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The
Recent Grad’s Guide
To Getting A Job
Ariella Coombs
- Managing editor, CAREEREALISM -
* A publication of
Table of contents
1. Introduction
2. Figuring Out Where You Want To Go
3. Building Up Skills & Knowledge
4. Working On Your Personal Brand
5. Updating Your Tools
6. Building A Strategic Network
7. Rocking Your Interviews
8. Being Patient, But Proactive
9. Knowing When You Need More Help
10. More Resources
Introduction
Graduating is an exciting experience. You did it! You’re
finally ready to go out there to find a job you love and
build the life you want.
For some, this can be a terrifying experience. However, if
you prepare yourself well, it’s an exciting time. That’s why
we created this e-book – to help prepare recent grads for
a happy and successful career.
In this e-book, you’ll learn how to set yourself up for your
dream job. You’ll also learn the basics of creating a
personal brand, writing your resume, networking
effectively, and much more.
Congratulations on graduating, and best of luck!
- Ariella Coombs, managing editor
1. Figuring out where you want to go
Figure out your interests, values, and goals
The first thing you need to do in your job search is figure out
what you want. It’s important to love what you do. You want to
be proud of your work! Evaluate your interests, values, and
goals, then make a list.
Think about the following:
What problems do you want to solve?
What are you looking for in a job?
Where do you want to be located?
What jobs will make you excited to go to work each
morning?
When you’re job searching, you need to remember that it isn’t
just about what the employer wants – it’s also about what you
want. Determining your interests, values, and goals early on will
help you get on the right track to finding a career path you love.
Research jobs/positions you would enjoy
What jobs or positions do you think you would enjoy? What do
you see yourself doing? Get online and do some research. Read
job descriptions and postings. Learn about the common tasks
you’ll be required to do for each job. Look into the pros and
cons of the job. Will you be expected to work long hours? Travel
on a regular basis? Working out these details will give you a
better idea of what you’re looking for in a position.
Research companies that meet your needs
Next, figure out what companies meet your needs and share
your values. Figure out what problems they are solving, what
kind people work there, and anything else that’s important to
you. Reference your interests, values, and goals list.
Tip: You can research companies using company review sites
like Glassdoor or Indeed. These sites will give you a better idea
of what the employees think of the company culture and values,
work-life balance, management, benefits, opportunities, and
more.
According to Indeed.com’s Employer
Branding Survey, 83% of job seekers
were influenced by employer reviews
when deciding where to apply.
2. Building Your Skills & Knowledge
Learn as much as you can
Now that you know more about what you want to do and where
you want to go, it’s time to start building your skills and
knowledge for your target job. Determine the skills you need to
be successful at that job. You can do this by:
Reading job descriptions
Job descriptions and postings are very helpful when determining
what skills and knowledge you need to be successful at a job.
They literally list the required skills and knowledge! Look at a
range of descriptions to determine common keywords and skills.
Talking with current/former employees
It’s important to set up informational interviews with employees
from your target companies. They are experiencing the work
environment, job, and tasks you want to get involved in, so they
can give you an idea of what it’s like to work at their company.
Job shadowing
If possible, ask if you could job shadow. Job shadowing is a great
way to get an inside look at the job. Basically, you follow
someone around for a few hours, watching them do their job in
their natural work environment. You will be able to see the work
they are doing, who they are working with, and more.
Hone your skills
Once you’ve determined exactly what skills you will need, you
can start working on them. The sooner you start, the better
qualified you’ll be for your dream job. Here are some ways you
can hone your skills:
Get a relevant internship/part-time job
Volunteer
Participate in classes, workshops, webinars
Join professional clubs and groups
“The very best way to get noticed as
you’re preparing to graduate is to have
strong internships on your resume. This,
obviously, can’t be pulled together in
your last semester of school, but requires
you to get out there and job hunt early in
your college career. I can say nothing
attracts me to a student more than
seeing a healthy list of great
internships.”
– Anthony Rotoli, Microsoft University Staffing Consultant
4. Working On Your Personal Brand
A personal brand is a combination of your reputation,
messaging, and overall image. Everyone has a personal brand -
whether they like it or not. Thankfully, you have a certain
amount of control over your brand. The key is to create a great
message, be consistent, and work on it daily.
