How to find your first job out of college - TheJobNetwork

How to find your first job out of college- TheJobNetworkIf youve recently graduated college then congratulations are in orderyouve reached a significant life milestone and should be proud of your accomplishment That said, just because youve achieved this goal doesnt mean your work is done. For many people, graduating from college is the starting point for the next big life challengethe job and career journey. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Unless youre lucky enough to bedrngnis have to work (or get rich quick by inventing something amazingly innovative and are able to retire early to some sunny and tropical beach), most of our professional journeys span several decades and are a major part of our overall life satisfaction.Therefore, its worth your time and effort to take your first job out of college seriously often, your first job after graduation can set the tone, pace, and trajectory for your climb up the career ladderso plan careful ly.Todays job market is no easy environment. On top of intense competition (both from other new graduates and seasoned work veterans) across most industries and sectors, economic uncertainty, increasing globalization, and rapidly changing technological neuschpfung thats revolutionizing the staffing needs of companies means that recent graduates face significant challenges when landseeking their first jobs.Yes, unless youre incredibly lucky or well-connected, chances are youll face some challenges as you hunt for your first job out of collegebut dont despair The truth is, those who work hard and dedicate themselves fully to their job-search efforts have the best chance of landing their target jobs and beginning their career journeys on the right foot, while those who take a mora casual or lackadaisical approach will likely face a bigger struggle.Which approach are you going to take?If youre fresh out of college or soon will be, consider utilizing the following strategies for locking down your first job and moving forward on your path to professional success.Determine your target fieldIn order to conduct an effective job hunt you need a clearly defined targetthe industry, field, or sector that youd like to work in. Consider this your starting point, the direction youd like to move towards and where youd like to devote your professional energy and efforts.Use your college experience as a guidewhat is your degree in? Did you have any internships or extracurricular or volunteer experiences that can help inform your choice? Are there trusted mentors or family members who can help you figure out a potential career fit for you?Use the research tools at your disposal to get a closer look and a better perspective of the fields that seem attractive to you. For example, many industries have professional associations that maintain an active online presence, including websites with loads of helpful job and career information. Your colleges career office may also have additi onal resources and may even hold special events like job fairs and info sessions to help you get started. Also, keep an eye and ear out for professional networking events in your town or city. Use your experience, interests, passions, research, and the trusted advice of others to take this crucial first step and determine the target field that feels right to you.Determine your goal positionOnce you have a target field in your sights, focus on a position that youd like to pursue. Be realisticyou may want to start at the top (and stay there), but very few folks get CEO jobs straight out of college. Youre more than likely going to have to pay your dues while you learn the industry, so focus on assistant-level or junior-level positions to start. Look at people whose career trajectories mirror your aspirations and see how they started their first jobs in the field. See if your background, education, and experiences have prepared you for realistically pursuing your goal position. If so, t hen go for itPrepare yourselfOnce you know the position and field youre aiming for, use the job search tools at your disposaleverything from online job sites to resources at your college, professional connections in your network, and job events in your townto find suitable open positions. Research companies in your target industry and see if their official websites have career pages that list available job openings. Then prepare yourself for what will hopefully be a steady stream of potential opportunities. Make sure your cover letters and resumes are professional, polished, and perfectly targeted for the jobs youre going after. Make sure your interview skills are razor sharp (remember, practice makes perfect). Having the desire to get a new job is great, but it wont help you leap ahead of the competition. Youll need a complete pitch-perfect package if youre going to make your goal a reality.Dont let failure stop youA key component of a successful job hunt is patience and determinat ion. Very few of us land a job after just one interviewor even after a few attempts. The truth is, a job hunt is more like a waiting game, with plenty of rejection and disappointment along the way. Dont let this discourage or deter you in your quest to land your first job out of collegestay focused and determined, learn from what you did right and wrong, and be confident that each attempt will be better than the last as you move closer and closer towards success.

