Your graduation ceremony is over and you are still on the hunt for a job, and not really sure of exactly what you are looking for. It can be a scary time and now that you’re out of school, you likely feel you don’t have the support network and safety blanket that you did before. You may still have a lot of questions about landing that first job, and there are ways you can adjust your job search to help you land it. Erin Hendrick, TalentSearch leader at Progressive Insurance, which has hired countless graduates over the years, offers the following advice.
[See: 10 Things They Don’t Tell You About Your First Job.]
How can I improve my chances of landing a job?
Many job seekers — new graduates as well as more seasoned professionals — rely heavily on online applications and networking. Offline networking is one of the most effective job-search strategies. Reach out to friends and family. Also, remember that your former professors, advisors and career counselors all support alumni. Ask them about possible referrals or leads. In addition, if there are organizations that you are interested in without current openings which have a talent network, set up a personal profile so that when the company has jobs or news related to your interests, they’ll send you a personalized email.
If you are not bound to a specific city or region, consider looking outside of the typical places. There are many cities and vibrant towns with a low cost of living between the East and West coasts. These are good places to start a career and build a solid financial base.
How can I stand out from the competition?
As a new graduate, it is hard to know what you want to do, but don’t just apply to everything, as that signals to employers that you don’t know what you want. Try to narrow your focus. Look for companies with opportunities to eventually transition into other areas, as well as those that offer coaching and training.
If you do not have the depth of experience needed for your ideal job, consider a role that complements your desired path which might require less experience. This will allow you to gain experience and exposure. Apply to roles that match your background as closely as possible, and then tailor your resume and cover letter appropriately. Be sure to leverage your volunteer work and internships. Show enthusiasim for the job and industry you’ve applied to in your application as well as during the interview stage. Employers want to know you are a good cultural fit and look for candidates who they think may stay on for the long term.
[See: 8 Ways Millennials Can Build Leadership Skills.]
How long do you recommend new graduates stay in a job?
This depends a lot on the company and the individual. Most companies appreciate that it takes a new graduate time to find the right role. The best thing you can do is to try to find a company where you can move around under the same roof but experience different roles. This will help you learn about what’s available to you in the field while staying in one place.
Do I need to set long-term goals?
This is an outdated notion. It is helpful to have in mind short-term goals in order to find a good first role out of school. However, you cannot and should not be expected to know exactly what you want when you don’t have much experience under your belt.
What can I do after I begin a new job to make myself competitive for future openings?
Do your best and deliver good work no matter what the work is. Carve out time for training and development opportunities both in and out of the office. In addition, take advantage of any internal networking events as these can help you meet people in different areas of the company, including senior leadership.
[See: 8 Stages of a Winning Job Search.]
Even if you are not receiving formal reviews or much constructive feedback from your boss, you should ask your managers for feedback. This demonstrates maturity and a willingness to improve in order to move laterally or position yourself for a future promotion. If you do not appear invested in your career, it will be hard to find supporters within the company.
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New Graduates: Answers to Your Burning Job-Search Questions originally appeared on usnews.com