25+ Tips For Getting a Job After College

It’s a time full of uncertainty, self-doubt, rejection, and what feels like endless job searching. There are no hard and fast rules for what “must” be done to find a job after college.

If you’re looking for a place to start, here's my post-graduation checklist that helped guide me through my job search. 

The Stats Around a Post-College Job Search

For some people, finding that post-college job is as easy as one visit to a career fair. For others, it's a looming task that you'd rather let the post-grad version of you deal with. But what's really going on with the job search as a new grad? Here are a few recent stats to give you an idea of the career landscape you're about to navigate.

Why It's Challenging to Find a Job After College

Even in a low unemployment job market, it can be challenging for new grads to find a job. It's not because there aren't jobs out there; it's because you're competing with people who have more experience. A diploma—and maybe even some recent work experience—doesn't mean you're ready for office life. Employers might be wary of hiring a new grad over someone with more professional work experience. 

Additionally, you don't know what you don't know. What I mean is that college grads might not have a great idea of what they want to do with their career. They might struggle to know what their strengths are and how they can be applied to a job. Yes, research and networking can help, but it's to be expected that when you're just starting your career, there will also be a learning curve.

Why Your First Post-College Job Matters

Even though your first post-college job might be harder to land and come with plenty of unknowns, you shouldn't write it off. In fact, the first job you have can have a much bigger impact on the rest of your life than you might think. Recent grads who end up in jobs that didn't require a college degree are five times as likely to still be in such a position five years later, compared with those who put their diploma to use right away.

Here's what CNBC had to say about this topic:

"Ten years later, three-quarters of graduates who took jobs early on that didn’t demand a degree will be in the same spot. And these graduates earn around $10,000 a year less than their counterparts who started early in jobs that required a college degree.

These findings come out of a report by the Strada Institute for the Future of Work and Burning Glass Technologies, a career market analytics company. The researchers analyzed more than 4 million resumes.

"Young adults underemployed after graduation can’t consider it just a phase,” the report reads. "A few months can easily turn into a few years and eventually an entire career."

More than 40 percent of college graduates take positions out of school that don’t require a degree, the study found. And more than one in five college grads "still aren’t working a degree-demanding job a decade after leaving school."

In other words, it literally pays to put effort into your job search.

The Myth of the Dream Job

As we get ready to approach our tips on how to land your first job post-college, we have one last important message: don't get trapped in the dream job cycle. Career Contessa's founder, Lauren McGoodwin, talks about this a lot (psst! she even has a book that covers this!) and the danger this cycle can have on you.

Jobs are meant to challenge you, teach you, and provide you compensation in exchange for the work that you do. They are not here to fulfill your every purpose, become your passion, or be what you commit your life to. One thing we've all learned is that our mental, physical, and emotional well-being matters. The earlier you ditch this idea that there is a dream job out there to rescue you, the more fulfilled you'll actually be in your career.

How to Find a Job After College: 25+ Tips

Start with Confidence + Ditch Impostor Syndrome

Nothing seems to ding your confidence as much as a job search. The rejection emails seem to come on the days your impostor syndrome is already telling you that you'll never land a job. That's why I'm starting my list here. Get your mental, emotional, and physical well-being in a good place, and learn how to keep it there for your job search—and beyond.

Research Potential Career Paths + Types of Jobs

Before you start applying for jobs, consider what types of roles you would enjoy. Consider the jobs or school projects in the past that you enjoyed. What skills were you using? Can those skills be applied in the workplace? Create a list of your strengths and the skills you have, then consider the types of jobs that use those. Here are a few lists of jobs to get you thinking:

Research Companies

In addition to researching potential career paths, it can also be helpful to narrow your job search down to specific companies. What companies do you admire? What companies' products and services to you often use? Is there leadership at a company you'd like to be part of? Would you prefer to be at a startup vs. a large company?

Create a list of your target companies to help you focus your job search and look at what roles they are hiring for.

Set Up Job Alerts

Once you have a better idea of what types of jobs and companies you want to work for, set up job alerts so you know when roles open. The company's career page might offer this, or you can sign up via LinkedIn, Google Alerts, or even dedicated jobs newsletters like these:

Consider Part-Time, Freelance, and Internship Positions

Don't forget to consider other types of roles, outside of full-time. These can be a good way to build up experience to make you a stronger job applicant, and they might even be less competitive. Plus, you might be able to get your foot in the door at a company by doing part-time work and then converting to a full-time role later. Here are some resources to help:

Find Specific Job Boards

Often we forget that there are job boards outside of our college career center. In addition to the big guys like LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter, there are hundreds of niche job boards you can browse, apply, and set up alerts for. 

