College is all about gathering knowledge, making lifelong friends and memories, and learning how to become a fully functioning adult. However, a significant number of students fail to understand what should be done each year of college, to make you marketable to employers upon graduation. Not only is performing well in courses crucial, but landing an internship, attending professional events, joining clubs and organizations related to your specific major, among other things allow an undergraduate student to become as prepared as possible to land their first job, post-graduation.
5 Steps to Help You Land That Post-Graduate Job
If you follow this step-by-step guide, you will be better prepared towards landing that first job offer after graduation, while releasing a significant sigh of relief. Finding your first job, especially immediately after graduating college is stressful and difficult, so any suggestions or advice to reach employment after graduation is helpful. The first four steps of this guide will discuss the four years of college and the final step dives into the importance of connecting each of the four years of college and how it will help you become more prepared, professional, and ultimately, the best candidate for your first job.
Step 1: Freshman Year Blues
Not only is freshman year typically one of the most difficult college years, but freshmen tend to poorly adjust to the college lifestyle. A significant portion of freshmen in college fail courses, drop out, or change their major. Freshmen in college have to learn how to live on their own, without their families, and a lot of freshmen do not thrive in those particular environments. However, freshman year allows you to connect with people who have similar interests, majors, and job goals, so you should begin to familiarize yourself with as many people as you can throughout your classes, especially in the ones related to your major. Although freshman year can be labeled as an introductory year to what college will be like, freshman year teaches you how to be a reliable and hardworking person, throughout coursework and tight schedules. You should begin to network with others, as this will help you when you search for jobs, later down the line.
Step 2: Sophomore Year Slump
During your sophomore year of college, you continue to take general education courses, which fill your schedule, but you will also begin to take courses that become increasingly challenging, especially the ones related to your major. The term “slump” is used because a lot of college students tend to slack off, as they may live off-campus or could be involved in a plethora of clubs and activities. Sophomore year is the perfect time to join clubs and organizations related to your specific major. There you will meet like-minded people and gain a deeper understanding of what your first job will truly be. Sophomore year also allows you to connect with more people, as you begin to take more challenging courses related to your major. Your LinkedIn profile should begin to look presentable, as you will continue to network.
Step 3: Junior Year Stressors
During your junior year of college, you begin to take challenging and more professional courses related to your major. It is important to do well in these courses, as employers will be looking to see how you performed. It is also important to create relationships with your professors as they can help you understand which field of work you want to enter and possibly write letters of recommendation. Junior year is stereotypically labeled as the toughest year for college students, where one of the most difficult attributes is the search and acquisition of an internship. Internships allow you to gain the necessary skills and knowledge about the field of work you want to work in post-graduation. Junior year is also the pinnacle time to begin attending professional events regularly. It is important to connect with career services as they can help you with creating a resume, helping you land an internship, among other things.
Step 4: Senior Year Senioritis
During your senior year of college, you take some of the most challenging yet informative courses, however, your course load is typically less than what you were taking during your first three years of college. Some seniors will have internships and some will be focusing on achieving their degrees. It is important to not slack off, as employers will realize the lack of course work and no internship or part-time job. Senior year will be labeled as “the last hoorah,” meaning you have one final year to connect and network with as many students as possible, before graduation. Researching and applying for jobs throughout your senior year are among the most important aspects. You should also attend more professional events, job fairs, club and organization meetings, as well as connect with professors and classmates. Networking will help you find the job you truly want!
Step 5: Putting it All Together
College is a stressful but rewarding four-year period. You will learn more in the field you want to work in, as well as in life skills. Each year of college you will learn more and you will begin to stack these skills and knowledge, making you a valued prospect for a job. All the professional events, club and organization meetings, classes, and job fairs you attended over the past four years have given you experience in talking with employers and other like-minded peers. The most important aspect of college is that you have matured and grown into a responsible adult, one who is ready for the everyday task of working for a company or business full-time.
Don’t Believe Me? See For Yourself
If you’re still skeptical that these steps won’t help you in landing your first job, check out our Student Success Stories and read how some of our best students are now successful employees for companies around the nation. They followed these exact steps and now they’re paid generously for their contributions. Another piece of advice is to not be pessimistic; you are unique and offer something not everyone can offer. Use that as your advantage when searching for your first job and good luck!
If you enjoyed this blog, subscribe to our email for more advice, tips, and suggestions sent out every month for landing your first job!