When should you start looking for a job after college

After you graduate from college, you might feel like the world is your oyster. The possibilities seem endless and it can be a little overwhelming to know where to begin. Should you travel? Start your own business? What industry should you start in? Take some time off to find yourself first? The answer is: It depends. There are several factors that will contribute to how soon after graduation you should start looking for a job. Your specific career goals, financial situation, and personal circumstances all play a role in determining when you should begin the job search process. The sooner you begin exploring your options and connecting with hiring managers the better your chances of securing an ideal post-graduation opportunity will be. With that in mind, here are some suggestions on when you should look for a job after college.

When to start looking for a job after college: Before you graduate ideally

If you’re able to, it can be very advantageous to start looking for jobs before you graduate. This way, you’ll have plenty of time to apply for positions, attend interviews, and potentially receive job offers before you even finish your studies. If you start searching for positions before you graduate, you can include your graduation date on your resume and job application, allowing hiring managers to see when your studies will be completed. This can be useful if you’re applying for internships or part-time positions that might not be available when you’re ready to start working. Many employers are also open to having graduates come on part time before graduation and then move to full time employees. Starting before graduation is the ultimate hack and if you’re unable to land a role during the 6 months leading up to your graduation then at least you will be well versed in where to look for roles, what roles apply to you, and how to prepare for and nail interviews. It’s a numbers game, the more you do the better you get so the sooner you start the further you separate yourself from the competition.

After You Graduation: 0-6 months

For most graduates, the 6 months after graduation are spent looking for job opening - some say finding your first job is you first full time job. It’s a huge grind for millions of graduates each year! 6 months came and went, you applied to roles every day but you’re still left without a job - you’re not alone. Take these as hints, make micro adjustments to how you interview, how you describe your experience, the types of companies you apply to, etc. If you’re unable to land interviews consider making edits to your resume, consider startups rather than large companies or even work on adding cover letters to your application. Spend some time also adding hiring managers at companies you like on Linkedin or consider emailing them your application directly, at this point you must act a bit more forward to make sure you’re able to land that role to launch your career.

After you graduation: 6-12 months

If you’re struggling to find a job, 12 months after graduation is a good time to reevaluate your options. It’s important to remember that being unemployed isn’t a reflection of your ability or value as a person. The job market is highly competitive, so if you’re struggling to find work, it’s probably not your fault. You can use tools like the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Calculator to get a better idea of what types of jobs are in demand in your city and help you determine where to direct your job search. You can also search for industry-specific job boards, like the Marketing Jobs board on Authentic Jobs, to help you find opportunities in your field.

After you graduation: 12-18 months

After 18 months of searching for a job, you may want to reevaluate your approach more aggressively. It’s natural to feel discouraged and frustrated when you’re actively looking for work, but it’s important not to give up. It only takes one to say yes! Instead, try redoubling your efforts to find the right opportunity. Your skill set and background might be exactly what employers are looking for, but they just aren’t aware that you’re available. There are a few things you can do to improve your chances of being discovered by hiring managers and getting a call-back after your job hunt goes on for several months. Remember that although the journey of landing your first job can be tough and full of rejection each rejection has a lesson that can be learned. If you made it to a few final rounds that means you’re close - your talent is there but a few interview changes can help you close the deal. With each interview your skills to feel comfortable with tough questions improves, your answers are probably crisp, and you’ve had every question thrown at you by this point so continue to remain confident and positive.

Conclusion

Finding a job after college can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Remember that there are tons of different types of jobs out there and your ideal position might not be in your field of study. If you’ve been actively searching for work for more than a few months without any luck, it may be time to reevaluate your approach. There are lots of factors that will contribute to when you should start looking for a job after graduation. Whatever your situation, remember to stay positive and keep your eye on the prize. With some hard work, you’ll find the right opportunity and make the most out of your post-college experience.