Finding that First Job After Graduating College

Congratulations on graduating, and being smart enough and hard working enough to earn a college degree! Now, get ready for that next rite of passage which is finding that first job right after graduation. Here are some tips that are shared from my own experience to help you transition quickly into your first job and get rent and bills paid on time.

First and foremost, do not get discouraged from the arduous tasks of landing a job quickly and all the rejections that come with it. It is very easy to let your own thoughts get the best of you and drive yourself crazy about why you can't find a job but try not to over think your situation or any kind of rejection. Take comfort in the fact that you can never really know for sure why an employer chooses other candidates and just move on. Fortify your spirit by taking timeout to rest the brain and body with well needed breaks to gain distance and clear perspective of your situation and surround yourself with good people that help you remain positive in this difficult challenge.

Like many college grads, I went through many of the usual steps of job hunting. I scoured the net for hours loading resumes in data systems for entry level work, hoping for that lucky break. I hung out with my old teachers hoping they knew of anyone who could help my situation and I called other unemployed friends for comfort and to remain optimistic. Needing a well deserved break, I went to Borders bookstore one day and luckily stumbled upon the book, "What Color is Your Parachute," a must read, comprehensive book on the necessary skills of job hunting. Buy yourself a copy and read the precious information insdie that is needed to win.

After enough highlighting and reading, I followed the techniques that helped me get to second round interviews and land decent job offers and also realized all the mistakes that I had made before reading the book. Reading the book does not translate into companies knocking at your door with six figure salary offers so please do not be misled. The reward for reading the book is arming yourself with new knowledge that will help you put new focus in your efforts to landing that, "Yes, you're hired!"

In my case, like many others, I joined a temp agency which helped serve as a delegate to contacts which I never had before to help in my job hunt. Going back and forth with e-mails and phone calls, I soon had a handful of small job offers which was more than I had before. Some of the jobs I hated and other jobs I loved and I knew I was getting closer and closer to landing a dream job with the wealth of new experiences, some good and some bad, that were gained from each job.

Landing the dream job is a journey on its own, but for now, being out of college and on a diet of Starbucks and Top Ramen noodles, the first task is to land a job quickly, get your checking account back in the positive, and get your bills paid on time to achieve some standard of quality living. Good luck on the intense effort and take solace in the truth that only through intense pressure can diamonds be made.