7 Tips for Landing the Right Job After Graduation

 

Congratulations! You've made it through the long, arduous process of earning your degree. Now it's time to celebrate by landing that dream job. After all, you're well-educated and full of potential.

There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to land a job in your chosen field—or at least one that uses your skills and interests as well as pays well enough for you to live comfortably for years to come. But how do you actually do that?

Here are seven tips:

 

Expand your network.

Networking is key to landing the right job after graduation. It's not just a matter of meeting people who can help you get a job, but also about building relationships with people who will be valuable contacts for years to come.

When you're looking for a job, it's important to network with people who have experience in the field you want to enter. They'll be able to give you advice on how to approach the job search, and they'll be able to tell you about companies that are hiring in your field. They might even know someone at one of those companies!

You can also use networking to find out when companies are holding events in your area—and if they aren't, maybe you can convince them to put one on! In addition to getting free food at these events and meeting new people, it's a great way for employers to get more exposure and make themselves seem more appealing than competitors.

There are many ways to network—in person meetings, alumni groups, conferences and events—but I often find that social media is the easiest way for me to meet new people and stay connected with old friends and colleagues.

 

Start looking early and keep looking late. Use tools like LinkedIn and Google to boost your search.

The first tip for landing the right job after graduation is to start looking early and keep looking late. This means that you should begin applying for jobs during your senior year of college, even if you don't think you'll be graduating until the following year. This will give you plenty of time for interviews, and also allow you to get a sense of what kinds of jobs are available in your field before graduation—and what types of jobs are likely to require an advanced degree.

Second, use your network! While it's important not to burn bridges when job hunting (be sure to leave on good terms with professors and employers), it's equally important not to underestimate the power of networking. If you know someone who works at Amazon, ask them if they could put in a good word for you! You never know who might have connections that could lead to an interview or offer.

Third, use tools like LinkedIn and Google to boost your search! There are lots of sites where companies post job openings, so make sure that yours is there when they're browsing around looking for candidates.

 

Put together a resume and portfolio that conveys a story.

It’s time to put together your resume, portfolio and cover letter.

The resume:

The first step is to make sure you have a concise two-page resume that showcases all of your accomplishments, including awards, internships and other relevant experiences.

Remember that this document represents you as a professional and should highlight qualities such as reliability, responsibility and communication skills. It’s also critical for you to include any accolades or awards that may show off some of the successes in your career thus far.

The cover letter:

The next step is crafting a strong cover letter that explains why this position is right for you. Make sure it ties back into all of the accomplishments listed on your resume—this will help demonstrate how well-rounded you are as an applicant!

The cover letter should be no more than one page, and should include the following elements:

-Your name, address, phone number, and email address

-A greeting that shows enthusiasm and interest in the position (e.g., "Dear [name],")

-A concise but thorough explanation of why you are qualified for the job and why you want it (e.g., "As a recent graduate with a degree in [field], I am excited about applying for this opportunity to join your team. My training in [field] has prepared me to excel in this role, as I am confident that my expertise will allow me to contribute immediately.")

-A brief description of how your skills and experience align with the responsibilities described in the job description (e.g., "I have extensive experience working with [insert relevant skill here] which would allow me to quickly become proficient at [insert task here].")

The portfolio:

Include a portfolio with examples of past work (such as school projects), but don't forget about projects outside of school; be sure they're included too! If possible, try using photos or video clips from these projects so they really come alive when someone reads them later down the line."

 

Don't be afraid to consider different paths.

If you don't get the job you want, keep looking. Don't be afraid to apply for jobs you may not have experience in. You might find that you enjoy a role that differs from your original career choice—and it's okay if this happens! A side project could turn into an opportunity to build your resume, or it could lead you down an entirely new career path.

Don't be afraid to go back to school (and don't wait too long). If technical skills are holding back from getting hired, consider continuing your education with classes or training programs offered by your college or even taking courses online or through local community colleges and universities.

