How to Find a Job After College: Tips and Tricks

Job hunting after college can be a daunting task at any time – but in the midst of a pandemic, it’s even tougher. So it’s more important than ever to do all you can to increase the odds you find your dream job.

The good news is that while some aspects of the job search are out of your hands (Covid-19, anyone?), others are very much in your control.

One of those aspects is earning a college degree. You’re more likely to find a job if you hold a college degree than if you don’t, and you’re more likely to earn more money, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

When should you start looking for a job?

In a word: NOW. Most students start their search a few months before college graduation, or soon afterward. And if that’s you, don’t worry; it’s not the end of the world. But starting sooner rather than waiting will make finding a job after college a lot easier.

“We want students to think about how they can graduate with a job, not just how to get a job after (college),” says Barbara Fouts, assistant director of career development and internship coordinator at North Central College. “We want (college) students to graduate with a diploma in one hand and at least one job offer in the other.”

Sounds great, right? To achieve that, you need to give some serious thought to what kind of jobs you’d enjoy, which organizations you’d like to be a part of, and where in the world you hope to live. You’ll need to create a powerful resume and recent college graduate cover letter, and fine-tune your interview skills, and more.

You get the idea: There’s lots to do. Start early.

6 tips for an effective job search

1) Visit your college’s career development center.

The first item on any job search tips list is to visit your college's career center. “Research shows that (college) students who work with career services are more likely to find a job, and more likely to be satisfied with that job,” says Haydee Nunez, director of North Central College’s career development center. "I know it can be stressful to start the job search process when you’re still taking classes and maybe working a part-time job. But it’s absolutely worth it.”

And, Fouts adds, it’s never too soon: “We can help you even if you’re a first-year (college) student who hasn’t declared a major yet. I can’t tell you how often students tell me, ‘I wish I had come to see you earlier.’”

Many college and university career centers will work one-on-one with students to identify their skills and interests, research on the job market and companies, craft recent graduate resumes, and conduct practice interviews. Some colleges, like North Central, also provide free access to premium online tools like Handshake and Big Interview. North Central’s career development staff also offers a wide range of programs and services throughout the academic year; this year, those include an online All-majors Job and Internship Fair, for example.  

In other words, as a college grad, your connection with career services isn’t a one and done situation. “You’re not alone,” says Nunez. “We’re here to help you every step of the way. You don’t need to do this by yourself.”

2) Think about what you want to do…but don’t pigeonhole yourself.

Many people, whether students or parents or members of the general public, assume that a person's major dictates what they do for a living. Not so. The reality is, your major doesn’t matter as much as your skills and interests. That’s why English majors effectively go into sales and biology majors work in business. And most people successfully change jobs multiple times throughout their lives – and often change careers as well.

Employers may look for certain specific skill sets that apply to the particular position you’re applying for, and you may have mastered those skills as part of your major course of study.

If so, that’s great! But employers also typically want to hire people with broader skill sets that transcend specific jobs. According to Indeed, these include communication, leadership, teamwork, and interpersonal skills.

Employers recognize that if a college graduate or job candidate already has these broader skills (and knows how to learn and is willing to work hard), then they can teach them the narrower, more specific skills fairly easily.

Not entirely sure what you want to do? Welcome to a large club. You can start zeroing in on some good choices by – you guessed it – talking to your friendly neighborhood career counselor.

Or, for a more DIY approach, consider the advice of Stanford University professor and author Dave Evans, who recently spoke with National Public Radio: "(Make) a ‘good-time journal,’ a daily record of all your activities, annotated with notes on how engaging each was and whether it gave you energy or drained you.

This becomes the data that informs what you like to do — and the insights you glean go far beyond the subjects you've liked in school.”

3) Be an early bird.

Start your job hunt as early as possible.This is one area of life where you really want to be proactive. Ideally, your resume, interview skills, and so on will be ready to go by the time you start your senior year – or at least in time for your first job fair.

Keep in mind that the recruitment season for many industries begins in the fall for December and May college grads. Another recruitment cycle will begin in the spring…but if companies have already filled their spots by then, they won’t be actively looking for job candidates or college graduates then. (These are just general guidelines.

Some industries have different recruiting timelines. Talk to your career counselor to find out about the recruiting schedule for the fields that you’re interested in.)

“This is all part of developing a career management plan, which is one of the top skills that employers look for,” says Nunez. “In fact, this skill is so important that North Central requires all students to complete a career readiness seminar that breaks out job-search tasks by class year.”  

Timeliness matters in other contexts as well. If you spot an appealing job posting, Monster.com advises applying within 48 hours of its posting.

Then make a note to follow up on your target job about a week later, confirming that the hiring manager received your resume (after all, it could have been lost or misplaced) and offering to answer any questions he or she may have.

Don’t worry. A potential employer won’t think you’re a pest – they expect professionals to do this sort of thing, and your initiative shows them that you’re interested in the job opening.

Career coaches advise being just as vigilant about following up after a job interview. Write a thank-you note within 24 hours, then check in a few weeks later to ask if they have any additional questions you can answer. If you haven't heard from them, inform your counselor or any alumni who are working for their company.

4) Land an internship, if at all possible.

“Internships are gold on a resume,” says Fouts. She says that students who complete at least one internship in college generally find jobs faster, receive more job offers, and earn a higher salary in their first job.

Paid internships and unpaid internships can give you practical experience in a field you’re interested in, and they can also be useful in helping you rule out possible career paths.

You might have always thought a particular field was perfect for you ... then find out during an internship that you can’t stand working in that environment.

It’s much better to learn that before you graduate because it's easier to develop a new plan, line up additional internships, and change course while you’re still in school.

Of course other professional, leadership, and work experience is valuable and important too. Whether you’ve done student teaching, started a student organization, or volunteered with a local nonprofit, be sure to include it on your resume.