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For some people, finding that post-college job is as easy as one visit to a career fair. For others, it's a looming task that you'd rather let the post-grad version of you deal with. But what's really going on with the job search as a new grad? Here are a few recent stats to give you an idea of the career landscape you're about to navigate.
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– Employers plan to hire 26.6% more new grads from the class of May 2022 than they did from the class of May 2021. – In March 2021, the unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree holders was 3.7% compared to 6.7% for those only holding a high school diploma. – It takes an average of three to six months for college graduates to find a job after college.
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Even in a low unemployment job market, it can be challenging for new grads to find a job. It's not because there aren't jobs out there; it's because you're competing with people who have more experience. A diploma—and maybe even some recent work experience—doesn't mean you're ready for office life.
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Employers might be wary of hiring a new grad over someone with more professional work experience. Additionally, you don't know what you don't know. What I mean is that college grads might not have a great idea of what they want to do with their career. They might struggle to know what their strengths are and how they can be applied to a job.
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Yes, research and networking can help, but it's to be expected that when you're just starting your career, there will also be a learning curve.
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Here is some advice to make finding a job after college less daunting:
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Nothing seems to ding your confidence as much as a job search. The rejection emails seem to come on the days your impostor syndrome is already telling you that you'll never land a job. That's why I'm starting my list here. Get your mental, emotional, and physical well-being in a good place, and learn how to keep it there for your job search—and beyond.
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Before you start applying for jobs, consider what types of roles you would enjoy. Consider the jobs or school projects in the past that you enjoyed. What skills were you using? Can those skills be applied in the workplace? Create a list of your strengths and the skills you have, then consider the types of jobs that use those.
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In addition to researching potential career paths, it can also be helpful to narrow your job search down to specific companies. What companies do you admire? What companies' products and services to you often use? Is there leadership at a company you'd like to be part of? Would you prefer to be at a startup vs. a large company?
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Create a list of your target companies to help you focus your job search and look at what roles they are hiring for.
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Don't forget to consider other types of roles, outside of full-time. These can be a good way to build up experience to make you a stronger job applicant, and they might even be less competitive. Plus, you might be able to get your foot in the door at a company by doing part-time work and then converting to a full-time role later.
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Once you have a better idea of what types of jobs and companies you want to work for, set up job alerts so you know when roles open. The company's career page might offer this, or you can sign up via LinkedIn, Google Alerts, or even dedicated jobs newsletters.
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Often times we forget that there are job boards outside of our college career center. In addition to the big guys like LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter, there are hundreds of niche job boards you can browse, apply, and set up alerts for.
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I can’t stress this enough. Some estimate that upwards of 85% of open positions are filled through networking. And when you’re trying to get your foot in the door with your first full-time position, reaching out to your network is even more important.
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Your network includes those who know you and your potential very well: family members, neighbors, friends, former coworkers and managers, and professors. But it also includes more secondary connections who might be even more relevant in your desired industry. Think of those friends of friends and second and third connections on LinkedIn.
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While you're considering your network, don't forget that you're now part of the exclusive alumni network at your college. Join your alumni network—the first year of membership is often free—and reach out to alumni to learn about job opportunities.
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It's a good idea to also stay up-to-date on industry news so you are knowledgeable about trends, major PR announcements, and other newsworthy updates. You'll be more impressive in your networking efforts, and it will come in handy during any job interviews.
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Alright, you’re ready to reach out to your network after reading the above. But what if you want to reach out to someone you’ve never met or contacted before? That’s where the power of informational interviews come into play. An informational interview is a networking technique that allows you to connect with people from companies and industries you’re interested in.
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Whether you’re in an informational interview, at a networking event, in a job interview, or (literally) in an elevator, you need to be prepared to share who you are, what your past experiences are, and what you’re looking for.
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From personal experience, I know how overwhelming the job search process can be. Keeping track of your application materials, informational interview contacts, dream companies, and application statuses is challenging, but not impossible. Keeping your job search organized in an Excel spreadsheet or Airtable base is extremely helpful.
