If you’re like many students, you may be concerned about the arrival of college graduation and what you’ll do after you get your diploma. How will you get a job? Where do you even start? We’re here to tell you that you can feel more confident in your chances by preparing while you’re still in school, and you can start with these tips.
Make Connections
After several years of working towards your degree, you’ve likely met a few people you can talk to when you need help, and you should turn to those people now. Start your pre-graduation networking by approaching your classmates and asking how they’re doing when finding a full-time job. If they’ve found something that interests you, ask about the company and see if you can get a foot in the door.
This is also an excellent time to speak to your guidance counselor or your instructors and ask them for advice on finding work for your degree once you leave college. Finally, if you know any alumni at your school, pick their brains and see if they can put a good word in for you at a reputable company.
Around this time, you can also look for local career fairs and visit them to see what types of companies are out there and currently hiring. You don’t need to make any big decisions right this moment, but you can at least speak to recruiters. When you decide to apply, you can put their name on your cover letter to get some attention.
Work On Your Resume And Online Presence
It’s never too early to start working on your resume because even if you don’t have much work experience, you can add your degree program and the skills you’ve learned along the way.
If you don’t have any previous work positions to add to your resume, look for opportunities while at school. Consider part-time jobs closely related to your field that will provide experience and extra money to pay for tuition. You could also look into internships and volunteer positions that won’t pay but will help you hone your skills and give you something to list on your resume.
Put careful thought into every aspect of your resume, including the font. You’ll want to choose from fonts that are easy to read, like Arial and Cambria, and go for a font size of between 10 and 12. Different fonts can also be more fitting for certain roles. For instance, Times New Roman is considered a nice font for corporate jobs, while Garamond is great for creative roles. Try a few and see what looks best.
Since we live in a digital world, this is also a good time to build your online presence. Websites like LinkedIn are still very popular with professionals worldwide, so create a profile and upload your accomplishments. You can also use this time to go on your public profiles, like those on Facebook, and remove unnecessary or inappropriate images and comments.
Don’t Get Discouraged
Don’t be discouraged even if you don’t believe you’re making much progress in the job hunt. It’s easy for many college graduates to get depressed. Post-grad depression can occur because you’re leaving school, where you’ve had a great experience, and now you’re going into the unknown. Plus, it can be hard to realize that you’ll need to provide for yourself and that finding a job is easier said than done.
It’s natural to have some doubts, but you can combat post-graduation depression by thinking positive thoughts, practicing meditation, and speaking to a therapist if you’re extremely concerned. Plus, practicing self-care by getting enough sleep, regular exercise, and eating a healthy diet will help you feel better about yourself and your future.
Yes, graduating college and starting the next big chapter in your life is scary. However, by starting early and putting in some solid effort, you will find a career after graduation.
Author: Sam Bowman
