Job hunting can be both exhilarating and disappointing, and it may even put a huge dent in your self-confidence. But don’t let the fear of rejection faze you. The right job may appear unexpectedly, as long as you remain steadfast in your search.
One of the most important factors in looking for a job is knowing whether it aligns with the career path you wish to take after graduation. Being widely recognized by the employment sector, most schools and universities offer career trainings for graduates and students.
If you don’t want to get lost in your initial foray into the competitive job market, read on as we’ve rounded up ways to snag your first job after earning your degree:
- Prepare a Resume That Helps You Get Noticed
The golden rule in making a good resume is to highlight your skills and strengths.
Below are some of the basic parts of a resume and the things you need to consider in putting together a resume that could help you land your first job:
- Header – Make a header that contains your details such as name, email address, and contact numbers. Make everything professional to create a favorable first impression on your prospective employers.
- Summary – This is where to put your relevant skills and work experience, as well as the reason why you’re applying for the position.
- Experience – If you have no actual work experience, you can fill in an internship or voluntary work experience.
- Activities – This section is useful if you’ve had extracurricular activities in school. You can put your memberships and other positions in the drama club or school choir, for instance. If you’ve earned an award or recognition in and out of school, you may also cite this.
- Education – Besides mentioning the schools you’ve attended, you may include your academic distinctions. This may be important for firms that prioritize achievers or those who prefer to hire scholars.
- Personal Interests – Write down hobbies that you think can help you develop professional and personal growth. Don’t hold back as most employers recognize work-life balance.
The idea is not to fill your resume with fluff or padding your achievements just to snag an interview. It’s to show your prospective employers what you can do and how you can add value to the organization.
- Explore All Avenues for Job Searching
There are plenty of opportunities and resources for job searchers to help recent graduates land a high paying job.
Here’s how you can have access to several job listings:
- Scan job sites – This can be the easiest way to find job opportunities. There are various online sources where you can access job listings available even for fresh graduates like you. Sign up for a new account, so you don’t miss out on new opportunities.
- Ask for referrals – Another best way to find a job is to ask for referrals from different people. For example, you can contact your college career office staff about any potential contacts in the sector you wish to become part of.
- Job fairs – Some schools partner with hiring companies to launch job expositions or career fairs; some universities’ sites even include a space for job announcements. Try checking these sites often to see if there’s a job position that matches your credentials.
- Expand Your Connections
Some jobs are not advertised, and in these instances, it helps to expand your network to have access to these opportunities. It pays to join professional groups, attend events for your school’s alumni, connect with other people from various industry sectors, and get information on potential job vacancies that interest you.
- Sign up for Volunteer Work or an Internship
If you haven’t done it yet, consider volunteering or getting an internship to build up your experience. This shows your employees that you’re committed to improving yourself and enhancing your skills, which may help increase your chances of getting hired.
A 2019 survey done by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) disclosed that 79.6 % of interns were hired as full-time employees.
- Bonus Tip: Practice to Ace that Job Interview
If you’ve succeeded in stirring the interest of headhunters or hiring companies, the next step, and perhaps the most crucial, is to prepare for your job interview.
Practice mock question and answer sessions with friends or family members. Focus on the skills and traits you have and how you’ve used them to overcome specific academic, professional, and personal challenges. Don’t forget to think about your weaknesses, too, and how you’re working to improve them.
The Bottom Line
Although an essential category, the experience is not the only thing that matters to employers when they’re hiring. Ideal candidates should possess important traits that companies are looking for: critical thinking, ability to solve problems, proactivity, and adaptability, among other vital characteristics. Make sure you’re able to present these in your resume and in your subsequent job interviews to give you an edge over other applicants.
