Counseling Education

Getting your first job after you graduate

When you were little, your parents probably told you that as long as you worked really hard in school and maintained good grades, you would have no problem landing the job of your dreams when you graduate. Sadly, this isn't always true, particularly in the stormy economic climate of today. The number of jobs available is dwindling, and the number of unemployed individuals you'll be competing with for available positions is climbing every day. As discouraging as that may sound, you shouldn't let such issues get in your way of getting your first job. Otherwise, you'll have quit before you even started, and that shouldn't be the case. So how do you secure a job right after leaving the safe confines of your university? Here are some quick tips:

Plan Way Ahead Of Time

Your job search, or at the very least your preparations, should start even before you throw off that graduation cap. One surefire way of getting ahead in this game is to apply for an internship while still in college. Not only does this give you a taste for what a real work environment feels like, but it will also give you a chance to gain diverse experiences in your field of interest. What's more is that if your work is impressive enough, the company you're interning at might even invite you to work for them as soon as you're done with your studies. But even if you aren't given an outright offer, internships still pack a wallop of benefits, not to mention they look good on your resume.

Be Flexible With the Jobs You're Applying For

Okay, so your grades are stellar, your academic record is impressive, and your family and friends tell you that you're the world's most promising graduate. However, you should get your head out of the clouds and accept that you're most likely going to land an entry-level post. After all, you can't expect to be offered a position that will require extensive work experience right after you leave college. You're still in the early stages of carving out your career so work your way up until you've realized your full potential. If already know what industry you want to work in but the positions that you want in that industry aren't open, try to break into the industry by applying for other jobs with companies in the industry. Getting into the company is by far the most important step in getting the job you want. After you're in, you can apply for internal openings and climb the corporate ladder by making connections.

Get That Experience

Whether it is temporary contract work or portfolio work you are doing for free, getting that experience and having something to show potential employers is extremely important. If you are applying for a think tank, start a blog about policy research. If you are applying as a fashion merchandiser, start a website about your favorite brands. If you are applying as a structural engineer, take temporary contracting positions or draft a model of a structure using AutoCAD. The competition is stiff out there---you need to go above and beyond to show potential employers that you have what it takes to succeed at their company.

Network

Networking is an extremely important component of getting a job. Go out there and meet anyone and everyone. If you meet a decision-maker, that's great! If not, still keep in touch with them and ask them for a referral later on. Also, go to career fairs. You will get a chance to talk to recruiters and make a good impression on them.

Be Active On LinkedIn

Facebook and Twitter just don't cut it anymore. Most employers don't even check Facebook for viable job applicants, which is actually good if your online social presence isn't that desirable. As early as today, start building a more professional image on the World Wide Web. Broaden your networks to include possible employers. Create a LinkedIn profile, which is tantamount to ensuring your resume is available online for potential bosses to peruse. Lastly, don't forget to weed out undesirable pictures, information, or videos of you on your various online accounts. You don't want these to prevent recruiters from considering you as a great job candidate.

There are plenty of other steps you can take to ensure you succeed at getting your first ever job. You can ask an adult in your target field to act as your mentor and ask him for useful advice. You can also take advantage of your school's career services office. You can even join an industry-specific organization. The bottom line here is that if you just devote enough time and effort into it, you'll land a job that will yield rewarding returns in the long run.

About the author

Felix Tarcomnicu is currently a contributor on Mupso.com and writes resume samples for ResumeOK.com.

Image credit: Fahim Fadz on Flickr