Most of us are currently graduating from colleges, universities and places of higher education during a time of great austerity and economic change. Arguments about the place of higher education in an extremely fragmented economy are loud and brash, but offer no solutions. If you are a graduate, about to graduate, or never participated in higher education, the truth remains that you still have to enter the job market sooner or later. Here are some tips for efficient job hunting, to accurately prepare yourself for the nightmare that is job hunting.
Be mentally prepared.
Gone are the days when you secured a job as soon as you left high school. Job hunting is now one of the most frustrating things you can do in this economy, with rejections often seeming like a daunting waste of time and resources. Take heart, and remember that this can be a time-consuming process. Prepare yourself mentally for the rejections, and don’t be discouraged by the large quantity of job applications and interviews you might have to go through before you secure a job.
Get internship experience to stand out
Internships and work experience are almost a prerequisite for job hunting these days. Internships that pay interns are perfect, but if you can’t find a paid one, consider taking on an unpaid internship that offers indispensable experience within your career path. If you’re fortunate, you could even secure a permanent position within the company.
Refine your LinkedIn page
Make sure that your Linkedin page is up to date and as refined as possible. This comes in handy when applying for jobs, as employees more often than not look you up on Linkedin. Furthermore, take advantage of Linkedin’s job search feature, and subscribe to their emails for regular information about current job openings in your field.
Reach out to alumni in your field
Former classmates from school and college can be an additional job hunting source. Find them on Linkedin, Facebook and other networking sites. They often know what businesses and companies are hiring, and can alert you of job openings at their place of work.
Use your connections to find open positions
Family, friends and friends of friends can often help you out in your job search as well. Ask around, and be extensive in your research, for a position can turn up in the unlikeliest of places.
Start your job search early as early as possible.
Do not leave your job search until too late. Start as early as possible to leave time for interviews. Starting early also leaves you time to refine your C.V., cover letter and interview skills based upon feedback from employers. This also gives you less time spent unemployed, with the mental drain of having nothing to do.
Prepare extensively for interviews. Reach out to career advisors for help.
Your C.V., cover letter and your interview skills are paramount to job hunting. Prepare extensively for interviews, and reach out to career advisors who can help you perfect your job hunting documents and skills. It is often an investment to pay for this service, in the long run. Your college or university may also offer these services free of charge to students and former students. Take advantage of this service, if offered.
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