Looking for a job after graduation – how to start and get your dream job?
September and October are the time when all matters at the university are closed. The last exams are carried out, there are bachelor’s or master’s defenses. Something ends, but something begins – that is, time to look for a full-time job that will meet your expectations. Finding a job after graduation is a process that requires a proper plan and implementation. In this article, I will tell you about where to look for a job and what to look for when looking for a job!
How to start looking for a job after graduation?
The first thing you should do is systematize information about yourself – it will be an introduction to preparing your CV. Think about what you already know – were you on apprenticeships, internships or participated in non-profit or student organizations during your studies? Take a broad look at your experience – it doesn’t have to be just paid work. Experiences such as additional work or volunteering teach, among other things, discipline and systematic action – such experience is also very valuable. If you have listed your previous employers and the positions you held – time to list the tasks or projects that you have actively pursued. Once done, check which of these tasks gave you satisfaction and which you did not like. Are there also activities that you would like to learn? List all the important information related to the experience – they will be used in the next steps. Remember that my first job after college is always a valuable lesson.
Ask yourself: what do I want to do?
If you have listed your experience – what you like, know how and what you would like to learn – is there a position or group of positions in your head where your skills will be valuable? Or maybe there is a specific industry in which you want to develop? At the beginning, it is worth looking at the industry itself – in what direction it is heading and how quickly it is evolving. Check which position you can start your career with and what development this position will enable you to do. Already starting with a junior or internship position, it is worth having a long-term development plan in place, showing where you want to go. Your development is not only a promotion in the organizational structure, but also additional skills, licenses and certificates that you should obtain within a certain period of time. If you already know what industry you are interested in and where you want to go – it’s time to look at the places where you can find such a job.
Where to look for a job after graduation?
It is worth spending at least an hour every day looking for a job after graduation – develop the habit of looking for a job every day at a certain time. Below I will present you some sources that you should include in your plan. Divide your activities into specific days – so that the quality of activities is greater than their number.
Nationwide and local job portals
It is worth starting your activities with advertisement portals – this is where you will get information about new job offers, which are a priority for employers. Most portals allow you to set up an e-mail alert – that is, you specify which positions, in what location and in what time dimension you are interested. You can also specify the frequency of this alert. Every day or week you can receive a personalized list of job offers. Some portals also allow you to set up an employee profile – which will also make it easier to match job offers to your competences. By selecting the appropriate consent, the recruiter may view your profile and contact you as part of a specific job offer. Email alerts about job offers, as well as having your own employee profile are very convenient solutions – I sincerely recommend them!
Employment agencies
Many companies use the support of employment and employment agencies – there are new job offers every day that may be suitable for you. By browsing the offers on the employment agency’s website, you can find something for yourself. However, if you do not find anything that suits you, it is still worth being in touch – leave your CV for the future or subscribe to the newsletter. Using the available applications is the first step that a recruiter takes, so it is worth leaving your CV with the appropriate consent to the company. The newsletter with job offers is sent systematically – that’s why you should not miss any job offer.
Cold mailing to a recruiter on LinkedIn
Having an account on LinkedIn, we can easily contact recruiters from a given industry or company – if you know which company you want to work for, it is worth contacting the recruiter by searching go on LinkedIn. Cold mailing comes from marketing and sales – it means sending a message to someone you don’t know. When sending a message to a recruiter, it is worth determining for what purpose you are writing to him and in which direction you want to develop. Personalize your message. Even if you have prepared a template of such a message before, make the name of the recruiter and the name of the company where he works for appear!
Recruitment interview – how to impress the employer?
The first invitations to interview – that’s great! But what to do to delight the employer? Here are a few details that should be considered before the meeting so that the answers to the questions will delight your future employer.
Meet the employer
This is the first step to success – check the website and social media, check the latest a few blog articles. Maybe the company you applied to just won an award? Or maybe as part of its activities, non-profile helped rebuild the school? Use this information in the job interview!
Check industry information
Show interest in an industry by learning about its development trend, new technologies, or recent significant events. Every industry changes and evolves every day. There may be questions in this regard – so it is worth preparing in advance.
Motivation to start work
You can be sure that this question will appear at the interview. Think about how you want to answer them! This has to be an honest answer that will make the employer actually understand why you are meeting today.
Questions for the employer
Have a few questions for your employer – in the end, there’s always time to ask them. When you ask, you show interest in the employer – that’s why you can ask about both formal and informal aspects of work.
To make it easier for you to prepare for the answer, put yourself in the perspective of the employer – what would you, as a potential employer, want to hear? It is worth considering this issue for a longer time in order not to look for your motivation during the interview itself.
The process of looking for a job and finding a job requires planning and systematic action. In this article, I walked you through the most crucial stages of the process and showed you how to start looking for a job after graduation – where to look for it and how to impress your employer at a recruitment meeting. Hope my tips will be helpful for you! More information about how to find a job after graduation can be found in the workbook “Your career under control”, which can be found in the tab For the Candidate.
