Choosing the studies that will make you competitive in the labor market isn’t enough. As the competition is getting harsher, students and graduates need to go the extra mile to capitalize on their college.

Because of that, it’s imperative to start searching for job opportunities while you’re still at college.

In this post, you can read seven practical tips that will help every graduate improve their chances of landing a proper job after leaving university.

1)    Attend job fairs

Despite the boom of specialized websites for job-seekers, job fairs still have a loyal audience.

In other words, both employers and potential employees attend these events, hoping that they will find the right opportunities for their needs.

For instance, in the USA, there’s even a job fair directory, which helps job-seekers locate those events.

Using this register, undergraduates and graduates can plan what fairs they’re going to visit.

What’s more, they can organize their visits in accordance with the types of companies that attend them.

This will allow them to improve their chances of narrowing down both the niches and their potential employers.

As opposed to that, going to every fair in the vicinity might just waste their time and assets. The worst of it all, the result might not be satisfactory at all.

2)    Join youth organizations

There are different youth organizations at every college and university.

What’s more, such associations exist even outside campuses.

Their main goal is to gather and connect people with similar interests and professions.

Once you join such an organization or club, it might open numerous opportunities.

Moreover, it’s the network of contacts and influential people that matters.

Even though they might not actually give you a job, they can help you take the right direction to land an attractive position.

When you know the right people, you can hear about some attractive positions straight from the horse’s mouth.

Sometimes being a member of such organizations includes doing some voluntary work. If you find it purposeful and if it’s not sheer exploitation of the free workforce, feel free to join such activities.

3)    Work on social contacts

Just like we’ve stated in the previous paragraph, it’s extremely important to work on your own social network.

No matter if it’s a youth organization or your co-alumni from the studies, knowing people is a useful thing for your future success.

That’s why it’s good to be an open-minded, sociable student who will seize every opportunity that appears on the horizon.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that introvert students have no chances when it comes to social contacts.

Regardless of your personality type, it’s important to mingle with other students and graduates. That’s the most spontaneous way to make friends, meet new acquaintances, and hear about business opportunities.

4)    Send out personalized applications

When you spot some attractive job ads, you need to commit yourself to the application process.

First and foremost, avoid sending generic motivational letters. Employers and HR specialists can recognize such a writing style.

Truth be told, writing a purpose-made application might be a time-sink for fresh graduates. But that’s why it’s important to reduce the number of job ads you’re going to apply to.

Doing just any job is a bad choice, as well. Even though it might pay the bills, it will waste your time and energy.

So, handpick the jobs you’d like to do and send out properly customized applications to those employers.

What’s more, you could create a portfolio website, as well. This will make you stand out from the rest of the pack and catch the eye of the potential employers.

The guys from Houston logo and design agency emphasize the importance of the visual aspect of every such online portfolio. So, make sure to create a visually appealing portfolio website.

5)    Avoid volunteering for profitable organizations

Working as a volunteer for profitable companies is a grey area. Even though some companies hire students and graduates for that matter, it might be against the law.

Basically, if the company makes money at an event where you’re volunteering, you should get paid for your effort.

That’s why it’s better to volunteer for charity organizations.

On the one hand, you’ll do something for people in need and help your local community.

On the other, you’ll expand your business network.

What’s more, volunteering for charity also means gaining some work experience. It will look nice in your CV, as well.

Moreover, you can also volunteer for some public services, such as hospitals, schools, etc. They need extra staff when they’re launching some special projects.

Still, make sure to volunteer only in the activities that have something in common with your profession.

6)    Spend some time abroad

Traveling abroad is a great way to expand your horizons and meet new people.

Both these things can be crucial when you’re looking for your first job.

It’s recommended to spend one or more summers during your studies visiting other countries and continents.

For instance, many students from Europe work and travel in the USA during their summer breaks. That way, they gain some work experience and meet other students, as well. Some of them even decide to continue their studies in the USA.

On the other hand, students from the USA travel to Europe to get familiar with the economic and university system overseas. Some of them even work during their stay. Every foreign language school in Europe needs native speakers of the English language.

This exchange of students contributes to the exchange of different ideas, viewpoints, and work experiences. As a result, students will have more real-life knowledge when they become graduates. This will come in handy in job interviews and applications.

7)    Utilize the power of social media

Last, but not least, contemporary students and graduates need to use social media to find a job.

Firstly, all the specialized websites for job-seekers publish job posts on their social media pages.

Furthermore, there are many groups on Facebook in which people share such ads or discuss different work experiences.

Additionally, you can utilize the @JobSeekers thread on Twitter to search for new opportunities.

Also, don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn promotion on your path to the first real job. Hundreds of millions of business professionals use this network daily. The chances are high that someone will notice you, as well.

Conclusion

Looking for your first job after you finish your studies is both an interesting and stressful endeavor.

If you have no experience, it’s important to expose yourself to employers.

Visiting job fairs and joining youth organizations will help you connect with other similar people. Hence, you’ll soon get to know some employers, as well.

And if you approach every job application with proper commitment, you’ll stand out from other candidates.

Volunteering for renowned charity organizations will add to your visibility in a sea of bleak VCs, as well.

Finally, spending some time abroad and being active in social media should help you obtain more information about adequate companies and jobs.

All these steps should make every new graduate a successful job seeker.

 

Author Byline: Liam Collins is a tech pundit and Web enthusiast working at TuiSpace.com. He spends most of his time reading and writing about the current affairs in the world of information technology. When he isn’t working, he likes going for long bike rides and walks in nature.