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If you wait until you've graduated to begin thinking about finding a job, you're already behind. Job searching as a fresh graduate can take a lot longer than you imagine, leaving you jobless for weeks or months. Start as early as possible in your college career to build your network by attending events on campus and securing summer internships.
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Also, try to gain some interviewing experience before you graduate. Your college career center is an excellent resource for conducting mock interviews. Being comfortable in an interview seat will serve you well in your post-college life. While you're there, talk to them about jobs for college graduates with your interests and coursework.
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A famous quote says a goal without a plan is just a dream. It would help if you were more specific than declaring you want a job. When you get clear on the type of job you want, it can help you clarify the types of jobs to apply for and where to find them.
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Before submitting applications, you should set targets for the number of networking events you attend and the job applications you'll submit each week. It would help if you also thought about why you're applying for a job. If it's about earning money, you can do that anywhere, so you must drill down and figure out your motivation to find employment.
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You can ask for guidance if you're unsure about your career path. Whether you ask a career coach, a trusted friend or family member, or past professors, you're sure to find someone who can help point you in the right direction for your career.
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Once you're clear on your career goals, you can create a plan. Are there sites specializing in the industry you want to be a part of? If there is, you should sign up with the site and receive updates on industry events, possibly including job fairs. Determine what your job search schedule will be. Do you plan to look for work every day,
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or are you planning to do your job search a few times a day? Whatever your plan is, schedule the time in your calendar, and be consistent. You should create a new professional email for job search-related activities. After setting up your new email address, you may want to update your online profiles so potential employers can access your current information.
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Numerous employment resources don't require you to pay for them. On some sites, you can learn about different career paths and research companies to get an idea of their culture, interview process, and industry. If you're looking for information to help you negotiate a salary, you can find information on sites like PayScale and Salary.com.
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You can also find lots of information with tips on networking in-person and online, and you can ask your school's alumni association for access to their career services department. Job fairs are an excellent way to learn about new employment opportunities.
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You can sign up for alerts on job boards to get a notification when a job you're interested in becomes available. If there's a company you want to work for, don't hesitate to reach out to the hiring manager.
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Networking is essential to a successful job hunt because there are many job openings that employers do not advertise. Connecting with people in professional organizations is an excellent way to establish professional relationships that could lead to a job. Your friends and family can be a part of your network.
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While digital networking is increasingly popular, some feel that connecting with seasoned professionals and like-minded people in-person can influence your career path positively. You can interact with people at seminars, classes, and social events.
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Recruiters and hiring managers pick potential candidates by reviewing the cover letters and resumes they receive. By customizing your documents to the position you're applying for, you can improve your chances of getting noticed by a potential employer. Your cover letter and resume should be concise and easy to read while highlighting your achievements, skills, and experience.
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You can ask a family member, friend, colleague, or career coach to proofread both documents and provide feedback. You can also hire resume services to help you fine-tune your resume. It would help if you had templates for both documents ready, so you can customize them when there's a position you'd like to apply for.
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Before submitting your documents, you should optimize your resume for keywords in the job posting to help increase your chances of getting an interview.
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When seeking employment, it's a good idea to update your LinkedIn profile or create one if you don't already have an account. LinkedIn is often the first place recruiters and hiring managers go to learn more about you and your experience. Ensure your profile picture is professional and not taken by a friend at a party.
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Consider joining professional social networks and posting content related to your field. You can also comment on topics you're interested in to connect with like-minded people. You can expand your online visibility by connecting with classmates, former professors and coaches, and coworkers from campus jobs.
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After you submit your application, the next step may be an interview that the interviewer does in person, over the phone, or in a video chat. Regardless of the format, there are steps you can take to prepare. You can prepare by locating sample interview questions and creating responses to them. You can practice yourself or ask a colleague or friend to help you prepare.
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While preparing your responses, plan how you'll relate your personal experiences and skills to the role. If the interview is in person or via video, there are ways to display open body language, which can make an interviewer more receptive to you.
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They include: – Maintaining eye contact.– Leaning forward slightly to exhibit interest. – Using your hands while speaking. When practicing your answers, you can consider organizing your responses according to the STAR method:
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– Situation: explain the situation you were in. – Task: describe your role. – Action: define in the steps you took in the situation. – Result: describe what your action led to.
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A quick thank-you note or email reiterating your interest in the position won't guarantee the hiring manager will give you the job, but it can help you stand out from other applicants. The majority of job seekers don't spend the time to send a thank you note. You can do more than say thank you in the note.
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Some hiring professionals recommend sending a clear and brief email thanking the interviewer for taking the time to speak with you and asking about the timing and process for the rest of the hiring process. Asking this question gives the employer a chance to provide an idea of how fast they're looking to hire and when you can expect to know if you got the job.
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Keeping a record of your submitted applications can help you determine what strategies are working and the areas you need to improve. List the jobs you've applied for, how you found out about them, follow-up actions, interviews, and other communications. Review your list regularly and stay on top of anything you need to follow up on.