How can college seniors get ahead in their job search?
To help you best prepare as a college senior for your job search, we asked recruiters, hiring managers and business leaders this question for their best insights. From building a strong resume to reaching out for informational interviews, there are several things college seniors should focus on to put them ahead of their peers in their job search after graduation.
Here are 14 ways these leaders recommend for college seniors to get ahead in their job search:
- Build a Strong Resume
- Join Facebook Groups
- Use Your Professors’ Network
- Take Advantage of Internships to Gain Experience
- Know What the Current Requirements Are
- Engage in Several Activities to Add Value to Your Job Application
- Research to Get Familiar With New Job Titles
- Visit Job Boards to Understand Where to Locate Opportunities
- Don’t Wait Until You Graduate to Start Applying
- Learn About Your Future Career Through Internships
- Build and Leverage Your Network
- Send Out Customized Cover Letters
- Create a Personal Website or Blog
- Start Reaching Out for Informational Interviews
Build a Strong Resume
One of the best is by building a strong resume. A well-written resume can help you stand out from the competition and make it easier for employers to find your qualifications and skills. Make sure that your resume is tailored specifically for the position you’re seeking and be sure to include all of your experience and education relevant to this role. Include keywords that are specific to the company you’re targeting, as well as any evaluative comments or recommendations that may reflect positively on you. Remember also to keep things concise yet informative so that potential employers have enough information without having TOO much info overload!
Johannes Larsson, Founder and CEO, JohannesLarsson.com
Join Facebook Groups
Join Facebook groups for specific career paths. This is a great opportunity to connect with people in the industry or understand the skills and qualifications the path entails. For example, someone may post about an open role at their company, or you can create a post asking for any tips. It creates a community that can set you up for success before you enter the real world.
Chris Vaughn, CEO, Emjay
Use Your Professors’ Network
One way to stay ahead is to use your professors’ network. Your professors have likely been working in their field for many years and have built up a network of contacts. Some of these contacts may be looking to hire new graduates. By asking your professors for introductions, you can put yourself ahead of other job seekers who don’t have access to such a valuable resource. In addition, your professors can provide you with advice and guidance that will help you in your job search. So, if you’re looking for a way to get ahead in your job search, don’t forget to ask your professors for help.
Lorien Strydom, Executive Country Manager, Financer.com
Take Advantage of Internships to Gain Experience
One way for college seniors to get ahead in their job search is by interning. If you’re looking to secure a job after college, you’ll want to take advantage of any opportunity. This way you can build your resume and gain experience. Internships are always welcome, and the more experience the better! When you’re an intern, you get the chance to try out new things and see what kind of work you like best. You can also try out different types of companies and see which one suits your needs best. If it doesn’t feel right, there’s always another opportunity waiting for you!
Piotr Buczynski, SEO Researcher, PhotoAid
Know What the Current Requirements Are
When you’re looking for a job, it may sometimes feel like the talent pool is saturated and you’re getting nowhere. To rise above this struggle, do a deep dive into what recruiters are looking for and how you can get the training required to acquire these skills. When you have the necessary tools in your tool belt, you are more likely to stand out and thus, get ahead in your job search.
Igal Rubinshtein, Founder, Home Essentials Direct
Engage in Several Activities to Add Value to Your Job Application
Graduation season went by very fast this year. Today, we welcome the new batch of fresh graduates in the working industry. Amidst the sea of new graduates looking for a job, one can stand out by building an exceptional resumé. Before graduation, students can already begin joining different organizations and contests. Doing so can add more value to their application and portfolio. Fresh grads can also research the company’s culture to see if it fits their moral principles. The institution you choose to work for reflects your values and personality. Thus, one must always be careful in picking and pursuing a career.
