After Graduation: Where To Look For Jobs
Searching for a job can be very stressful for many students nearing graduation. Unfortunately, all the education in the world doesn’t teach you how to go out and find the jobs you need and want after college, so you need to know where to look to land that dream job. When you know where to look for a job, the search simply becomes a process instead of something that will stress you out.
Many students make the mistake of taking time off after college; many simply go to their hometown with the idea that they’ll just take a couple months or weeks off before searching for a job. While you don’t have to jump right into the real world, you should start searching for jobs right away. Even for the most qualified candidate searching for and finding the right job can take some time that is why most students are encouraged to start searching for jobs long before graduation takes place. So, even if you do want to go home before taking that leap out into the real world, you should not delay looking for a job during this time.
When you are in college, you’ll likely develop some contacts in the area for jobs or at least for references. During the course of your education you have probably thought about where you would like to live or work, which will help guide you to companies or corporations that will be a good match for your personality and education. Knowing what you want to do is the best way to start your search, if you aren’t quite sure you can have a hard time bringing your job search into focus.
The first place you should look for a job is with the contacts you have made during college, internships, or apprenticeships. You’ll often find that these contacts are just waiting for you to apply for a job or ask about employment. Because you have worked with these companies or individuals already, they know that you have a respectable work ethic, you are well educated, and fit in well with their company. Established contacts already know you, so you needn’t prove yourself to them, which means added security for both parties. Even if you know that your contacts do not have a permanent position for you, you should consider talking with them because they may have some leads for you.
If you are open to living and working just about anywhere there are many resources on the Internet that may help you land a job that you love. Employment websites offer quite a bit of exposure if you if you post your resume for prospective employers. You can also browse through job postings and apply for positions that sound interesting to you. There is no limit to the number of job postings that you can apply for or view, so how well online employment sites work for you is all about how many jobs you apply for. What’s great about these online resources is that jobs from all over the country are posted every day, so it doesn’t matter where you want to live you can likely find a job in that area.
Local newspapers and job fairs may also be a great way to land a job. Often there will be information in local newspapers about openings, entry level and higher that are open in companies that you’d be interested in working for. Many companies like to hire local people so that they do not have to pay relocation fees and also because they can typically start sooner as well. You might be surprised how many great jobs are actually posted in the newspaper, so if you are actively searching for a job, buy a paper at least once a week to browse around for your dream job. You never know what you’re going to find!
Finding the perfect job for you might take some time, but if you are willing to exhaust all of your resources and contacts you’ll likely find exactly what you’ve been looking for, including salary and benefits. Many college graduates believe that they cannot be too picky about their first job after college, but when you keep your eyes open for your dream job you really can land it. If you are willing to start your search early and not give up until you have a job that you love and are excited about, you’ll impress everyone around you, maybe even yourself!
The Internet is a great resource for everyone looking for a job, but especially for college graduates. When you have a great education to back you up, you’ll be able to apply for many jobs and likely choose an offer that most fits your personality and what you are looking for. Even if you decide to go home after graduation and take some time off, don’t take the time off from your job search. Taking time off from your job search can mean that you miss the perfect job while you are away.
Take the chance to apply for all the jobs that come your way, and utilize every resource available to you. You’ll find that when you use every resource that a job will come quickly and easily. You cannot apply for too many jobs or utilize too many resources; your first job sets the tone for your entire career, so start it off in the best way possible!
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