11 Smart Tips For Finding A Job After College

Searching for a job can be a tough experience if you don't know how to do it effectively. Lucky for you, our bright, savvy, and quirky CAREEREALISM crew was generous enough to share their top secret, super smart tips for finding a job after college. (They're the best!) Related:3 Ways To Avoid A Minimum Wage Job After College Are you ready? Here we gooooooooooooo!

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1. Be prepared.

"For everything from interviews to first-days-on-the-job to projects, be prepared. Do your research and be reliable so that when the time comes for anything, you will know you're prepared to do your best."

- Samantha Mick, Marketing Services Manager

2. Get an internship.

"​To prepare for your job search in school can be tough. What helped me get into the mind set of looking for a job while still in school was being hired as an intern at a Marketing firm. It got me to realize what direction I wanted to go in when I started to research current job openings."

- Sarah Adams, Marketing Brand Manager

3. Start looking for jobs early on.

“I didn't start looking for a full-time job until my spring semester senior year. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do or where I wanted to be located so I just kept putting it off. Then I woke up one day and it was graduation and I was still unemployed. I would say it is better to start job searching early and have a few options than to be stuck in a position where you are sick of looking and settle for a position you don't really want.”

- Jennifer McCann, Social Media Manager

4. Tap into your professors’ networks.

“Ask your professors if they have any contacts at places you might want to work. That's how a lot of people I went to school with got great jobs in our industry at places they might not have been able to otherwise.”

- Lindsay Robinson, Video & Graphics Producer

5. Create a Career Bucket List.

"Figure out what you hope to accomplish, your dream jobs and companies, and what you're passionate about working on. While this list may change over time, it will help guide and motivate you to achieve your goals."

- Samantha Mick, Marketing Services Manager

6. Find something you’re passionate about.

“​I had a lot of trouble finding a job that interested me after getting out of college. What I learned from this experience is that you can't just apply to any job out there, you got to apply to a job you actually feel passionate about. If you are passionate about a job listing, it will show in your writing and, more importantly, to the recruiter. ”

- Sarah Adams, Marketing Brand Manager

7. Don't get discouraged.

“It is rare that someone will land their dream job on their first try, so don't think you are alone when you get rejected (trust me...I've been there) It's going to take time, but eventually everything will fall into place. If I had received a job offer when I was still in college then I wouldn't have ended up here at CAREEREALISM!”

- Jennifer McCann, Social Media Manager

8. Utilize your network.

“Don't be afraid to reach out to an alumni that is in the field you are looking to get into. Don't outright ask for a job but instead ask for helpful tips about how to get your resume recognized by employers in that field.”

- Zac Croteau, Marketing Intern

9. Don’t necessarily jump on the first offer.

“There's no reason to dive into a serious job if you're not committed to that profession/company/industry. You'll never have more flexibility than you have now. Have faith in yourself and don't necessarily jump at the first thing that comes along if it doesn't feel right.”

- Adam O’Kane, Digital Marketing Manager

10. Have a job search plan, and stick to it.

“Create a list of companies that you want to work for that have entry-level jobs in your field that you know you will excel at. Then, research those companies to learn as much as you can about them. That might be the difference between nailing the interview and just being another face lost in the shuffle. Keep checking back with them to see if they have any job openings even if you don't get the first job you interviewed for.”

- Lindsay Robinson, Video & Graphics Producer

11. Be open to opportunities.

"My first job out of college came from an internship I had my senior year. The position was not at all what I had envisioned for myself prior to the internship, but it turned out to be everything I needed (and wanted!). I gained invaluable experience from that job, that I know I will carry with me."

- Samantha Mick, Marketing Services Manager

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