So, you finished all of your final exams, you took in the pomp and circumstance of graduation, and after many years of demonstrating your intellect and proficiency in the subject of your choosing, you finally have your college degree. Now what? For many recent graduates, the answer is simple, as now you can finally start applying for jobs in your desired field using all of the knowledge you attained in college. Even with your new degree, however, finding a job after college isn’t always easy. Not only do some jobs require a considerable amount of experience that many recent graduates don’t have, but just as you’re trying to break into the workforce, thousands of other recent graduates are doing the same. This makes for a highly competitive job market, which can make finding the job you’ve dreamed of more difficult than anticipated. Fortunately, there are more than enough things you can do to stand out from the crowd, and show prospective employers why all of the hard work you put into earning your degree makes you the ideal candidate for their job listings.
College is a great place to socialize and build lasting relationships, and once you’ve graduated from college, those relationships can turn into networking opportunities. Networking is when you build a professional relationship with people in your desired field or industry, allowing you to develop a sense of what the job market is like and what employers are looking for. Knowing the right people may even help you meet industry leaders in your field of study, allowing you to personally introduce yourself and get an edge over those sending in routine applications.
As difficult as it may be for you to find a job right out of college, employers also struggle to find the right candidate that perfectly fits their employment criteria. This is where a career fair can be a massive boon to your employment prospects. Career fairs are an excellent opportunity to show companies who you are, and make a lasting impression with their representatives. If you have the right conversation with the right company, you may just find yourself getting a phone call for an interview very soon after the fair is over.
Now that you have your degree, you can finally add your new accolade to your resume andwebsites like LinkedIn. Keeping both your resume and online accounts for job applications updated will not only help ensure you’re giving potential employers accurate information, but on sites like LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter, employers may reach out to you based on your education and experience. While this doesn’t mean you can simply kick back and relax while job offers come pouring in, you may get lucky enough to have an employer contact you for an interview before you even have to apply.
Above all else, the one thing you can do to help your chances of getting a job after college is applying to as many jobs as you can find. Websites like Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn have thousands of job listings for just as many career paths, giving you a wealth of opportunities. It’s important to remember that not every job you apply for is going to result in an interview, but it’s also just as important to not get discouraged and send in applications until some start to stick. With the right amount of determination and discretion towards jobs that are worth applying for, the job you’ve been waiting for should come in due time. Applying for jobs fresh out of college may seem intimidating, but as long as you show the same tenacity that helped you earn your degree, you should be able to start the career you’ve dreamed of in no time. And with the help of the people you met in college combined with the knowledge obtained from your classes, you’ll have a stable support system for breaking into the workforce and carving your own path through the field you’ve already put so much time and energy into. Veronica Davis is a writer, blogger, and legal assistant operating out of the greater Philadelphia area. She writes for Philadelphia bankruptcy lawyer David Offen.