Going back to school can help boost both confidence and your marketability as well as prepare for any future promotions within the company where currently employed; however, make sure any time spent away from work is well-managed so that productivity levels are maintained while still giving time needed for self-improvement

 

Stay positive.

Even if you're not sure what you want to do with your life, or if the job search is going so badly that it's making you question the value of your degree and your intelligence in general, try to keep a positive attitude. You'll be amazed at how much this can help you land a job.

It's easy to lose hope when you're searching for work: You've been rejected time and time again, and even after taking all the right steps, nothing seems to be going right. But don't let that get you down! Remind yourself of all the things that you're good at and all of the valuable skills that make up your skill set—and then use them!

Your positive attitude will definitely come across during interviews. And if someone doesn't hire you because they think your smile is fake? Well, maybe they were just wrong about what kind of person they wanted on their team anyway!

 

Find a mentor or job coach.

As you're making your way through the job-hunting process, it can be helpful to have someone who's been there before to guide you along the way. A mentor or job coach can help you assess where your strengths lie, what skills employers are looking for, and how to improve on any deficiencies in your background. They'll also provide encouragement when you need it most—a few weeks before graduation and three months into your search.

Mentors come in all shapes and sizes; they might be people who work in similar fields as you or even people from completely different fields who have been successful in their own right. A good mentor will give you honest feedback on your resume, interview skills, and professional goals—and tell you if they think those goals are achievable given your current situation.

How to find good mentor?

1. Reach out to alumni

The best place to start looking for a mentor is your university's alumni network. At the very least, you can use their website to find someone who specializes in the industry you're interested in and reach out to them via email or LinkedIn. If that doesn't work, see if you can get an introduction through one of your professors.

2. Use LinkedIn

LinkedIn is great for finding mentors because it allows you to search for people who are already connected with people from your university or other institutions that you've attended. You can also look for people who worked at companies similar to the one where you hope to intern or work after graduation and reach out by connecting with them on LinkedIn or sending them an email through their company website's contact form. You can even try searching for mentors on Twitter by using hashtags like #mentor or #mentoring (just make sure they're in English).

3. Attend networking events

Networking events are a great way to meet potential mentors because they allow you to get face time with people who might be able to help guide your career down the right path—and they're usually free! If there isn't a networking event coming up near where

 

Consider volunteering.

One of the best ways to gain experience and develop skills is by volunteering. If you’re considering a career in the nonprofit sector, volunteering can help you build connections, gain insight into working in that field, and even make valuable professional contacts that could help your job search down the road. Many organizations will pair you up with an experienced mentor who can provide advice on resumes and cover letters or direct you to other valuable resources.

Gaining these kinds of practical skills from a volunteer position can be just as important as having an impressive resume filled with internships or part-time jobs at for-profit companies.

Not only does this show off how much initiative you take on your own behalf—which is one thing many employers are looking for in candidates—but it also shows employers that you’re willing to work hard even when there are no immediate rewards at stake (and sometimes even when those rewards aren’t guaranteed).

If you're not sure where to start, try reaching out to local businesses that deal with what you want to do professionally. Ask them if they offer internships or volunteer opportunities, and explain why you'd be interested in working with them. They may have something available for you!

 

Takeaway: Landing the right job after graduation often means being open-minded, flexible and willing to hustle.

You know the saying: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” Landing a job after graduation requires courage. You have to be willing to take risks and fail sometimes in order to get what you want.

For example, if you really want an entry-level position at your dream company but aren't sure how to land it, start by volunteering for a project outside of your field and then build relationships with people who work there. Ask them about what they're working on; offer ideas on how you could help them out even more—and don't be afraid if they say no! Follow up with them every couple weeks until they give in and let you join their team full time. If that doesn't work out the first time around, try again! It's okay if it takes longer than expected; just keep going until you find success!

 

Landing the right job is a process, and it can take time. But when you're ready to start your search for a career after graduation, keep in mind that there are lots of opportunities out there for recent graduates who are willing to be flexible and open-minded about their career paths.