Job search tips for new college graduates

Congratulations! You've earned that valuable college degree, and you're set to take on the world. But finding that first post-grad job or internship can be intimidating. Here are some useful job search tips, from writing a cover letter to getting the most out of career fairs.

How to write a resume

Your resume introduces you to a recruiter or employer. But a study by high-salary job site theladders.com found that recruiters looked at a resume for about seven seconds before deciding whether to read on. How to get a longer look? Your resume should sell your skills and accomplishments — and show what a good match you are for their company. Job site Glassdoor says a resume should include:

• Your contact information
• A professional summary of your skills and abilities
• Your work experience
• Education and awards
• Additional information, such as volunteering, if there's room

Skills should go near the top, using the same language in the job description if possible. (Bonus: This may help you get past any algorithms being used to winnow out resumes.) But be truthful; don't wildly exaggerate your skills, since you'll likely be found out.

Having trouble getting started? Consult a resume-building site. They have samples, templates, and builders that allow you to upload your info. Some even have prewritten language that you can fill in and edit, but beware of using too much canned jargon — your reader may take a pass.

Writing a cover letter

If your resume is the main course, consider your cover letter to be the side dish that provides a taste of your personality and highlights your most impressive accomplishments and abilities. Some reliable advice:

• Make your cover letter specific, not generic. Address the letter to a person, if possible, rather than “Dear Sir/Madam." For instance, find out who the manager or human resources representative handling the hiring is and address the letter to them.
• Highlight your skills as they align with the job description, using the same language. A short anecdote may make you stand out. Don't just say “I'm a problem solver." Describe a specific problem you solved, and how. Better yet, discover a problem that needs solving at your prospective company, and propose a solution. Don't be afraid to show your personality while remaining professional.
• Keep your cover letter short and visually consistent with your resume.

If you're light on work experience, you can explain how skills from volunteer positions or the classroom may add value to their company. For example, “As a volunteer answering a crisis hotline, I learned important listening skills, how to boil down a problem, and quickly find resources and solutions for the caller."

End your cover letter with a call to action, such as “I would love the opportunity to discuss the job with you on the phone or in person."

Use your college career center

If you happen to be near your college campus, don't overlook an office full of people waiting to help you — your college career center. If you're living out of town, use them remotely by setting up a phone or online interview with a counselor and tapping into their online job bank.

They also typically offer resume and cover letter review; aptitude and personality tests; practice interviews; and one-to-one career counseling.

Career centers are a great place to network. Nearly 80% of jobs are filled through personal referrals, according to Harvard's Office of Career Services. College career centers offer you access to your all-important alumni network, showing where they work, what they do, and their contact info. Some alums will do informational interviews, which is a great way to make contacts and learn about an industry.

Network — and network some more

Don't stop your networking at alumni. Tell friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances that you’re looking for a job. They may know of openings or be able to get your resume into the hands of someone who does. Have coffee with someone who does what you do, and learn all about it.

For virtual networking, LinkedIn and other social networks let you connect with acquaintances and friends, read about their professional backgrounds, view job listings, and make postings that may get an employer’s attention.

Career fairs = face time

Armed with a super resume, career fairs can expose you to dozens of employers at once and get you valuable face time. Here are some career fair tips:

• Before you go: Make a list of companies attending to pick out your target employers. Research the companies and, if available, the names of people representing them on LinkedIn. If you don't know what kind of job you want, use this chance to learn about different industries. Dress in business casual or in business attire if it suits the companies you're targeting. Bring a folder to hold plenty of resumes and company info you collect, and a small notebook to take notes.
• During: Do an initial walkthrough to see where lines are longest, and manage time accordingly. Come prepared with one or two specific questions about your favorite companies. Introduce yourself, shake the person's hand, and deliver your elevator speech: a 30- to 60-second statement about you and your job skills, and what you would bring to the company. Get the rep’s business card or contact info.
• After: Follow up with an emailed thank you, repeating your credentials and writing a cover letter if there's a specific job. Attach your resume, making it easy for them to have all your info in one place and forward it onward within the company.

Dig in to job sites

Of course, you can do much of your search from your couch on job board sites such as Indeed, Ziprecruiter, and Monster. They offer job listings, advice on cover letters, data on salaries, and information on companies. Upload your resume, and these sites will notify you when a new job is a good match.

You can also conduct the job search process on social media, using queries like your ideal job title, skills used on the job, or even by tool, like Adobe Photoshop, in combination with variations of the word hiring. Additionally, you can learn a lot about the company culture and work environment by scanning the business’s LinkedIn profile or by conducting a rudimentary Google search.

Acing the interview

Your perfect resume, cover letter, and networking skills have paid off, and you've landed an interview (or maybe two). Now what? Consider this advice:

• Research and rehearse common interview questions that hiring managers might ask for the type of job you are applying to.
• Dress and speak in a professional manner. Look your interviewer in the eye. And sit up straight. (I guess your mom was right.)
• Go beyond what they've already seen on your resume, using the time to explain more thoroughly your accomplishments or qualifications.
• Ask questions throughout the interview. This shows you've done research and have a genuine interest in the company. Don't ask about salary, perks, or vacation time. These can be discussed later, or perhaps during the job offer.
• Answer hypothetical questions with information relevant to the company if you know it.
• Follow up with a thank-you note

With these career search tips, you're ready to go out and get that dream job!

Ready to land your dream job

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