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.