Who are you and what do you have to offer?
Who are you, what makes you unique, and what problems do
you solve? You must have this figured out before you start your
job search because these are the questions going through
employers’ heads. This is going to be the tie-breaker between
you and another qualified candidate.
Once you’ve answered who you are and what you have to offer,
you need to reinforce those messages and present them
effectively. Now, we’ll go over few major areas of your brand
that you should focus on, on a daily basis…
Your Branding Statement
An awesome branding statement summarizes, in just a few
words, who you are, what makes you unique, and what
problems you solve. This statement should always have the
same message - whether you’re writing it on a resume or
introducing yourself to another professional. Depending on the
situation, you might make it shorter or change the wording a bit,
however, the overall theme should be the same.
Vague, non-specific personal branding statement:
“I’m a recent grad looking for a job in marketing.”
Strong personal branding statement:
“I’m a recent grad with a passion for marketing, specifically in
the fashion industry. I love inspiring young women to be more
creative in their daily lives through fashion.”
Resume branding statement:
Marketing professional with 2 years experience in fashion
marketing, 1 year experience in digital advertising, and 6 years
experience in fashion writing. Spearheaded regional marketing
campaign for local women’s clothing store, and created fashion
blog focusing on fashion trends for young women.
Notice that the last two personal branding statements give more
specifics on what you’re about, what you want to do, and what
makes you unique, whereas the first statement barely gave any
information about you at all.
Also notice that the last two statements, though they are
worded differently, still get the same message across: you’re a
marketer interested in women’s fashion.
Relevant read: The Perfect Recipe For A Great Personal Brand
Your Online Presence
When you Google yourself, what comes up? If you were an
employer looking to hire you, would you like what you saw?
According to a recent survey, 68% of employers said they will
Google job candidates to learn about their online presence. So,
it’s safe to assume that your potential employer is going to see
whatever is out there about you on the Web.
But a few inappropriate tweets or photos probably won’t hurt,
right?
Wrong. A recent survey found that almost 70% of recruiters
rejected candidates based on what they saw on social media.
Here are some things they found:
50% posted inappropriate photos and information
48% posted information regarding drugs and alcohol
33% spoke poorly about a previous employer
30% portrayed poor communication skills
28% posted distasteful remarks regarding race, gender, etc
24% lied about their qualifications and competencies
Crazy, right? But you’re not going to let something so
insignificant hold you back from getting a great job. No way!
Here are some quick tips for cleaning up your online brand:
1. Remove anything negatively associated with you
Whether they’re inappropriate photos, tweets, or comments,
delete them. Of course, we all know that once something goes
up on the Internet, it’s never coming down. However, you
should do everything in your power to stop those things from
making the front page of your Google results.
If you have ANY doubt on whether or not something would
disqualify you from an interview or job opportunity, delete it.
2. Revamp your social media accounts
Social media accounts typically make up the first page of your
Google results, and they are a great way for employers to learn
more about you. So, if you haven’t already, get a LinkedIn
account, fill it out, and update it regularly with valuable
information.
Also, make an effort to tweet and post information and articles
about your target industry. If employers see how invested you
are in your field, they will be impressed.
“I have a student who I have been following
since his sophomore year in university. He
posts a few tech articles every month on
things he is interested in. Sometimes these
stories are articles about projects he is
working on or prizes he has won during
hackathons. By connecting with him on
social media, I was able to get a better
understanding of what type of role I could
offer him that would make Microsoft more
appealing to him. I was able to see what
other companies are interested in him
based on the hackathons.”
– Drew Pryor-Miller, Microsoft University Staffing Consultant
3. Start a blog
Blogs are great branding tools, if you use them correctly. Start
blogging once a week about something related to your field.
Share your posts on your social media to build an audience.
Employers will be impressed by your passion and initiative.
As you can see, it’s important to not only clean up your existing
online brand, but also to build and maintain a strong online
presence. It will definitely pay off!
Your Appearance
You’ve always been told, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Well,
unfortunately, people can’t help but to judge others based on
their appearance. And, if you’re an employer, you want to hire
someone who can represent the company brand professionally.
If you walk into an interview dressed like a college student,
chances are you’re going to lose major points with the
employer. They will assume you won’t take the job seriously, or
that you don’t know how to dress professionally.