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Going along with my last tip, create a job search routine that helps you manage the many moving pieces in your job search. I set up certain days to act as themes: Thursdays for networking, Mondays for follow-up emails, and Wednesdays for applying to jobs I saved throughout the week.
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The average job search takes three to six months, so losing motivation is natural. To protest against that, here are my best tips: – Create a daily to-do list and carve out 30-60 minutes of time in your day to complete them. – Find a job search accountability buddy.
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You probably have a friend or two going through a search right now. Set up a weekly time to connect and share your learnings. – Take breaks. One of the biggest mistakes is not taking breaks and losing motivation altogether. Find ways to do activities that make you feel good, too. Confidence boosts are what you're looking for.
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When applying to multiple positions, it’s important to update and edit your application materials to fit each unique job opening. I know that constantly revising your materials can be annoying and time-consuming, but it does help you stand out and showcase the value you would add to the role and company.
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A great hack I learned from Career Contessa CEO, Lauren McGoodwin, is to create one master resume that includes all your experience, education, skills, etc. Then, edit it for the specific job you're applying to and only keep what is important to that employer. It's a quick way to create tailored resumes for each job.
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If you don't know already, make sure you're tailoring each resume, cover letter, and other materials you send in for the specific job and company.
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I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Personal branding is everything. When applying to jobs, it can be hard to stand out and show what you can do. That’s why a personal website or portfolio filled with your best work samples is so important. Once you’ve made your personal website or portfolio, be sure to link it to your resume, cover letter, email signature, and LinkedIn profile.
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When applying for jobs, it’s important to make sure your online presence is professional. Furthermore, the power of using LinkedIn to help aid your job search is unmatched. You can optimize your profile today to make new (and helpful) connections, show up in a recruiter’s search,
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find individuals to have informational interviews with, and easily showcase your interests, skills, experiences, and work samples to potential employers.
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Don't forget to review what your social media profiles are showing to employers! Additionally, you can use these accounts to show your interests in specific topics or industries. For example, if you love media companies and are applying to work at work, maybe you create a Twitter account where you share interesting news.
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Now that classes are over, you thankfully have more free time to learn new skills you may not have been taught in school. Try to determine what skills employers are looking for in your industry by skimming through job descriptions. If a certain skill keeps popping up that you don’t have, see if you can learn it by taking a course or watching videos online.
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After gradually checking off the steps above, you’ll be well on your way to landing a job interview. This section will guide you through the entire process including what to do before, during, and after the interview.
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A mock interview might sound super awkward (because they are!) but they are also very helpful! Ask a mentor, role model, or even relative to conduct a mock interview with you and then give you feedback.
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Before your in-person interview, you'll probably be invited for a phone interview. These require their own unique prep process because you can't rely on body language and other face-to-face interactions.
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A huge interview mistake that the Career Contessa team hears over and over again from employers is that a candidate skipped the opportunity to ask them any specific questions. Not only does it show you've done your homework on the company and job title, but you also need to make sure this job is a fit for what you're looking for.
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Whether you're interviewing in-person or via Zoom, I recommend putting on something professional so you can show the interview team that you're taking the process seriously. Even if the office is super casual, try sticking to something more business casual. In additional to dressing well, bring copies of your resume,
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a portfolio or iPad if needed, along with a notebook. It's totally acceptable to take notes during the interview process.
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Landing an interview is the hardest part of the job search process. You should feel proud of yourself for getting to this point. Now it’s time to develop a post-interview routine that will impress recruiters and help you stand out from other candidates.
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After your interview hopefully comes the job offer. This means salary, benefits, and other parts of a compensation package that you will want to deeply consider. Our best advice is to not accept any offer right away. Instead, thank the employer for the job offer and then take at least a few days to make sure the salary is competitive and you understand the other things being offered.
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Don't ever feel bad asking questions about money or negotiating an offer.