6 Job Hunting Tips for College Graduates

Say goodbye to classes, all-nighters and fraternity parties; say hello to the shockingly different and challenging world of job search and career development. It's a jungle out there for the hundreds of thousands of newly-minted college graduates, all looking for the top jobs. Make yourself noticeable! Take a look at our list of job hunting tips that will help you stand out from the crowd:

1. Start early. This tip may be too late for the seniors reading this, but you juniors and sophomores should take note. In fact, career counselors think your job search should begin in your freshman year. The students who find internships, co-ops and even volunteer experience will get an edge in networking and finding employment.

2. Be realistic. It’s tempting to think you can apply for every interesting or lucrative-sounding job, but it’s not realistic. The best idea is to zero in on exactly what you want to do and what you’re trained by school or experience to do. The closer your targeted job relates to your background, the more you’ll impress recruiters, and the higher your salary will be.

3. Sound professional. Begin to think more like a disciplined adult and less like a student. If you already have a résumé, rewrite it to sound more professional, using language and words that have a business-like tone. Place less emphasis on your hobbies, coursework and grades. Use words like performed,
implemented, solved and supervised rather than terms like involved, ambitious, hardworking and assisted.  These active verbs give a sense of energy to your resume, which can make people take notice of your enthusiasm.

4. Be thorough. Invest time in researching your job choices. Spend at least several hours learning about every job, and write a personalized version of your résumé for each one. This will seem to take too much time at first, but if you stay within the same field, the process becomes faster and faster. Learn about the company and its particular market so your cover letter will appear
knowledgeable. This effort will be apparent to your future employer, and might be what separates you from the rest of the applicants.

5. Search everywhere.There are numerous ways to find a job, and you should take advantage of every one. The traditional source is the local newspaper, and its value is enhanced because most of them now have electronic editions. Search both, because employers can choose one or the other. Live job fairs are excellent places to find a job and hand out your résumé. If you go, dress up, take at least 25 scannable résumés with you and be ready to interview on the spot. Don't neglect searching employer's web sites, and make sure to join appropriate Usenet forums. Networking is a great way to find a job as well - so make a great impression at any job-related function you attend. You never know what can come of a single conversation.

6. Ace the interview. If you did your research, planned well and developed a great résumé, you probably won the right to interview for the job. The interview is like a final exam, so success rides on how well you perform. Dress appropriately, carry your paperwork in a briefcase or portfolio and avoid asking about salary and benefits at first. Make good eye contact during the interview and follow the style and manner of the interviewer. Finally, the best tip we can give is to spend some time interviewing the interviewer about the company and its goals and directions. Asking questions shows that you are interested and engaged, traits you must have if you really want this job.

Starting a new career is exciting, because for once you're paying your own way. This is a great time to consider buying life insurance as well, because at this young age you can lock in a great rate. Let NetQuote help connect you with qualified agents who can answer your questions and point you in the right direction.

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