Laura Martinez, Consultant and Content Writer, PersonalityMax
Research to Get Familiar With New Job Titles
The work market, especially in light of technological advancements, is changing at such a rapid rate that there are a ton of occupations out there that you’ve probably never even heard of, and which didn’t exist back when you were chatting with your school’s careers counselor. Have you ever heard of a user experience (UX) designer? What about a Growth Hacker, a Backend Developer, or a Content Marketer? It’s worth your time to look into it; once you get beyond the unfamiliar titles, you may discover that these are parts you’d like to test out. Taking a less well-trodden professional route can mean fewer people applying for the same jobs, giving you a better chance of standing out from the crowd and landing the job of your dreams.
Daniel Foley, Founder, Daniel Foley Consultancy
Visit Job Boards to Understand Where to Locate Opportunities
It’s not enough to want to work in a specific field – you need to know the current available job market. College seniors should begin focusing on a company or an internship program to start their careers. Visiting a job board can help you understand which geographic areas have those specific opportunities. Lastly, research how many different job offers are available and what type of experience is required, including asking for help from professors to provide references and a letter of recommendation.
Benjamin Earley, CEO, HOLT
Don’t Wait Until You Graduate to Start Applying
Start reaching out to HR early. Many big businesses build an influx of new graduates to the job market into their recruiting timelines, but the reality is that after graduation isn’t when you want to start being visible. That time of the year can be one of the most challenging for entry-level applicants, as they’re competing with a country full of other similarly experienced candidates. By getting in touch with recruitment at your target companies earlier in the year, you can build a relationship with the company before you even graduate. These reps may be able to give you a good idea of timelines for when to begin applying or point you in the direction of entry-level programs at their company.
Vimla Black Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO, Ourself
Learn About Your Future Career Through Internships
When I was in college I took a Summer internship during my sophomore, junior, and senior years. It did wonders for my industry connections and knowledge. Internships are great because you learn so many different aspects of your career. You learn what you are good at, what you need to work on, what you don’t care for, and real-life experience that can be put on a resume to get ahead in your job search. When you’ve already had an internship or two, you understand what companies in your field are looking for. Putting that type of information on your resume and shining those skill sets will get recruiters to notice. Internships build connections and sharpen skills. You never know what connection might help you land the job of your dreams after college.
Seth Newman, Director, SportingSmiles
Build and Leverage Your Network
The best way for college seniors to get ahead in their job search is to build and leverage their network. Connect with former mentors, professors, and co-workers on LinkedIn and reach out to them to ask for their advice and guidance. You want to make sure that you’re making a good first impression, so make sure that your profile is up to date and that you’re highlighting your best professional qualities. Keep in touch with them throughout your job search, and when you land a job offer, ask them for a referral to help you get your foot in the door.
Luciano Colos, CEO, PitchGrade
Send Out Customized Cover Letters
Send customized cover letters to employers of interest with your resume. This is a great opportunity to let your personality shine, as well as elaborate a bit more on the value you can offer them. Do so while highlighting how your skills and experience make you a perfect fit for a desired position. Don’t simply summarize your resume though, as this is redundant and offers nothing new or ‘enticing.’ Sending a well-crafted cover letter to an employer shows a lot of initiative, makes a great first impression, and can help you stand out in a competitive job market.
Andrew Chen, Chief Product Officer, CommentSold
Create a Personal Website Or Blog
If you’re a college senior looking for a job, one way to get ahead of the competition is to create a personal website or blog. That is something I did after college and it landed me a job at Airbus. With a personal website, you can showcase your skills, experience and knowledge to potential employers. You can also use your website to connect with other professionals in your field. And if you’re blogging, you can demonstrate your writing and research abilities. Creating a personal website or blog is a great way to stand out from the crowd and show employers that you’re serious about your career.
Ludovic Chung-Sao, Lead Engineer & Founder, Zen Soundproof
Start Reaching Out for Informational Interviews
Start reaching out for informational interviews. Utilize LinkedIn to connect with employees at companies that you’d like to work for and ask to buy them a coffee. When you meet, ask questions about the business and what skills are needed to succeed there. Afterward, keep an eye out for jobs at the company and reach out to the employee when you apply. They may have some pull or any tips to add to your resume.
Natália Sadowski, Director of Aesthetics, Nourishing Biologicals
