5 Job Search Tips for Recent College Grads

As a recent college grad, I know firsthand how difficult the transition into the "real world" can be. Last year, I entered a world where it was no longer acceptable to take an afternoon nap, wear pajamas in the middle of the day, or take a "personal day" because you had a little too much fun the night before. The world that I had become accustomed to disappeared, and I was left with a long list of expectations and responsibilities. All of a sudden, I was supposed to have a great career, an apartment, and food on the table. Like so many recent college grads, I felt unprepared, scared, and unsure of how I was going to survive in the "real world."

However, a year later I'm surviving and the "real world" is really not as bad as it seemed. I attribute much of my success to my job here at Treeline. While, the lack of jobs and the current economic situation make it difficult to find a job; that does not mean that there are not jobs out there.

In a recent Washington Post article by Lily Garcia, "How a recent college graduate can go about getting a first job" she advises recent college grads to start at the bottom. While, her advice seems obvious to me now, a year ago I had dreams of landing my dream job right out of college. Murray advises college grads not to "lose sight of your career goals, but shift your focus for the moment to finding the right employer rather than the right job. Once you are in, you will have the chance to prove yourself and later aspire to other jobs that better fit your self-image."

Also, college graduates can use their skills rather than work experience when searching for a job and interviewing. For instance, English, history, sociology, and psychology majors can apply their communication and writing skills, organizational abilities and computer savvy to job positions outside of their major.

Unfortunately, many recent graduates completely give up on their job search after rejection. Instead, they should be looking for other options, so that they stand out from the rest of the candidates vying for the same position.

So, what can recent college grads do regarding their job search?

1. Network! Join LinkedIn. Talk to your professors or professionals in your field of interest. Reach out to family friends and neighbors.
2. Never turn down an offer of an introduction or an interview. They will provide you with worthwhile information and maybe even job leads.
3. Talk to other recent grads about their successes and mistakes. Learn from their experiences.
4. When you're interviewing, talk about your job-related college experiences.
5. Remember that employer rejections are inevitable but don't let it keep you from continuing to search.

 

Do you have any advice for the thousands of recent college graduates looking for a job? Let us know.

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