How I Found a Job a Week After Graduation 🎀🎓

So I have officially been working for a year and a half in my first post grad job, and I have learned so much about the application process for recent graduates that I wanted to share! 💕

SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!

Here is what I Learned:

🧸 Start Applying 6 Months In Advance: I graduated last spring and started my job search in January. By May I had a full-time job offer and I was able to select from several offers that I had. Applying early allowed me to see what I was doing wrong in my job search and what I could do better.

🧸 Don't Rely on Linkedin & Indeed Completely: As a general rule, I always recommend applying directly on a company's website. This might mean looking at companies in your area that are hiring for jobs that are in the field you are interested in. Also, I hate to be the pers to say it but networking. It’s hard, especially for first generation students who may not have family connections, but I recommend joining clubs, organizations, and groups in the industry that you want to work in.

🧸 Use the Career Center: I used the career center to help me get a really good résumé. You are paying for their services so I would use it as much as you can before you graduate! Also they know how to structure your resume to best fit the application systems used by hiring departments.

🧸 Use Creative Search Terms: Throughout my job search I found that a lot of the jobs weren't titled the way I thought they would be. For example, I thought that if I wanted to be a social media manager, I would just look that up.

Many companies have very interesting ways to title jobs. Research some of the common titles for people with your skills and look that up. Also, look up jobs by the skills you have rather than what you think the title should be.

🧸 Use the Magic Search Terms: If you don't have any experience, a lot of companies are still looking to hire you!

Use search terms like New Grad, University Grad, and Apprentice.

I hope this helps!

xoxo, Drew 💌

#lemon8diarychallenge #corporategirly #college #collegelife #postgrad #jobsearch #Lemon8Diary #pink #networking

2024/9/11 Edited to

... Read moreAs recent graduates embark on their job search, it's crucial to be strategic and proactive. One key takeaway from my experience is the importance of starting the job search six months before graduation. This timeframe allows you to refine your approach based on what you learn during the application process. Relying solely on platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed may limit your opportunities; direct applications on company websites often yield better results. Building a professional network is essential. Joining industry-related clubs and organizations can greatly enhance your prospects, especially for first-generation students without built-in connections. Utilizing the resources available at your institution's career center can also make a significant difference. They can provide guidance on crafting a tailored resume that aligns with applicant tracking systems used by many companies. Moreover, using creative and varied search terms can open the door to roles you may not have considered. Job titles are often more nuanced than they appear, so researching common variations can lead to better results. New grads should also utilize terms like 'New Grad' or 'University Grad' to filter job opportunities that are geared toward entry-level applicants. By applying these strategies, your chances of securing a desirable job shortly after graduation increase significantly.

15 comments

HujxS🤍's images
HujxS🤍

As a current Senior I agree with all of these! So far in my experience, I’ve noticed many big companies I want to work for are actually hiring now (9 mo-1 yr in advance) for spring and fall 2025 grads, so I’m basically mass applying to a bunch of jobs now in hopes I’ll get some offers by the time I graduate🤞🏾

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Te’Kiah Shante's images
Te’Kiah Shante

Soooo helpful! Thank you so much for sharing your experience and advice. As a recent grad this was incredibly insightful. Even though I have the experience it’s a little harder than I thought even with my degree. Will definitely use your approach especially with putting myself out there more as far as networking goes!

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