6 Steps to Getting a Post-Graduation Job

6 Steps to Getting a Post-Graduation Job6 Steps to Getting a Post-Graduation JobRecent grads, congratulations on your new degree Now comes the new, somewhat daunting, yet exciting part the post-graduation job hunt.Its definitely nerve-wrackingleaving behind four years of scheduling classes, extracurricular activities, studying, group projects, and homework to venture into a brand-new world of job interviews, office schedules, and new, bigger responsibilities of adulthood. The less scary news is, you can land your first post-graduate job quickly and efficiently with the right amount of dedication and planning.Here are sixsteps to outlining your post-graduation job search strategy1. Do your research.Find a job category that you believe fits your current skill set, looks like something you will enjoy, and offers leeway into your professional growth. If you need help getting started, try networking to find contact information for professionals who are employed in your dream position or a t a company you aspire to join.Connect with them on LinkedIn, give them a call (if you have their number), or send a thoughtful email asking how they arrived at their current position, and if they have any advice for a recent graduate looking to get into their line of work. You may receive valuable feedback, and maybe even a nudge to a job opening. It never hurts to network.2. Customize your resume.If youre unsure about how to begin writing your resume, try to think of it as a way to tell your professional life story. Go through all of your relevant experience and skills, career highlights, etc., and then jot them down in an organized manner. From there, you can clean it up and format it nicely- then customize it for the job at hand.Alsoalways have at least three other people (family, friends, an old professor) look at your resume before you start sending it out. Ask for honest feedbackandactually listen to what your proofreaders have to say.And if youre really stuck getting started on your resume because you have no relevant experience whatsoever, dont fret. Follow these tips, and you should be okay3. Write a compelling cover letter (but know youll have to tailor it to each application).When writing a cover letter, start by passionately highlightingyour interest in this job field, and how your experience has developed over your college career and through your internships. Explain how you discovered this company youre applying for, and how you envision yourself as a meaningful part of the companys team and culture.Tell this new, potential employer what you would be eager to do in the role youre applying for. Whatever you do, dont use a cover letter template and try to come up with meaningless sentences that could actually describe hundreds of other working professionals. Stand out4. Do a hintergrund check- on yourself.Make sure there isnt anything that could embarrass you or get in the way of receiving an interview request. Type your name into an online search engine and see what links or photos come up, triple check your social profiles, and edit or remove anything that looks like it could hurt your chances.5. Apply thoughtfully.Dont rattle away at an auto-apply button. Take the time to read the description, research the company, and check out their social media accounts. Is this job truly within your skill set? Can you see yourself enjoying a position at this company? If so, see if you can capture the type of voice or tone the company uses and reciprocate it into your application and cover letter. Try to alter some of the language in your resume to tailor it to this companys culture.HubSpot writer Katie Burke also recommends creating a spreadsheet to keep track of each job you apply for. Logging everything (including return phone calls, informational screens, and rejection emails alike) in one document will also minimize embarrassing gaffes such as applying for multiple positions at the same company or missing a scheduled informational interview, she says. Plus, having a centralized location means itll be much easier for you to react if something unexpected comes up, such as if a hiring manager calls you to discuss the role in depth.6. Get social.Connect with the company youre interested in working with on social media. Follow its profiles and like recent updates. As pointed out by Glassdoor, social media can be a great asset in networking and getting your foot in the door. Everyone knows someone who knows someone, and theres no shame in using your resources. Recruiters are ramping up their social media efforts, according to Jobvites2015 Recruiter Nation Survey. Out of 1,404 recruiting and human resources professionals, the survey found 56 percent of recruiters are using social media to find quality hires.The post-grad job hunt can easily seem like an intimidating task. But youll learn valuable experience and gain new job searching skills with each passing day. This is the fruchtwein exciting moment of your caree r, because the entire journey is laid out in front of you. Good luckStart Your Job Search