However, if you walk into an interview in a nice, fitted suit,
matching shoes, and well-groomed hair, you’re going to make a
positive impression.
Having a professional, put-together look will help set you apart
from the competition. And, when you’re trying to get a job, you
want to do everything you can do make a good, lasting
impression.
Here are a few quick tips for dressing your best:
Determine the company dress code. It’s recommended to
dress at least one level above the dress code, but you don’t
want to show up to an interview or professional event in a
suit when everyone else is in sneakers and jeans.
Make sure everything fits. Make sure your clothes fit
correctly, even if that means making a trip to a tailor. It’s
worth the money.
Don’t show too much skin. Avoid things like shorts, tank
tops, or miniskirts.
Wear appropriate footwear. Your shoes should work with
your outfit, but they should also be comfortable. No
sandals or flip flops, please.
Don’t stink. Obviously, shower and put on deodorant
before the interview. However, avoid excessive perfume or
cologne.
Keep makeup at a minimum. If you wear makeup, don’t
overdo it. Keep it subtle.
Make sure your nails are clean, trimmed, and chip-free.
People notice, believe me. Make sure your hands and nails
are in good shape.
5. Updating Your Tools
Your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile are all tools that
should emphasize why you’re the best candidate for the job.
Make sure they are doing you justice! Here’s a quick breakdown
for each one.
Your Resume
Make sure your resume highlights any strengths that are
relevant to the job and company.
IMPORTANT: Avoid the “spray and pray” approach when it
comes to applying for jobs. Don’t just write one version of your
resume and send it to every employer out there. Make sure you
create customized resumes for each company.
Where one company might focus on one set of skills and
experience, another one could focus on a completely different
set. Always customize.
Relevant Reading: 3 Tips To Get Your Resume In The ‘Yes’ Pile
“I've shared this suggestion with a
number of college candidates over this
past year. I recommend college students
to stop applying to every company under
the sun, and going to every booth at a
career fair. Instead, I suggest taking the
take the time to decide on three to five
companies that you'd absolutely love to
work for, and target them directly and
aggressively.”
– Anthony Rotoli, Microsoft University Staffing Consultant
Your Cover Letter
Yes, cover letters matter. Write an eye-catching cover letter that
gives a glimpse of your passion and how it can help your target
company. Like your resume, make sure you customize each
cover letter for each company you apply to.
Relevant reading: How To Write A Cover Letter That Will Get
You Hired
Your LinkedIn Profile
If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile yet, get one right now! It
takes five minutes, and it will help you market yourself to
employers. Here are some LinkedIn quick tips:
Fill out your LinkedIn profile - all of it.
Use an appropriate photo.
Write an awesome headline.
Optimize your profile.
Get (and give) recommendations and endorsements.
Update it regularly and be active.
Having and maintaining a LinkedIn profile is a must these days.
LinkedIn is one of the top results on Google, and it’s where
many employers look when screening job candidates. Make sure
yours is the best it can be!
Video: 5-Step Quick Guide For Getting Started On LinkedIn
6. Building A Strategic Network
Networking etiquette
Fun fact: 40% of job seekers said they found their “favorite” or
“best” job through personal connections - AKA their personal
network!
Networking is still the number one way people find jobs. That’s
why it’s important to build a great network.
First thing’s first, though. You need to understand basic
networking etiquette. Otherwise, your networking efforts will be
pretty useless. Here are some tips for proper networking
etiquette:
Introduce yourself. Don’t just attack them with
information and/or questions. Tell them a little bit about
yourself and your goals first.
Respect their time. Realize how much their time is worth.
Ask meaningful questions, and actually LISTEN to their
responses. Don’t waste their time!
Offer before asking. Whether it’s a business card, a
relevant article, or a cup of coffee, offer something before
you ask for anything.
Follow up. After meeting with someone, make sure to
follow up with them and send a thank you note.
Check in once and awhile. Send them an email every now
and then to check in. Send a note saying hello or share an
article you think they would be interested in. This will keep
you fresh on their minds.
