Career advice for recent college grads

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If you're a recent college graduate and you're unemployed, you might have an idea of what we're about to talk about.

You've spent four years of your life hitting the books, getting good grades, participating in relevant extra-curricular activities, and maybe even juggling a part-time job in between. You've worked really hard for your degree and you've been told time and time again that a degree is essential to finding employment in today's competitive job market.

So, why are you not getting hired?

First of all, you're not alone. Though the unemployment rate has slowly declined for bachelor's degree owners, it's still lagging. For that reason, the competition is fiercer than ever. This means you really have to re-evaluate your job search strategy.

Here are some reasons why you might not be getting hired as a recent college graduate:

Your Resume Isn't Job-Specific


While it's good to have a strong resume with all of your professional skill sets, your resume can become generic when all you do is send the same resume to every open position you find.

Take the time to rewrite your resume on multiple occasions and use specific keywords that are in the job description.

According to an article on the Job Center of Wisconsin website, gathering information specific to the job you are applying for and matching it with your experience on your resume is what makes a good resume. You have to "think like an employer," the article states, and "do not give unrelated or negative information."

You're Not Applying For Jobs That Are Specific To Your Skills


Stressed young professional/recent college grad on laptop tries to find a job while unemployed

You have every reason to apply for every job in sight. However, it doesn't do you any favors when you apply for every single job you see and send the same resume to each one.

Apply for the jobs you want and are qualified for. After all, it's what you studied for.

Try to make a list of potential places you'd like to work for (your interview bucket list) and target those companies any way you can. Use social media sites like LinkedIn to find people you can network with, and keep an eye out for any open positions. You have a better chance of getting hired at a job where your skills are relevant than at a job you're 100% unqualified for.

You Don't Take Your Social Media Profiles Seriously


Happy young woman looking at her social media profiles on her phone

According to an article on the Undercover Recruiter, a survey of 300 professionals by Reppler found that "hirers are using social networks to screen job applicants." This means you should clean up your Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok profiles to present a more positive, but more importantly, professional image of yourself.

It might be in your best interest not to post that picture of you doing a keg stand as your default, or post about how you hate looking for jobs because you'd rather be partying with your friends.

We understand how difficult it is for recent college grads and young professionals to find a job right now. By following these tips, you'll shorten your job search and get hired quicker than your peers.

Need more help with your job search?

Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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3 Ways Young Professionals Can Boost Their Confidence At Work



You're in a meeting at work and would like to suggest an idea, but feel you are too new to the working world or too young to add value at this point. You choose to say nothing and regret it later.

How do you handle this situation in the future? How can you gain confidence at work?

Learning to add your insights and value to the work environment is a process. You are learning the nuances of each situation you are in. Remember, your schooling only allowed you to learn the material within your major. It did not fully prepare you for workplace situations like this. You may have never been in these situations before and you will be constantly learning how to handle and approach them.

It will take time, but you will be able to recognize patterns in your company culture: how meetings are managed, when to speak up, when to be silent, and how to approach your manager, mentor, or senior manager. It will get easier.

In the meantime, here are some suggestions to help you gain confidence at work and make the transition smoother for you:

Gain Emotional Intelligence


Recent college grad/ young professional talks to a coworker

Emotional intelligence (or EQ) is becoming more and more important to professionals everywhere. Why? Understanding the emotional side of life is just as important as understanding the technical/task side of life.

This is EQ as defined by Daniel Goleman, one of the leaders in this area, on his blog:

"Emotional intelligence (of EI) includes self mastery (self-awareness and self-regulation), plus social intelligence (empathy and social skill). Both are essential: you have to lead yourself before you can lead others. There are sets of leadership competencies that set the best-performers apart from average, that build on these basics—e.g., self-regulation is the basis for the discipline to achieve goals, to be adaptable, and to remain calm and clear under pressure. These leadership competencies are learned—and learnable."

In other words, you need to be able to understand yourself emotionally in order to understand and work well with others. Once you do this, you will begin to thrive in your work with others.

Build Relationships


Group of young professionals building relationships with one another and gaining confidence during a work meeting

To be truly successful in the working environment, you must take your EQ and use it to build solid, compatible, and trusting working relationships. Those relationships will be with your manager, co-workers, and colleagues from across the organization. This is essential in building your "currency" among your colleagues.

