Tips to get a job after graduation – Blog | Contract Jobs

After years of studying to become someone big in life, being graduated is something every student looks forward to. We often think that once the education part is over, we’d quickly land our dream job, unfortunately, such is not always the case for a fresh graduate.

Finding a job after graduation is no walk in the park. It can be daunting and stressful. According to Statista, the German company who specializes in market and consumer data, “Graduates, with a share of 16.3 percent, made up the highest unemployment rate in 2019.” In 2020, the rate of hiring among college graduates was 26%. 

Taking this data into consideration, not all graduates will find employment for the first few years. 

However, there are ways to find employment right after graduation. 

Tips that will help you to find a job after graduation

Evaluate your skills

The first step is figuring out what you want to do. You need to evaluate your skill sets, passion and educational qualification to figure out which industry, position and company would be best suited for you. Once you know where your skills and talents would be best appreciated, it will help you in narrowing down your career options. 

Make your online presence known

Job oriented social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook are where you need to be. Create a professional looking profile mentioning your skills, education background, awards and certifications, any professional experiences such as internships or voluntary work, etc. Connect with people in the industry you are interested in as well as your friends and old classmates. Follow recruitment firms and consultants’ pages to get updates on new job opportunities. Join professional communities who share the same interests as you do. Bear in mind that being a silent reader won’t make your social presence much known, so engage in discussions as much as you can. Commenting on other people’s posts or sharing your posts will get you higher reach. 

Keep updating your resume and cover letter

You may be planning to apply for different positions that have different requirements. You should not use the same resume and cover letter for the different posts. Draft your cover letters and resumes in such a way that they are all uniquely specific to the post you are applying for. For instance, if you are applying for a software developer role as well as a call center agent position, adding only the required skills will make your resume stand out. If you want to add other skill sets or awards, highlight them in a different section. This will help recruiters save time when going through your resume as well. 

Make the best use of campus placements

Before you officially graduate, there is a big chance that campus placement programs will be conducted by your college, where different companies of different industries will gather to recruit from the passing out batch. This is the perfect opportunity to find employment. Ensure that you have your resume and necessary documents with you, dress appropriately and be prepared for interviews. Some colleges also have placement cells or a career office where you can seek advice on which career path to follow after you graduate. 

Have your own website

We live in such an advanced world that having a website or personal blog is a common norm. Branding yourself will show potential employers that you have what it takes to stand out in the competitive market. According to Forbes, over 50% of hiring managers are impressed with those who have their own website. Write blogs that will showcase your talent and experiences. 

Preparation is key

You will have to go through a few or more interviews and if you are a fresher, you will soon realize that interviews can be nerve-racking. So, in order to give a good and convincing interview, you need to prepare yourself. The best way is to do mock interviews. Google the most common interview questions asked and ask your friends or family members to take a mock interview of you. You could also interview yourself by standing in front of a mirror. This will boost your confidence and help you ace the interview. Also, ensure that you have formal or semi formal attires for the interviews. Check out our previous blogs to learn about the ‘dos and don’ts in an interview’ 

We hope the above mentioned tips help you in choosing a career after graduation.