It’s that time of year and you are preparing to graduate after several years of hard work to earn your college degree. Congratulations! While this is an exciting time, it is also time to start preparing for your job search if you haven’t already.
There are 4 steps that will help you to get closer to your new career:
1. Create a professional resume
Quite often, there is resume assistance provided to new or upcoming college grads in many universities today. Take advantage of this service and start putting together your professional resume. It can be difficult if you have little to no real-life working experience, so any assistance will go a long way. Concentrate on any internships, class projects, or assignments that demonstrate your skills and knowledge.
Remember, that you do not only have to limit your resume format to paper. Today, video resumes are a great way to visually demonstrate your interest in a company and how your skills pertain to the job. Don’t forget to keep your video resume professional and simple.
2. Create a professional portfolio
Hopefully, if you had class projects specific to your major, you have held onto that information. It can be extremely helpful to walk into your interviews with a professional portfolio, displaying your experience and work on certain class projects or internships.
If you have any letters of recommendation or awards from your professors, be sure to include them in your portfolio.
3. Get on board with social media
Almost everyone is on social media today. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and many other social media sites are a fun way to stay in touch with family and friends. However, it is important to realize that social media sites are also helpful tools when on a job search.
Make sure that you have a LinkedIn account and that you have joined up with industry related groups that will help you to connect with the types of professionals you would like to work with.
Pay attention to what you are posting on your social media profile and understand that many hiring managers are checking out Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and many other social media profiles before making hiring decisions. Do not post or share anything that you see as crude or unprofessional.
4. Get out there!
Most importantly, you need to get out there and network during your job search! More than likely, a hiring manager is not going to come to you and miraculously offer you that dream job if you are not out there making it known that you want the job. Attend job fairs, business networking events, and let people know that you are on the job market. Be visible!
What are some other things you might do to prepare for your job search? Please share your tips in the comments below.
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