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First Step After Graduation: Get a Job

Get a Job

After completing university, most graduates go straight into job-hunting according to their chosen fields – some with the intention of settling student loans, or just diving into their passion to start gaining work experience. If your reason is to begin repaying your student loans, then there’s no need to rush, as there are platforms to help you out, tons of students love refinancing their loans, you can refinance your student loans with ELFI.

Student loan refinancing is an excellent way to make payments more manageable, and is also a great help to those looking to go back to university and pursue postgraduate studies.

For others, the pressure to find a job begins even before they graduate, which is relatively good as it keeps them a step ahead in the search for opportunities.Such opportunities are most likely to be graduate jobs. Finding a job immediately after university also helps graduates to avoid the development of gaps in their CV.

This article will give you some of the basics for you to consider that will jumpstart your career.

Get a solid resume.

It’s a competitive world out there, and a good resume and cover letter is a significant way through which you can market yourself effectively. You’ll first of all need to tailor your resume to the individual job description using relevant keywords as most employers today use applicant tracking systems to scan resumes for keywords. This implies that if your resume doesn’t have the correct keywords, your application is likely not to get considered. The same goes for cover letters.

Frequently check new job postings.

Begin your day by checking out new job openings. Such information can be found in newspapers, trade journals, professional organizations, and online platforms that routinely post job openings. Usually, the best time to apply for a job is 48 hours after it’s posted. For this reason, you’ll have to check for new postings very often.

You can sign up on online platforms to receive email alerts whenever there’s an opening. Another excellent research method to employ when looking for a job is attending job fairs, recruiting seminars, and real-time meetings where people appreciate a handshake. These will help you expand your network.

Be optimistic.

Prepare for an interview even before you get called. This will help you boost your confidence by preparing answers to the commonly asked questions such as – what your strengths and weaknesses are, where you see yourself in five years, and so on.

You’ll also have to learn deeply about the trending topics in your industry, as well as the company you’re hoping to get employed into. Read the company’s website, follow them on social media, set up relevant Google alerts, and learn as much as you can about the company.

Make sure you have the correct attire prepared. Doing this on the last minute can really mess you up. Dress the way you want to be perceived by people. Women, for example, should wear an outfit that they can sit or bend down in without exposing themselves. For men, it’s important to groom well. 

Image Credits: Get a Job from fizkes/Shutterstock