We go to college so we can have a good job. It’s supposed to prepare us for our career, but for many students, once they graduate they are at a loss as to how to begin the job search. The truth is, preparing for the job search and making yourself a valuable job candidate isn’t something you learn in your college classes. Putting down your bachelor’s degree on your resume won’t do a lot in getting you the job you want once you graduate. There are many other things that can be added to your resume while you’re still in college that will increase your employability.
For students that don’t have a clue as to how to start their post-graduation job search, they should turn to their on-campus career center. A recent study from Millennial Branding and StudentAdvisor.com found that only 29 percent of students surveyed have received career and job help from career services at their university. Advisors can help job seekers establish just what their skills are and what their career goals are. Afterwards, job seekers can take advantage of the many services available to them at the career center such as resume and interview workshops, job search guides and getting in touch with alumni in their field.
For young job seekers in college right now, they have a huge advantage. They have a large network of alumni and current students that they can tap into for job opportunities. The Millennial Branding and StudentAdvisor.com survey also revealed that while 95 percent of students have a Facebook only 34 percent have LinkedIn profiles. LinkedIn has become essential for job seekers to find jobs and build a professional network. Even if your profile is a bit empty this can motivate you to fill it by beginning your job search. Start networking by building a professional online presence through social media like LinkedIn and Facebook. Join alumni and class groups and start connecting with those in your industry. The sooner you make connections the longer time you have to establish a good relationship with them.
Young job seekers hear again and again how important internships are to their career because it’s the truth. Employers are looking for candidates that have job experience, any experience. Having an internship whether it’s paid or unpaid shows that as a student you’ve taken professional responsibility for your career. For students that are graduating and have had internships, those internships make good job references for applying to jobs and connecting back with your supervisors by reminding them of your graduation may have them consider your for a current job opening they may have.
What are some ways you increase your employability before graduation? Weigh in below!
IMAGE: Courtesy of Flickr by Thirty30 Photography
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