You graduated! Congratulations. Now what. If you don't have a job already, you most likely will be in full pursuit after you graduate. Consider these job hunting tips.
Keep your resume & contact info close.
Consider every day as a networking opportunity, regardless of where you go.1 You should always have resumes, cover letters and even business cards on your person. You never know when you might run into someone who could prove valuable to your career search. You should aim to advertise yourself as often as possible and remember why you stand out from the crowd. Have your elevator pitch (a few sentences) prepared to convince people why you are a strong candidate for the industry you're pursuing.
Forget your email campaign.
Job applicants are sending out thousands of emails to employers as a way to connect and try to get a job.2 Employers and HR reps get hundreds of emails every day, so there's a chance they'll never even see yours. Instead, stand out. Find the right person to contact at a company and give them a call on the phone. They're more likely to pick up their phones than answer emails, and you'll be able to start a dialogue much faster this way. It's one of the easiest solutions to market yourself, but many graduates are too scared to call. Act with confidence and go for it. Your elevator pitch will come in handy for this.
Your first job probably won't be your only job.
Sometimes graduates don't cast their nets very wide because they're afraid they'll end up in something unrelated to their dream job. Just remember, in a few years, after gaining experience, you may be able to move into roles that are closer to your ideal job. And sometimes people change their mind about their dream job once they get exposure to other areas of focus in their first job. So stick around long enough to learn a lot. A year is a good benchmark. That’s enough time to get a good idea of whether you want to advance in the company or find a better fit. Staying for less than a year may be hard to explain in your next job interview.
Take all the help you can get.
If you graduate without a job in your pocket, that's OK. You may even have family and friends volunteering ways to connect you with someone they know. It can be easy for pride to get in the way. “I want to do this myself,” you might say. Well, remember the phrase, “It’s all about who you know.” It's true. Take all the help you can get. No one will fault you for that.
Congratulations and good luck in your job hunt. These tips could give you an advantage.
1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caroline-dowdhiggins/career-tips-for-the-class_b_7182616.html