It’s hard not to worry if you’re a graduate these days. A lot of people are unable to find a great job in their chosen field when they leave college, so they’re stuck somewhere they don’t want to be. The unlucky ones can’t even find a job in the first place.
Only a select few manage to find the job of their dreams straight out of college. You could argue it all boils down to luck, but there is definitely something they are doing right. We’re going to discuss a few simple things you can do to boost your chances of success.
1 – Make Sure Your CV Is Perfect
This might seem like common sense to most students graduating from college, but it’s the main reason why they mess up. Even though you think you’re giving employers what they want, they’re looking for something a little more well-though-out than a CV you’ve rustled up in a few hours.
The biggest problem seems to be students focusing on their college jobs, because they think CVs should revolve around work. In reality, no employer cares about your bar job. You should let them know what you’ve accomplished at college along with other important things.
2 – Use Job Sites For Graduates
If you’re panicking about finding a job before leaving college it’s easy to start looking in the wrong places. You don’t have to stay away from general job sites, but be aware there are websites out there aimed specifically towards graduates looking for jobs.
Where would you advertise if you were looking for the perfect candidate? You might find big employers will stay away from regular job sites because they’ll have to waste time sifting through useless applications. Stick to websites meant for you and you’ll find more hidden gems.
3 – Always Visit The Career Office
You don’t need to do everything on your own, which those with great networking skills will know all about. For everyone without contacts a great place to start is the career office. The only reason they exist in the first place is to help you, so take advantage of their knowledge.
One of the things you’ll really benefit from is the mock interviews. Even if you have a great CV you’ll never get your dream job without impressing the person interviewing you. That won’t happen if you’re nervous and you don’t possess the qualities required to excel in interviews.
4 – Start Reaching Out To People
Some people are lucky because they know lots of employees working for large companies. You’ll just need to approach things in a different way. It’s never been easier to find out who works for a company you have your eye on, but it’s a tiny bit trickier asking them for help.
Websites like LinkedIn will help you out a lot. Would you be able to make a connection with someone who works in your dream job? You could explain your situation and ask them out for coffee. Even if they don’t give you a glowing recommendation the information you get from them will be invaluable.
5 – Experience Is Extremely Important
If you gain experience at a company through an internship while at college it’s going to help you tremendously. In fact, there are those out there who say it’s absolutely essential. Companies don’t want anyone who hasn’t interned before because they’ll be taking a big risk hiring them.
Those who have already left college can still use an internship to land their ideal job. You might have to work nights in a restaurant to support yourself, but it’s better than entering the workforce at a level way below your standards. It’s harder to reach your goals once you’re settled.
You Must Put In Maximum Effort
It’s safe to say most people who don’t find their dream job haven’t tried hard enough. That doesn’t mean they haven’t tried at all, but they’ve certainly not put in their maximum effort and it’s a good life lesson to learn.
If you want anything in life you could get it through luck, but the odds will weigh a lot more in your favour if you’re willing to do anything. You’ll lose out to those willing to go the extra mile if you let them.
