Graduating and Looking for Your First Job Four Tips to Tackle That First Job Search - Sterling Career Concepts

Graduating and Looking for Your First Job Four Tips to Tackle That First Job Search Graduating and Looking for Your First Job? Four Tips to Tackle That First Job Search Every year at this time, I find myself working with several new college graduates. It can be stressful and overwhelming, but it needn’t be. When TheLadders.com invited me to write a post offering advice for young professionals getting ready to enter the workforce, I agreed. Their request inspired this post with four suggestions on how to approach that first professional job search: Be humble. Keep the big picture in mind. Sorry to break the news to you, but you’re no longer the big man on campus. You’re now at the bottom of the totem pole. Adjust your attitude appropriately. The best strategy is to be open to learning and meeting new people. At this stage in your career, be open to taking advice from more seasoned professionals and be willing to be molded or mentored. Drop the ego. Be committed. Your job right now is to find a job. Take that seriously. Reach out to people in your network. Ask them who they know. Ask professionals in your target field or target companies for informational interviews. Make sure the voicemail on your cell phone is professional. Be professional in your demeanor and interactions. Send thank you notes and letters. A new job is not going to find you. You need to put the work in to find it. Be open-minded. You may think you know which trajectory your career should follow. College professors or your school’s career center may have suggested a position, track, or entry level program for you, but those were just suggestions. Real life is different. Careers take flight, take turns, make adjustments, get put on hold, and are re-energized. Network with people and be open to opportunities that may present themselves. Go with the flow. Be excited. Push past the moments that feel daunting or overwhelming, and be optimistic and hopeful. With a little determination and elbow grease, you will find a position that kicks off your career. Your hard work will pay off. The good news? You don’t have to do this alone. As an alum, you probably still have access to resources at your on-campus career center. There are also trusted career professionals such as myself that can draft your career documents and prepare you for job interviews, and there are helpful online career resources such as TheLadders, which is a comprehensive career resource for professionals at all levels. Download their free app today to kick-start your job search or visit them online at  TheLadders.com.