Job Search Tips for Recent College Grads
If you're just getting out of college, or graduate school, without a job lined up, you are facing a rather tricky job market in most fields. However, don't lose hope, and follow these simple strategies to segue from school into a career.
Don't apply only to the jobs that fit your major.
Just because you are a history major doesn't mean you are doomed to be a museum curator or teach ninth grade civics. Look at the full palette of skills and experiences that you have, from volunteer experience to summer jobs to extracurricular activities to internships. Depending on the position, any of these can be played up or played down on your resume and in your interview. Be openminded and flexible in looking for a job that meets other criteria you are looking for, such as salary, location and opportunity for advancement, even if it isn't a job typically associated with your major.
Some majors, however, are more of a meal ticket than others. According to CareerPath.com, the top majors in the eyes of employers right now are finance, accounting, engineering and business administration.
Use your school's alumni and career placement services.
Your college or university should have a careers center, where you can make an appointment and get advice on what your next move should be after graduation. According to CollegeGrad.com, you should see if a career counselor can conduct a mock interview with you, in order to test your person-to-person skills under pressure.
While you're meeting with a career counselor, ask them for a list of alums that you can get in touch with. If you aren't able to get this info at the career center, inquire with your school's alumni association, such as this one at Michigan State University. Alumni who keep their alma maters posted on their whereabouts are often willing to talk with new graduates, who remind them of their carefree youth. They might be able to give you insider advice on how to find a job in a certain field or a certain city, or even introduce you to the right people.
Go to job fairs.
Job fairs on your campus are a great way to meet prospective employers. They won't hold your relative lack of experience against you, since they are specifically seeking out new college grads they can train. Make a positive and lasting impression with a recruiter at a job fair, and you might have made a contact that gets you a job.
You can check your college's events calendar, like this one at the City College of New York, to look for upcoming job fairs.