Reach Out to Your Network 

I can’t stress this enough. Some estimate that upwards of 85% of open positions are filled through networking. And when you’re trying to get your foot in the door with your first full-time position, reaching out to your network is even more important.

Your network includes those who know you and your potential very well: family members, neighbors, friends, former coworkers and managers, and professors. But it also includes more secondary connections who might be even more relevant in your desired industry. Think of those friends of friends and second and third connections on LinkedIn.

Here are some resources to help you reach out to your network with confidence:

Leverage Your Alumni Network

While you're considering your network, don't forget that you're now part of the exclusive alumni network at your college. Join your alumni network—the first year of membership is often free—and reach out to alumni to learn about job opportunities.

Conduct Informational Interviews

Alright, you’re ready to reach out to your network after reading the above. But what if you want to reach out to someone you’ve never met or contacted before? That’s where the power of informational interviews come into play. An informational interview is a networking technique that allows you to connect with people from companies and industries you’re interested in. 

Here are some resources to help you conduct an informational interview that could help you land a job (or at the very least learn something):

Keep Up With Industry News

It's a good idea to also stay up-to-date on industry news so you are knowledgeable about trends, major PR announcements, and other newsworthy updates. You'll be more impressive in your networking efforts, and it will come in handy during any job interviews.

Perfect Your Elevator Pitch

Whether you’re in an informational interview, at a networking event, in a job interview, or (literally) in an elevator, you need to be prepared to share who you are, what your past experiences are, and what you’re looking for. 

Here are some resources to help you craft an amazing elevator pitch with ease. 

Keep Your Job Search Organized

From personal experience, I know how overwhelming the job search process can be. Keeping track of your application materials, informational interview contacts, dream companies, and application statuses is challenging, but not impossible. Keeping your job search organized in an Excel spreadsheet or Airtable base is extremely helpful.

Here's a resource to help you keep track of everything throughout your job search:

Stay Motivated During Your Job Search

The average job search takes three to six months, so losing motivation is natural. To protest against that, here are my best tips:

Create a Job Search Routine

Going along with my last tip, create a job search routine that helps you manage the many moving pieces in your job search. I set up certain days to act as themes: Thursdays for networking, Mondays for follow-up emails, and Wednesdays for applying to jobs I saved throughout the week. 

Update Your Job Application Materials

When applying to multiple positions, it’s important to update and edit your application materials to fit each unique job opening. I know that constantly revising your materials can be annoying and time-consuming, but it does help you stand out and showcase the value you would add to the role and company. 

Here are some resources to help you develop the best application tailored to specific jobs:

Write a Master Resume

A great hack I learned from Career Contessa CEO, Lauren McGoodwin, is to create one master resume that includes all your experience, education, skills, etc. Then, edit it for the specific job you're applying to and only keep what is important to that employer. It's a quick way to create tailored resumes for each job. She teaches about this in her resume course, too.

Tailor Your Resume for Each Job + Company

Naturally, this would be my next tip. If you don't know already, make sure you're tailoring each resume, cover letter, and other materials you send in for the specific job and company. If you need more help with exactly how to do this, here are some courses to explore:

Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

When applying for jobs, it’s important to make sure your online presence is professional. Furthermore, the power of using LinkedIn to help aid your job search is unmatched. You can optimize your profile today to make new (and helpful) connections, show up in a recruiter’s search, find individuals to have informational interviews with, and easily showcase your interests, skills, experiences, and work samples to potential employers. 

Here are some resources to help create a LinkedIn profile that stands out to recruiters:

Build a Personal Website or Portfolio

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Personal branding is everything. When applying to jobs, it can be hard to stand out and show what you can do. That’s why a personal website or portfolio filled with your best work samples is so important. Once you’ve made your personal website or portfolio, be sure to link it to your resume, cover letter, email signature, and LinkedIn profile. 

These resources can help you create a personal website or portfolio that enhances your brand presence and provides evidence of your work:

Curate Your Social Media Profiles

Don't forget to review what your social media profiles are showing to employers! Additionally, you can use these accounts to show your interests in specific topics or industries. For example, if you love media companies and are applying to work at work, maybe you create a Twitter account where you share interesting news.

