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Last updated: October 3, 2024
I often get asked by recent college grads what they can do to improve their chances of getting a job once they graduate. The answer, of course, depends on when you start the college grad job search process. Ideally, you would have had several internships during your college years, and, while you think it might be too late to do that, think again (more on this later). Of course, you might think that the most important tip is to make sure you have a great resume. And while you wouldn’t be entirely wrong, you wouldn’t be entirely right either. There’s a long list of things that contribute to your ability to find a job after graduation. My top 5 follow below.
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Interview Skills
The company I work for was recently going through a hiring process for entry-level grads. I interviewed approximately 5 recent grads and was shocked at their interview skills. There was little or no preparation on the candidate’s part.
Research
Why do you want to work at XYZ company? They are going to ask and the expectation is that you’ve done a bunch of research on the company and know all about it. If you don’t, the interviewer will think you are not serious and this will probably cost you the job. There are so many resources available to job searchers today to help with the company research process.
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Your Resume
Yes,
Internships (it’s never too late)
Never did those internships during college? Or maybe you did do some internships but want more experience. Either way, it is not unusual to do an
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Find a Mentor
A mentor can be an enormous help in both, finding a job and helping you advance in your career. While they won’t specifically help you find a job (don’t expect them to track down leads or write your resume), they can give advice on helping edit
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Pursue Additional Education
Sometimes a Bachelor’s Degree is not enough to impress a potential employer, yet graduate school seems unrealistic to many recent college students. Online degrees, however, offer a solid middle ground for most recent graduates and they allow you to pursue a number of graduate degrees, such as a master of science in Criminal Justice. Even if you already have a Bachelor’s degree in this field, a Master’s will keep your mind fresh with information about recent cases. And in the end, it will only help put
Joey Trebif is the pen name of Mark Fiebert, a former finance executive who hired and managed dozens of professionals during his 30-plus-year career. He now shares expert job search, resume, and career advice on CareerAlley.com.
