
Is that a good thing or a bad thing? You have a required degree, but you’re using it to compete for lower positions.
It’s a complex situation, but you can get through it.

1.       Start with the School’s Career Center
Many alumni from your university have their own companies now. They are successful, but they went through a bumpy road to get where they are today. They are willing to offer the first job interview to recent graduates from their university.
Your school’s career office can offer some opportunities. If you were a great student, they will recommend you to some of their collaborators.  Talk to a career advisor. They will ask for your email, and you’ll start receiving job ads via email soon. You’ll still apply just like any candidate, but at least you’ll have more options. 

2.       Polish Out Your Application Documents
The degree itself won’t get you a job. CVs and cover letters are still important. They may be used differently when compared to the pre-digital age, but employers still require these documents.
The ideal CV is not just a list of educational and professional achievements. At this stage, you don’t have much experience to brag about. That’s why the resume should convey your character, charisma, and potential for the future. The cover letter is even more important in that aspect.
Many job candidates decide to hire PhD research proposal writing service for their CVs and cover letters. For example, something like https://samplius.com/free-essay-examples/education/ , because writing about yourself is difficult; you’ll end up being too modest or too pushy. A professional writer can find the right balance, so maybe you should consider hiring one.

If you decide to write your own application, don’t copy a template to fill in with your personal information. It’s the obvious thing that most job candidates do, and most employers hate. They’ve seen such cover letters hundreds of times before. They are not impressed by them.
Remember the main rule: your job application documents have to be unique. 

3.       Work on Your Online Reputation
So you have the perfect CV and cover letter. That doesn’t mean you don’t need the perfect LinkedIn profile and personal website, too.
A hiring manager will definitely google your name once they see the application. They will also use LinkedIn to find relevant candidates for their open positions.
Completely fill out your LinkedIn profile! Use the platform to connect with potential employers, but with workers from your industry as well.

Then, create a personal website or a blog that helps you build your authority in the online world. Write on topics related to the industry you want to be part of. Share content on a regular basis, and make it awesome!

Don’t forget: those partying photos from Facebook and Instagram must go. All controversial tweets must go. Clean up, so a potential employer won’t be shocked when they try to find some info on you online.

4.       Do an Internship
You want to hunt for real jobs after college, so an internship is not that attractive. But it might be your way into a great company. No; you’re not taking a step backwards with an internship. It’s still a step forward from not having a job at all. If you didn’t have an internship while you were studying, it’s time to apply for one now.

An internship gives you a great experience that will teach you new skills and sharpen the ones you already have. If you prove your value, the HR department will want to keep you as a regular employee.

5. Get Out There!
You studied hard and you earned that degree. Now, it’s time to expose yourself to reality.
Even if you don’t have much experience and you don’t know how to start applying for jobs, do it! You can’t sit and wait for the perfect opportunity to land in your lap.
It’s time for an aggressive job quest. You can do this!

Bio: Stella Gary loves inspiring young people to seize new opportunities. Her blogs teach them how to get the jobs of their dreams. She wants everyone to live the life of their dreams.