Work Stress 8 Signs It Might Be Overtaking Your Life

Work Stress 8 Signs It Might Be Overtaking Your Life According to the American Institute of Stress, 80 percent of workers say they feel stress on the job, and 26 percent say they are often or very often burned out or stressed by their work. Stress is often a normal, inescapable part of life. Yet normal occupational stress should elend push you to the point where you feel drained and discouraged on a daily basis with no hope of relief.Too many people seem to accept that their lot in life is one of constant pressure and worry about their job they may even find themselves worrying about work on the weekends. While we may not all be lucky enough to escape from job stress entirely, you shouldnt have to simply accept the inevitable burnout as your fate.You should always stay in-tune with your mental and physical health in order to recognize when you are about to reach your threshold. Then, when that moment comes, do not be afraid to take the necessary steps to apply effective stress manag ement techniques and reduce the stress at workand in your entire life.Take a look at this list of ways that job stress may be manifesting in your life and mental health. If you feel like youve ticked a few too many boxes on the list, it might be time to cut back wherever possible.1. You cant shake that cold.Research shows that stress is linked with an increased risk of respiratory illness. More studies will be necessary in the future to better understand the relationship between the two, but the common cold does often point to heightened psychological stress. Furthermora, it certainly doesnt help that many workers feel they must power through those sniffles and sneezes rather than taking a day off to recuperatebut that is usually the fruchtwein prudent decision, when possible. If you have sick days stored up or any flexibility in your schedule, take advantage of the chance to step back and get healthy.2. Youre losing patience with people you love.Experts warn that high levels of wor k-related stress can cause strain in personal relationships, because it heightens your attention to negative behaviors while reducing your ability to react constructively. So even if you consider your relationship a healthy one, after a particularly long week at work you might say or do things you will later regret. Let your partner know ahead of time that youre feeling stressed, and take care not to let your bad mood bleed into your home life.3. You drink mora after work.Scholarship is growing to support the idea that job stressors can contribute to heavier, more problematic drinking habits. People do commonly use alcohol as a coping mechanism for various woesso it stands to reason that you might want to go home and unwind with a glass of wine after scrambling to finish up a big project at work. While responsible drinking may not cause you serious problems, its not healthy to lean on alcohol for emotional support.4. You have a low libido.There can be a lot of reasons for you to los e interest in sex, but one possible culprit is work-related stress. Its hard to feel sexy when youve just gotten home from a long, busy day, especially if your partner also works full-time and faces workdistribution policy stress. With two people battling a demanding schedule and workload, its natural to feel less inclined toward physical intimacy. Yet if youre unhappy, sometimes the solution is as simple as consulting a doctor to identify what the issue might be.5. You have heart problems.And that doesnt mean youre lovesickrather, women with stressful jobs may be at 40% greater risk of heart disease, according to a Harvard study. These heart problems may not manifest right away, but if your doctor warns you of high blood pressure or unhealthy cholesterol levels, it could be a good time to reassess your workload. Along with following the guidance of a medical professional, look for ways to cut back on stress and any other factors that could be contributing.6. You rarely break for lu nchor anything.Whether you stop taking those precious hour-long lunch breaks because youre not sure you can afford the time away from your email or because you are experiencing a form of social withdrawal due to anxiety, working all day with little to no relief will only exacerbate your stress. You might also see your performance suffer if you arent careful science supports the idea that workers need breaks to stay productive and healthy. Although you may try to justify your working lunches, you will likely improve your job performance and mental health by clocking out.7. You suffer from frequent headaches.Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from stress or belastung headaches, which are caused by daily stress and sometimes stem from tightened muscles around the neck, shoulders, and scalp. Chronic stress (like ongoing stress at work) can cause ansicht frustrating headaches to build up over time and last up to a few months. Over-the-counter painkillers often relieve tension hea daches quickly, but you can also try hot baths or practice better posture to alleviate the pain.8. You cant sleep at night, despite being tired.Not everyone with stress has insomnia, and not all insomnia is due to stress. But when your mind goes into hyperdrive while you lay in bed at night, because you cant stop thinking about that report thats due tomorrow, workplace stress could certainly keep you from attaining the golden seven to nine hours of sleep we should all get every night. In these moments, its actually best to get out of bed and let yourself unwind for a little while rather than stressing even more about how exhausted you feel. Try not to scroll through Facebook or watch an intense TV show if you can help itopt instead for some adult coloring books or a low-key journal entry.Work stress can manifest in any number of ways among different people, but these are some of the more common symptoms. Once you recognize the pattern of stress on the job impeding your work performa nce, physical health, or emotional health and well-being, you have the beneficial opportunity to reevaluate your situation.Ask yourself Where is this stress coming from? Am I inflicting it on myself or is it being inflicted on me by my manager, employer, or co-workers?Often people self-inflict heightened expectations or stress because they want to excel in their careers. But forcing yourself into a miserable existence will only impede your aspirations. The good news is that if you are the one to blame for your own work stress or anxiety, you can usually find ways to turn that around. Take the necessary steps to loosen that pressure so that you can learn to enjoy your work moreand leave it in the office when you go home.You might find it easy enough to alter your mindset by recognizing your true priorities in life, and putting your job in the appropriate place on that list. But in some cases it would be wise to look for help in the form of a therapist, or at least a trusted friend yo u can rely on. Ask for help to let go of that unhealthy stress in your life, and actively seek to reduce stress where you can.If your stress is inflicted more by an external stressor like toxic people or the company culture, you may have to think more carefully about your next steps. Sometimes, you can approach your boss and offer feedback that will cause them to relieve any stress through organizational changebut there are other occasions when a toxic work environment is unlikely to change, and you will have to decide whether its in your best interest to leave.Asking these questions can be intimidating, especially if youre afraid of what it might take to effect change. However, self inquiry is a necessary first step toward improving your life at work and at home, and in the end you will be better off for addressing your stress.--Kelsey Down is a freelance writer in Salt Lake City who has been featured on publications including Elite Daily, VentureBeat, and SUCCESS. Shes covered fun stuff like why TV reboots need to stop and how to hack sleep as a workout, and she also writes about personal and family wellness. Follow her on Twitter kladown23.