Relevant Reading: Everything You Need To Know About
Networking Etiquette
Be strategic with your networking efforts
When you’re networking, you want to be strategic. Otherwise,
you’re basically shooting in the dark. Here are some quick tips to
get the most out of your networking efforts:
Determine who you need in your network
Join professional groups that are relevant to your industry
Attend industry-specific events
Set up informational interviews with employees from your
target companies
Relevant Reading: How To Stop Being Random With Your
Networking Efforts
Tip: Time your requests well. Never network, follow up on a job,
or try to sell yourself on a Monday. Most people are tired,
cranky, and overwhelmed, and your simple request could be the
last thing they want to see in their Inbox. Don’t lose out on an
opportunity simply because someone wasn’t in the mood to
deal with it! Think about timing.
7. Rocking Your Interviews
Interviews can be extremely intimidating. However, they are a
necessary evil. They can even be kind of fun if you go in with the
right attitude! Here are some tips for rocking your interviews…
Preparation
Preparation is a MUST. If you’re not prepared, you might as well
kiss your chances at the job goodbye. Here are some quick tips
for preparing for your next interview…
Research the company
Know exactly what they’re all about. Know what they DO.
Understand what you will be doing for them. Note big initiatives
or industry changes that might affect the company. Analyze
their needs and figure out how you can help.
Know how to answer common interview questions
Your interviewer(s) will probably ask a few common questions
during your interview. You must know how to answer these.
Some key questions include:
“Tell me about yourself.”
“What do you know about us?”
“What’s your greatest weakness?”
“Why do you want to work here?”
Conducting thorough research will help you answer some of
them. However, you will have to use personal experience and
stories for others.
Related Reading: How To Answer 7 Of The Most Common
Interview Questions
Make a list of questions for the interviewer
In addition to answering the interviewer’s questions, you should
have questions of your own. This emphasizes your interest in
the position and helps you determine if the role is right for you.
Here are a few questions you should ask:
“Why is this position vacant?”
“How would you describe the company culture?”
“What are the company goals for the next five years?”
Things to avoid:
Asking about benefits, salary, vacation time
Asking questions you could’ve answered through your own
research
Asking a question multiple times because you weren’t
listening
Related Reading: 4 Most Important Questions To Ask At An
Interview
Practice
Even if you don’t normally get nervous for interviews, it’s a good
idea to practice. You can practice by doing the following:
Mock interviews/practicing with a friend
Practicing in front of a mirror
Reading your responses out loud
These are some great techniques to help you prepare for your
interview and gain confidence in yourself. If you do a mock
interview or practice with a friend, make sure to ask for
feedback.
Did you seem confident? Were your answers decent? What
were you lacking? Get as much information out of them as you
can!
Related Reading: Practice Makes Perfect: Important Interview
Preparation Techniques
Working The Interview
The big day is finally here! It’s time to go and kick some butt in
your interview. Here are a few tips for doing that:
Dress to impress
See the appearance tips under Section 4.
Arrive a little early
Know where you’re going and account for any traffic. It doesn’t
look good to be late for an interview - no matter what the cause.
That said, don’t arrive at the crack of dawn, either. Getting there
too early can be frustrating for the interviewer, who probably
has a full day of work and doesn’t want to move around his or
her schedule to see you early.
Arriving about 15 minutes beforehand is a good buffer.
Use the correct body language
Non-verbal communication says a lot about a person. Your
gestures, posture, facial expressions, and nervous habits can
send the wrong message to people, so you need to be aware of
them and know how to control them.
Here are a few things to note:
Shaking hands. Don’t give the deadfish handshake, but
don’t crush the other person’s hand, either.
Posture. Sit up straight and maintain good posture during
the interview. This will make you appear more confident.
Arms. Try not to cross your arms. It makes you seem
negative and closed off.
Eye contact. Maintain good eye contact with your
interviewer. If you start to feel uncomfortable, look at the
bridge of his or her nose instead.
Facial expressions. Make sure to smile and appear
genuinely interested in what the other person is saying.
That said, don’t go overboard - otherwise, you’ll look
insincere.
Fidgeting. Do your best not to fidget during the interview.
Even if it’s just nerves, your interviewer could think you’re
lying about something.
Market yourself well, but don’t get cocky
It’s important to be confident in your answers. This is why
practicing them beforehand is so helpful. You want to sell
your skills, knowledge, and personality to your interviewer, so
you need to present them in the best way possible.
