Job Searching Tips and Tools for Recent College Graduates

After so many hard working days, nights, and years of studying, every year millions of students obtain that long sought after college degree. It's at this same time that most graduates start feeling confused and unsure about the future evaluating whether they should continue their education or start a career and put their education immediately to work.

One important thing to remember is that sometimes it can take some time to find that first job so don't be too easily discouraged - be patient, keep searching and don't give up. One thing that can help ease the post-graduation job search anxiety is to start looking early while you are still in school. See a career counselor during your final semester to assist you with some leads. If you have already graduated or that service is not available to you, don't worry there are many tools out there that are always available to help you land that first interview.

Internet and New Media

In this day and age, the best place to start is by taking advantage of the technological tools available to you. We all know about the traditional job search engines; Monster, CareerBuilder, Yahoo! Jobs, which I recommend, but you shouldn't be afraid to use social networking sites that you are already on and have them work for you. Many companies are already using Facebook as a tool for their own marketing purposes but have also recently turned to the site to search for prospective employees as well as post jobs on the website. If you chose to use your Facebook account to browse for job opportunities, just remember to use your real name, instead of an alias, and make sure your profile represents you professionally. Another new media tool is Twitter. Although Twitter is a simple networking and blogging service, by creating an account you don't have to just follow your friends and celebrities, but you can also sign up to get immediate job alerts and news feeds about openings for a specific job or in a specific industry you are looking into.

Networking

Networking is key in any industy - period. It's important to surround yourself with people who share your interest and passion for your field and area of expertise. Many companies are more apt to look at resumes of prospective employees if the referral comes from one of their own employees as opposed to the ones that come in from a general call for resumes. In addition to using the Internet to search for jobs and sending out your resume, you can also network online. You can start by creating a profile at LiknedIn.com. LinkedIn is a popular and reputable business networking site where everyone's profile is pretty much their resume detailing one's background, education, work experience, etc. By connecting with people that know you and your background, you can get recommendations and even referrals to jobs by others in your networking circle.

Other ways to network includes joining professional trade organizations. By finding and joining a local chapter of a nationally well-known organization in your field, not only will they give you exposure to what jobs are out there but you never know who you can meet. These organizations usually hold networking events and job fairs that are very beneficial. They may even offer workshops to help you build your skills as well as provide certification courses to help you build your resume.

Internships

College is not just about studying and learning theories and facts in books but it's also about getting that hands on work experience you can only get by doing something. Even if you have graduated without having ever had an internship, it's never too late to get that experience. As a new graduate you have to expect that you will start at the bottom with the first job you get, no matter what, so don't be afraid to seek internships. Internships, regardless if they are paid or not, open many doors because once an entry -level position opens within the company, if you prove that you are a hard worker you will be among the very first to be considered for the job. You have to be open and accepting of low to no pay internships because an internship equals experience on your resume and that can lead to your first break.

As recent graduates, I highly advise that you don't panic if you don't land an interview within the first week or first few months of searching. Regardless of how you look for a job one key thing to remember is to always be open. Don't limit yourself to the kind of job you are seeking, or how you are seeking it, but instead keep yourself open to options that will be beneficial to you down the road. Stay positive, confident and don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Sometimes the right job is out there waiting for you but its up to you to seek it and grab it.