Congratulations! You have finally earned your degree and are ready to enter the working world. While this time is exciting, it can also be intimidating to move out of academics and try to get a job you love. To help you out, we’ve compiled five employment tips that will help you distinguish yourself in today’s competitive market.
1. Create a Network
Networking is one of the most important ways to begin your job search. Think of any professional contacts you have in your field of study. These could be professors, past employers, former classmates, or even acquaintances. Let them know you are beginning your job search and ask if they know of any companies currently recruiting.
If you know a limited number of people in your desired field, consider attending industry events or joining a professional organization to meet people. Creating a network of people who know you are actively looking for a job opportunity will increase your chances of hearing about open positions and getting you that interview.
2. Explore Your Options
While you may feel anxious to start applying for jobs right away, one of the best employment tips is to reach out and explore. Some preliminary research will help you know what is out there, but even more importantly, it will make connecting with people in your industry easier.
Reach out to people in your network to seek information and learn more about their organization before asking about a specific position. Contacting new people can be daunting, but showing genuine interest and asking for information rather than employment can help make your network stronger and lead to more opportunities.
3. Personalize Your Resume
One of the most common mistakes recent graduates make is sending identical versions of their resume and cover letter to every company under the sun. It is important to tailor each document to the position and employer you are interested in.
This will require a bit of research to do correctly. Look closely at the needs of your potential employer and emphasize how your work experience can meet those needs. For instance, if a hiring manager says they are looking for someone with leadership experience, describe your past employment or volunteer work in a way that highlights your capacity as a leader.
In addition to tailoring your application to each position, your resume also needs a splash of personality. Employers and recruiters may look at hundreds of applications for one position and a touch of humour or the mention of an interesting extracurricular can go a long way in making you stand out from the crowd.
4. Cultivate and Emphasize Your Transferable Skills
Your education is just one factor in making you eligible for competitive positions. To increase your employability, focus on transferable skills that you already have, and others you may want to build. For example, a science graduate could highlight their writing skills developed through reports, as well as practical lab experience.
Another way to show your versatility is to mention jobs or volunteer experience you have had outside your given field. This shows your ability to take what you learned in the past and apply it to new positions—a trait that employers are always on the hunt for.
5. Don’t Forget to Follow Up!
This is one of the most overlooked employment tips, but a follow up call after an application is submitted can make your resume go from the bottom of the pile to the top. Many people find this step difficult, so aim to keep it simple. Introduce yourself and mention your interest in the position and the fact that you have submitted an application. Talk about a few of the reasons why you would make a great addition to the team. Follow up calls give the recruiter or employer a better sense of who you are and show how motivated you are to work for their company.
