Tips for Finding a Job after College
Here are some great tips for finding a job after college according to an article by Susan Adams for Forbes online magazine. You might find that following some of this advice can help you a great deal in getting on the right career ladder.
Create a LinkedIn Account
One of the best tips given to college graduates for finding a job is to create a LinkedIn account as soon as possible. Actually, teenagers who are sixteen years and older should create a LinkedIn account to start documenting their work experience history. When you are creating your LinkedIn account, you should list all your extracurricular activities and hobbies that you participated in while at high school, as well as any awards or certificates. At this age you probably don’t have a list of past employers, but you can add any babysitting, dishwasher, busser, or waitress jobs that you have done. Once you have a professional job or internship, you can add it later and start to delete the least relevant experiences.
Get a WordPress site, Domain, and Blog
Today, it is cheap and easy to get your own website and use it as a virtual curriculum. Make a domain name for your website, then blog using WordPress. If you do this, then you can blog about your professional career along with the interests that you have. A great way to start this is by blogging about the latest news headlines, the trendiest video on YouTube, or a big hit song. It doesn’t all have to be professional, and you will start to have plenty of people your own age. reading your blog. If the thought of having your own blog is too daunting, join together with friends who are interested in a similar career path and make a group blog and website.
Apply for an Internship
If you really want to land the job of your dreams after college, then apply for an internship. Finding a job after completing a relevant internship will be much easier. Once you have created your LinkedIn profile, then start searching for an internship program that is accepting college students. You can always approach companies that you think you would like to work for. Smaller companies are a great idea as they may not have thought about running an intern program and will be grateful for your help.
Search for a Mentor
There is no better time than the present to search for a mentor. You shouldn’t use your parents as your mentor unless they are the owner of a major company. If you find a professional mentor, then you this will help you get a job after your graduate from college because they can provide a whole host of contacts for you to approach. LinkedIn is a good source to search for a mentor through the contacts of your contacts.
Career Services at College
The career services at your college are there to help you with finding a job after college. Unfortunately, only a handful of students take advantage of these services. They are excellent in assigning you with an alumni that can help you with your career choices after college and examples of resumes and cover letters.
Professional and Student Groups
There are a variety of professional groups to join at college. Colleges offers these types of groups. The professional groups at college are usually created based upon professional interests. Such as a computer programmer would benefit from joining a professional tech group and so on. The group generally has former college students that can tell you how to get a job, make a resume, and even answer any questions that you have about your profession. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.
Reference:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/11/12/6-things-you-must-do-to-get-your-first-job-after-college/