Learn New Skills Relevant to the Field You Want to Enter

Now that classes are over, you thankfully have more free time to learn new skills you may not have been taught in school. Try to determine what skills employers are looking for in your industry by skimming through job descriptions. If a certain skill keeps popping up that you don’t have, see if you can learn it by taking a course or watching videos online. 

Prepare for Job Interviews

After gradually checking off the steps above, you’ll be well on your way to landing a job interview. This section will guide you through the entire process including what to do before, during, and after the interview. 

Here are some resources to help you during each stage of the interview process:

Conduct a Mock Interview

A mock interview might sound super awkward (because they are!) but they are also very helpful! Ask a mentor, role model, or even relative to conduct a mock interview with you and then give you feedback. Not sure where to start? Here's some helpful advice:

Prep for a Phone Interview

Before your in-person interview, you'll probably be invited for a phone interview. These require their own unique prep process because you can't rely on body language and other face-to-face interactions. Here's where to start with your prep.

Dress Professionally for Your Interview

Whether you're interviewing in-person or via Zoom, I recommend putting on something professional so you can show the interview team that you're taking the process seriously. Even if the office is super casual, try sticking to something more business casual. In additional to dressing well, bring copies of your resume, a portfolio or iPad if needed, along with a notebook. It's totally acceptable to take notes during the interview process.

Bring Questions to Ask Your Interviewer

A huge interview mistake that the Career Contessa team hears over and over again from employers is that a candidate skipped the opportunity to ask them any specific questions. Not only does it show you've done your homework on the company and job title, but you also need to make sure this job is a fit for what you're looking for. Here are some helpful resources:

Develop Your Post-Interview Routine

Landing an interview is the hardest part of the job search process. You should feel proud of yourself for getting to this point. Now it’s time to develop a post-interview routine that will impress recruiters and help you stand out from other candidates. 

Here are some resources to help you navigate through the post-interview process in hopes of receiving a job offer or staying in touch.

Research Salary + Company Benefits

After your interview hopefully comes the job offer. This means salary, benefits, and other parts of a compensation package that you will want to deeply consider. Our best advice is to not accept any offer right away. Instead, thank the employer for the job offer and then take at least a few days to make sure the salary is competitive and you understand the other things being offered. Don't ever feel bad asking questions about money or negotiating an offer. Here are some things I've found helpful in my negotiation process:

3 Lessons I Learned (So Far) From My Job Search

I’ll be the first to admit that my experience trying to secure my first full-time job after college was challenging. Here are three lessons I learned from my post-graduation job search. 

Lesson #1: Apply for any job that interests you, even if you don’t check all the boxes.

If you don’t check every requirement in a job description, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider applying. This approach is especially relevant for entry-level positions, as many times employers are looking for candidates who have transferable skills, are eager to learn, and can communicate effectively.

During my junior year of college, I started looking for a part-time job on campus to gain some work experience and build my resume. I came across a listing that required skills in graphic design, social media, videography, and photography. But at the time, I only had experience in graphic design and social media. After going back and forth about it, I decided to submit my application. 

While I didn’t have all the skills outlined in the job description, I impressed the interviewer and ended up receiving a job offer. Bottom line: apply, apply, apply if you’re remotely interested and can learn the skills needed to succeed.

Lesson #2: Take risks in your job search—they might pay off in ways you would never expect.

Taking risks in your job search can lead to unexpected results. Leading up to the summer between my junior and senior year of college, I was struggling to find an internship in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. I started using Career Contessa’s resources to assist in my job search and quickly became interested in empowering women throughout every stage of their careers. 

When reading through articles on the website, I came across How to Write a Letter of Interest—Plus the Template You Need. That’s when a bold idea popped into my head. Why not send a letter of interest to the CEO/Founder of Career Contessa to see if there were any summer internship opportunities available? Fast forward a couple of weeks later, and I secured an interview and ultimately an internship offer to work with the company for the summer. Fast forward one year later as I write this article today as a part-time SEO-Focused Content Writer for Career Contessa.

Bottom line: if you’re interested in working for a company but don’t see a specific opportunity that fits your needs/skills, send a letter of interest.

Lesson #3: Take care of your mental health when job searching. 

My biggest takeaway from my post-graduation job search is the importance of taking care of your mental health and being gentle with yourself.

After constantly applying to jobs and being rejected (or not even getting an interview), it’s easy to lose confidence in yourself and your capabilities. Bottom line: make sure you’re incorporating self-care into your job search.

Here are some resources to help you manage your mental health during your job search: