After you graduate from college or university, the next big step is to find a job. If you’ve just finished your degree, finding a job may seem like it’s an easy task in comparison. However, it does take a lot of work. In this article, I’ve shared five tips for a fresh graduate looking for a job.
1. Get Some References
A big part of the job hunting process is your references. These are the people that you know that can provide others with an assessment or evaluation of how you might be able to perform on the job.
They are a way for recruiters to check the things you’ve said on your resume and in any interviews you might get, and ask any other questions about their personality or work ethic.
A good way to help you job searching process is to get some references. It might be hard to find some if you don’t have any previous experience in the IT industry, but you can get references from other people, such as university staff, coworkers from other jobs, and even other students you might have done some team work with.
Getting some references on your resume is helpful for a fresh graduate looking for a job, as it can set you apart from the rest.
2. Update Your Resume
This might seem obvious, but updating your resume is something that needs to be done when you graduate.
The resume is the primary document that is used when looking for a job. It should be up to date with all the information needed after you graduate from your course, which includes:
- Skills you’ve developed in university
- Completion of your degree
- References you may need to add
- Experience in any projects you’ve done
- Contact details which may have changed since your last resume.
Having an up to date resume is important when looking for a job. There are often a large number of candidates for each position, so anything you can do to help your chances is a good thing.
3. Get Some Professional Clothes
Your clothing choices say a lot about your level of commitment and professionalism when looking for a job. When attending interviews, jobs can be won or lost on clothing alone, I’ve been told, so it’s that important. Sometimes candidates who seem good on paper and interview well, don’t get the job because they didn’t wear a tie, for example.
Coming out of university often means you are entering the IT workforce and don’t have any professional clothes. I didn’t have any either, actually. I needed to borrow a suit jacked from a classmate for our final presentation, as I didn’t have one! The only suit I wore before that time was at my high school formal.
So, it’s a good idea to get yourself some professional clothes. Suits are common for interviews, so get yourself one, as well as a nice shirt and tie. You only need one. It doesn’t matter that you wear the same one to every interview, as they are all with different people.
4. Determine What Roles You Can Do
If you’re a fresh graduate looking for a job, you’ll need to know what kind of jobs you can actually do. You would have some kind of specialization when you did your coursework, so this should direct what kid of roles you can do.
Did you major in software development in .NET? This means you can probably apply for some Junior .NET Developer positions, but probably won’t be as strong of a candidate for Junior Network Technician roles. You still might be able to apply for it, but chances would be smaller, as you’ll need to prove your skills and knowledge during the interview above others who may have majored in that area.
Another thing to consider is that you’ll most likely be applying for entry-level or junior roles, which are roles designed for those new to the IT industry. This is OK, it just means the pay is lower and the responsibility is lower. It’s a great way to get started and get some experience.
5. Treat Job Hunting As A Full Time Job
Another thing worth remembering when you’re a fresh graduate looking for a job is to treat the job hunting process like a full time job. You shouldn’t be getting up late, sending off a few applications and playing video games for the rest of the day. You need to treat it as though it’s what you’re being paid to do.
This means getting up early and looking for jobs. Many jobs are posted early in the morning, and if you send off your resume shortly after, it shows that you’re someone who is up early and interested. You need to be applying for a lot of jobs, and setting up interviews and calls where you can. The more serious you treat it, the better results you will get.
Hopefully these tips have helped you if you’re looking for a job right out of university. What has your experience been? Share your thoughts in the area below!