How to Find a Job After College: The Ultimate Guide

When you think about it, finding a job after college probably seems like the last thing anyone would want to do. I mean, post-grad life is all about fun and frolic. So why mess with that by looking for a job? But as they say, necessity is the mother of invention. In order to have enough money for rent, food and parties, you need to land a job. And what better time to do so than right after you graduate from college? So now comes the big question: How do you find a job after college? Well, we get that you’re probably thinking something along the lines of ‘Duh! The internet’ or ‘Any old career center’ or ‘Word of mouth’… But wait till you read these answers:

Decide on the kind of job you want.

Before you do anything, you need to know what you want your job to be. Now, we understand that you might be thinking – ‘What if I don’t know what I want to do?’ That is a very valid thing to feel, especially if you have been unsure about what you want to do for a long time. If this is the case, then don’t panic! You can start by thinking about things you enjoy, and try to build from there. Think about what you want to do, and why you want to do it. What do you want from life, and what do you want to be?

Pro tip: isolating one role that you’d like to apply to in one specific industry will help you focus on your interview tactics. For example, if you’re applying for marketing roles in the beverage space, fintech, and athletic apparel space you’ll likely have a hard time researching industry trends, competitor tactics, and key jargon within the industry because of the wide focus. While someone who focuses on fintech marketing roles will understand what has worked in the past, the top brands within the space, and the tactics their competitors are using. Huge advantage! Additionally, narrowing down a specific role would make the process of finding opportunities easier. Check Linkedin for marketing roles and you will find it will take years to apply to all roles, but zeroing in on “growth marketing manager” will give you a targeted list of opportunities you’re qualified for. Shortlist the industry, role, and company size for maximum efficacy.

Network like crazy.

If you can’t find a job on your own, then who can? That’s right, nobody. If you don’t know anyone who works for the company you want to work for, or if you don’t know anyone who knows anyone who knows anyone, or if you can’t find any leads on the internet, where will you find a job? Regardless of what field you are in, you need to network like crazy. This means going to conventions, joining professional organizations, going to meet-ups in your city, and making as many connections as possible. You need to constantly be in the habit of meeting and talking to as many people as possible who might be able to help you find a job.

Use your school’s career center.

If you go to a traditional university or have any kind of scholarship, then you have access to a career center. This is a place where you can go to find leads on companies that are hiring, and/or leads on jobs that are open, and/or information on how to apply for a job. These are often staffed by people who have experience in the field, and who will be able to guide and help you find a job after college. You might have to wait in line or have several appointments because there might be people who are in front of you, and who might have appointments and deadlines that are more pressing than yours. However, if you have access to the career center, you should go as often as you can.

Try electronic job search methods.

There are tons of online job search sites out there that you can use to help you find a job after college. At the same time, you should use them as a last resort to find employment. One of the most popular sites that you can use to find a job after college is Indeed. This site will help you find jobs quickly and efficiently. You can also use services like LinkedIn to help you find a job after college.

Check out your local newspaper’s employment section.

If you have already tried all the methods we have already mentioned above, then you can try looking for a job in your local newspaper. That is right, you can go to your local newspaper’s website and check out their employment section. You can go there and look for jobs in your field and in your area. Did you know that almost 80% of roles at companies that are vacant aren’t advertised? Focus on your local market could be a great hack. Connect with employers in your area and ask!

Check out online job search methods.

We have already mentioned some sites that you can use to find a job after college. But we will list them again below, just in case you missed anything! Now, you can use these methods as a last resort to find employment, but you should try all the other methods first. Again, these online job search methods will help you find a job quickly and efficiently.

Pro tip: visit company pages to apply for roles directly. Then follow up with the hiring manager or CEO if it’s a startup to let them know you have submitted a resume and explain your enthusiasm for the role. This surely isn’t scalable, but for the roles you really want this is a great tactic to add to the mix.

Bottom line

The post-grad life is probably the most stressful period in your life. You are trying to find a job, make money and figure things out as you go. It can be overwhelming and stressful at times, but there are tons of resources out there to help you. You just need to know where to look and what to do. With the right attitude, you can find a job after college. With the right information, you can find the job that you want. So, what are you waiting for?