Job Hunting Dos and Don’ts for New Grads
Everything you need to nab your first post-college job.
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Happy Hunting - School is out! If you didn’t lock down a job before graduation day, it’s time to get cracking. Read on to learn everything you need to know to get in the door at your first post-college job. By Kenrya Rankin (Photo: Caiaimage/Sam Edwards/Getty Images)
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DO Put Yourself Out There - As your mama has probably told you a million times: closed mouths don’t get fed. Tell the people in your network — professors, aunties, former internship coordinators — that you are looking for permanent employment and ask if they can help. (Photo: Peopleimages/Getty Images)
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DON’T Forget To Tailor Your Résumé - …And your cover letter. Your résumé should hit hard on the skills that are relevant to each individual job. And your cover letters should be specifically addressed whenever possible, and refer to the potential employer and the desired position by name.(Photo: Ariel Skelley/Getty Images)
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DO Clean Up Your Social Media Pages - Studies show that employers use social media profiles to recruit and research potential candidates. From your photos to your comments, make sure yours provide a professional image. (Photo: Eric Audras/Getty Images)
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DON’T Neglect LinkedIn - You probably know that you need a profile, but just having one isn’t enough. You need to draw people to your page: update it with all your post-grad info, connect with professors and classmates, join alumni and industry groups and solicit recommendations.(Photo: m-imagephotography/Getty Images)
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DO Volunteer to Gain Résumé-Boosting Experience - This works for most fields. For example: Want to manage social media accounts for the big boys, but need to prove you can do it? Volunteer with a nonprofit to build your skill set and portfolio.(Photo: Robert Daly/Getty Images)
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DON’T Forget About Your School’s Resources - As a new grad, you can still use your university’s career placement services to revamp your résumé, work on your interview skills and make connections with employers.(Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez/Getty Images)
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DO Target Your Search - Skip general job search sites in favor of industry-specific ones to increase your exposure to potential jobs. Many industry organizations post positions exclusively for members, so invest in a membership or two. (Photo: Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images)