How to Find a Job After College in 2023 (7 Tips to Boost Your Odds)
Finding A Job After College
Finding a stable career after school can be a difficult task, but it’s an essential part of transitioning into the workforce.
You’ve put in four years (sometimes even more) of hard work, graduated, and now you’re ready to enter the workforce. But how?
Here’s how to find a job after college with some actionable job search tips to help students improve their chances of finding employment when they graduate.
How to find a Job after College
1. Join the Alumni Association
Are you a member of your school’s alumni association? While many people write it off as just a monthly magazine asking for donations, joining alumni events can actually help you with getting a job after college.
They often have members-only events, fantastic opportunities for networking with other alumni. Once you’ve joined, you can tag along to sporting events, happy hours, or on-campus events, all great ways to meet new people and find out about new jobs.
Usually, there’s a website and newsletter for members too, so keep your eyes peeled for job listings or mentorship opportunities.
2. Volunteer
Volunteering is an awesome way to gain experience in your desired field. This is especially true if you have limited work history and you’re looking to add more to your resume.
Not only is it a great feeling to give back and help others but it also helps build up your social networks, improves your self-esteem, and can be really fun.
If you’re feeling really stressed because you can’t get a job after college, give yourself a break. Volunteering gets you out of the house and takes your mind off the job hunt.
It also shows potential employers that you’re caring, reliable, and community-minded.
There’s plenty of volunteering to be done, such as helping coach a sports team for kids, delivering meals on wheels, or reading books at a local library.
3. Network
If you’re not doing enough networking, you’re missing out in a major way. I know it’s not always the most exciting thing to do, but it works.
When thinking about networking, don’t limit it to your educational and professional contacts—cast the net wider.
Speak to friends of your parents, the local librarian, go to job fairs, join Facebook career groups— you never know where you might find a helpful job lead.
4. Rewrite Your Resume
If you’re not sure how to get a job out of college, one of the first things to focus on is your resume and cover letter.
Are you applying to lots of jobs and getting knocked back? If so, perhaps you’re not selling yourself in the best possible way.
A resume is your first, and sometimes only, chance to get noticed by your dream employer.
Look at a few resume examples to learn more about length and formatting, and see if there are any changes you can make to your own. While it’s hard to sell all of your achievements in just a page or two, it is possible!
Don’t be afraid to seek out a second opinion from an experienced friend or mentor, as sometimes an outside perspective can pick up on things we’ve missed.
You can also hire a professional resume writer to take on the bulk of the work as well.
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5. Dedicate Time to Job Searching Each Week
Job searching can feel like, well, a job. If you’re devoting all of your time to looking to work, you’re apt to burn out quickly.
Instead of spending all of your free time on the web, structure your time each day.
Block out your time so you have quality time to focus on looking for jobs, but also for exercise, hobbies, or other commitments.
You might find this helps you become more productive and develop a routine, which will definitely be helpful once you start working full-time.
6. Contact Your Campus Career Center
Even after you’ve graduated, you might be surprised to learn that you can get help from your college’s career center.
Reach out to chat and let them know more about your situation and what sort of job you’re looking for. They may also be able to provide career recommendations based on your major that you haven’t yet considered.
They may be able to recommend free resources, new job leads, or even help with improving your resume or cover letter.
7. Set Up an Amazing LinkedIn Profile
Have you taken the time to flesh out your LinkedIn profile? It can be a fantastic tool when you’re looking for work, so don’t neglect it.
Many recruiters and companies place job ads directly on LinkedIn, which you can browse and apply to directly from the site.
It’s also great for networking and connecting with others in your industry, as well as staying informed on market trends and ideas.
Complete your profile, including your educational and professional history, and ask colleagues or professional contacts for endorsements.
Think of it as your online resume, a chance to showcase your unique skills and abilities that help you stand out from the crowd.
If you have your own website or portfolio, add a link as well, so potential employers can learn more about you. Here’s how to upload your resume to LinkedIn.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it hard finding a job after college?
Finding a job after graduation can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. Searching for a job is something thousands of college students struggle with each year, so know that you’re not alone.
Although it may seem that there’s a lot of competition for each role, there’s also a lot you can do to stand out and find a job you will enjoy.
How long does it take to get a job after college?
It takes the average college graduate three to six months to secure a job after college. – University of Washington. Other magazines and professionals within the industry lean towards this process taking much longer.
Previous work experience, solid grades, and a job search plan can help speed up the process.
Do I need experience to find a job after graduating?
It’s not always necessary to have extensive experience to find a job after college, but it can definitely be helpful.
Employers often look for candidates who have some level of experience, even if it is just a few internships or part-time jobs. Having experience can demonstrate to potential employers that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in a professional role.
However, it is important to keep in mind that there are many entry-level jobs that do not require experience. These jobs may be geared towards recent college graduates and are designed to provide an entry point into a particular industry or field.
Wrapping Up | Finding A Job After College
Hopefully reading the above has given you a better idea of how to find a job after college. It can be a stressful time, as you’re eager to get out into the field, start earning a decent salary, and begin your dream career.
To recap, here are our favorite 7 actionable techniques we suggest trying out while searching for a job after college:
- Join and alumni association
- Volunteer
- Network
- Rewrite your resume
- Dedicate time to the job search
- Contact your campus career center
- Set up a LinkedIn profile
Use the suggestions above to get started finding your perfect job. Or, if you have any questions, contact us today.
We are glad to help with career questions or point you to the right resources to keep your career on track. Get started today, and before you know it, you’ll be waking up for the first day of your new job!
Looking for a part-time, seasonal, internship, or entry-level job after you graduate? Check out what College Recruiter has to offer!
Title: Finding a Job After College (Try These 7 Expert Tips)
Category: theStart
Tags: finding a job after college, job search, finding a job after graduation, how to find a job after college, how long does it take to find a job after college, is it hard finding a job after college
Co-Author: Reid is a contributor to theJub. He’s an employment and marketing enthusiast who studied business before taking on various recruiting, management, and marketing roles. More from the author. | Author Profile