That said, don’t be cocky with your answers. There’s a fine
line between confidence and cockiness during an interview.
Don’t try to overcompensate - it’s not a good strategy. Simply
be honest about your abilities and highlight your strong areas.
Ask about the next steps
When the interview is over, thank your interviewer(s) for his
or her time, then ask about the next steps. This will give you a
good idea on when you should follow up.
Related Reading: 12 Tips For A Great Job Interview
Following up
Following up is a MUST. You should always follow up shortly
after the interview with a thank you note. Then, if they
haven’t contacted you when they said they would, you should
do a second follow up. Don’t bug them, though. It could hurt
your chances more than help them.
Related Reading: The Best Interview Follow Up Checklist
8. Being Patient, But Proactive
It’s important to be patient in your job search. That said,
always be proactive - no matter how many applications
you’ve sent out, interviews you’re scheduled for, or
employers you’re waiting to hear back from. As you can see
from reading this e-book, there’s plenty to do!
A Brief Note On Rejections
You’re probably going to get a few rejections - and that’s
okay. You just need to reevaluate your strategy and move
forward. If appropriate, ask for feedback. Otherwise, give
yourself a little time to recover (not too much, though) and
get back out there. You can do this!
Related Reading: 10 Ways To Deal With Job Rejection
9. Know When You Need More Help
If you still feel like you’re behind in your job search or you’re
not getting the results you were looking for, you might need a
little more help. The good news is, we can help!
CareerHMO is a career coaching site that provides valuable,
one-on-one help for job seekers of all ages. Here’s a brief
overview of some of the packages CareerHMO offers:
Professional Assessment (Am I Money?)
Not sure if you are sending the right message professionally?
Wondering if “Brand YOU” (i.e. your Resume, Linkedin Profile,
etc.), is getting the attention of the right people? Let the
experts decide! Click here to learn more about our
professional assessments.
Job Search Accelerator Program (JSAP)
Looking for a new job and coming up short? Feel like
something is wrong in your search for work? Let us show you
how to find work faster – and feel confident doing it. Click
here to learn more about JSAP.
10. More Resources
We’ve got plenty of resources you can use for your job
search. Here are a few more tools you can use (they’re all
free!):
Interview Prep Tool
For many job seekers, interviews are single-handedly the
most exciting and most terrifying part of their job search.
You’ve got one shot to impress your potential employer, so if
you don’t give your all, you’re going to waste everyone’s time.
In this one-of-a-kind resource, you will get the following:
18 common questions you MUST prepare for
12 questions you should ask your interviewer
What you SHOULDN’T ask during the first interview
Make every interview a great interview. Download our
Interview Prep Tool now!
Cover Letter Tutorial & Template
This tutorial will show you what you need to do to create an
effective cover letter. In this FREE video tutorial, CEO &
Founder of CareerHMO, J.T. O’Donnell explains how to create
a “disruptive” cover letter using her F.A.C.E. Lift guidelines:
Format
Attitude
Connection
Experience
Create an eye-catching cover letter that every employer will
want to read. Download our Cover Letter Tutorial &
Template today!
Tutorial: #1 Fastest Way to Get a Job After College
In this “Turbo Tutorial” series by job search expert, J.T.
O’Donnell, you’ll learn:
The 4 things you need to identify before you can start
looking for work.
The right career tools you’ll need to conduct your search.
The process for finding the “hot” jobs, also known as the
hidden job market.
The one thing that ensures a recent grad will find a job
faster than their peers.
These videos are short, yet powerful. In less than 30 minutes,
you’ll have a complete outline of the 4 phases to finding a job
after college and what you’ll need to succeed in each one.
Don’t delay your job search, kickstart it today with J.T.’s help!
Watch these FREE tutorials now!
10 Key Steps To A Successful Job Search
Our job search e-guide is one of the most popular free
resources on CAREEREALISM – and for good reason! In this
step-by-step e-guide, you will learn how to narrow down your
search and focus on the most important parts.
In this guide, you will learn how to:
Figure out your career direction
Determine your skills and personal strengths
Create an awesome personal branding statement
Showcase your accomplishments in your resume
Set up informational interviews
…and more!
Are you ready to get your job search under control?
Download our free e-book, “10 Key Steps To A Successful
Job Search,” today!