Getting a job after college is not an easy task. I hear stories all the time from people around my age who can’t for the life of them seem to get the job they want for a long time after graduating. It can take years for people to get the right job.
But that’s the thing, a lot of people go through this sort of experience. So it’s not really anything to be ashamed of. It’s almost gotten to the point where nobody should really expect you to get a full-time job in your field right out of school.
For me personally, I’ve been out of school for about a year now and I’ve yet to get that job. I’m currently doing this internship which pays me a little bit of money. And I had a part-time job as a blog writer for a couple of months. But none of this is quite what I’m looking for.
How to Get That Job
Improve your resume and cover letters.
Do some research online to learn how you can improve them both. Just make sure you get the most up to date information.
Prepare for interviews.
Seriously, prep ahead of time. Know what kind of questions they might ask you and prepare some good answers.
Be open to any and all opportunities.
Take whatever opportunities you can get. If you can get an internship (whether it’s paid or unpaid), take it if it’s reasonable to do so. If you get a part-time job in your field, that’s fine too. Just get your foot in the door. You never know what these positions could lead to. At the very least, you’re getting yourself some experience that may help you down the road.
Expand your horizons and be adaptable.
Don’t be afraid to apply for and take jobs that aren’t exactly what you planned on doing. For instance, I studied journalism in college. But I’m open to doing other similar types of jobs like marketing or proofreading. Don’t be afraid to be adaptable and to have to learn new things. You never know what you’re career could end up being. Just be open-minded about it.
Utilize your network.
Find people in your network that have similar to jobs to the ones you want. Also explore your second-degree connections by asking people in your network if they know of anyone who is in your desired position.
Treat your job search like a job.
Work on your search at least a little bit every day. Set aside specific time that you will dedicate to landing that dream job.
Be patient and confident.
As I already mentioned, this whole process can take a long time. Stay confident and patient. Good things come to people who wait, right?