As you are seen as a trusted and effective co-worker, you will gain more and more opportunities to shine. One of the most important relationships you can foster is with your direct manager and a mentor. Yes, find yourself a mentor either inside the organization or outside. Finding both is ideal, actually. An inside mentor will help you navigate your company's culture. An outside mentor will be objective and not influenced by the company or their position in the company.

This is one area as a young professional I wished I had latched onto and never let go of. Professional mentors are priceless. Again, it will take time to build strong colleague relationships. Be patient and be authentic—it will pay off in more ways than you can imagine years from now.

Take Risks


Young professional woman taking a risk by taking on a new project at work and gaining confidence because of it

Don't go on a political rant or go to the CEO's office to voice a concern. The risk I suggest early in your career is the risk of trying new projects or assignments. Be intentional about the projects you would like to work on. If you see an opportunity to extend your reach, do it, even if it feels uncomfortable; discomfort is a sign you'll learn and grow from the experience.

Be bold enough, especially after you have a feel for the way your organization functions, to ask to take on what you see as an issue and fix it. Take initiative and step up. And when you fail (because at some point we all do), so what? Learn from it and move on. Don't get bitter or curl up and nurse your wounds, and never accuse someone else for your mistakes. Your "currency" within the organization will be lost.

However, if you are bold enough to try something new and it doesn't work out the way you planned, but you hold your head high and learn from the mistake, your stature in the organization will elevate. Your co-workers will take notice and some may even compliment you on your initiative.

As you develop your EQ, use it in building relationships, and become more intentional in your work activity and direction, your confidence as a young professional will skyrocket.

Need more help with your career?

Become a member to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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4 Ways College Grads Can Get A Jump On The Job Search



Finding a job after college can be tough! There's stiff competition, and sometimes students are at the mercy of the economy that they graduate into. Many college grads often take minimum wage jobs or jobs that they're overqualified for in order to make ends meet.

The key to landing a job out of college is preparing for the job search process while still in school. Unfortunately, they don't always teach you about the job search process in school, so it's up to students to take responsibility for their future careers.

Here are some tips to put yourself in a position to land a job after college.

Be Thoughtful About Your Career Path


Do you know what the career options are for your degree? How competitive the industry is? What the average salary is for the type of role you're pursuing?

These are not questions you should be seeking to answer after graduation. These are all questions that should've been asked prior to declaring a major.

Research...research...research!

Knowing what you might be in for after graduation can help you with planning. You could meet with your advisor well in advance of graduation and look at potential internships and identify potential companies to work for, giving you a head start on your networking efforts.

If you failed to prepare like this prior to graduation, you did put yourself at an initial disadvantage, but you're certainly not doomed!

What If You're Unsure About Your Career Path?


Two students look over each others' career materials.

Even after college, some people are unsure about what they want to do for a career. If you find yourself in this situation, don't panic. You need to do an honest assessment of yourself and determine the valuable skills that you possess. Most importantly, ask yourself, "What are some of the things I love doing?"

Work It Daily also has resources that can assist you in your search. Our FREE Career Decoder Quiz will help you determine your professional persona. Knowing your professional persona will help you understand the skills you have that bring value to the job and what you find professionally and personally fulfilling.

In addition, whether you're a graduate or still a student, don't limit your opportunities to learn new skills.

Chances are you have interests outside of your course of study. You should be open to pursuing those interests. It could be that you're a health/science major with an interest in computers. Why not take some computer courses?

Interested in learning a trade? Electricians, plumbers, contractors, and auto mechanics are all in demand.

If you're still in school, you have an opportunity to take additional courses or decide on a double major or minor.

Options may be a bit more limited for recent grads, but there are always online courses, certification programs, or specialty course programs available. As long as you have a hunger for more knowledge, you should never stop wanting to learn. The more skills you have, the more career options are available to you. Options are important during the job search for recent grads.

Educate Yourself About The Job Search Process


A college student goes over her job search checklist.

College can't prepare you for everything, and most of the lessons people learn from the job search process come from real-world experience. However, there are some things you can do to prepare.

First, research as many potential jobs as you can before graduation and identify some potential companies that you would like to work for (this is called your interview bucket list). Second, prepare multiple resumes tailored for the specific positions for which you're applying.

A recruiter needs to see the skills you have that apply to the position within the first six seconds of reading your resume. You should also prepare a disruptive cover letter where you really bring attention to yourself by telling a story about how you connect with the company.

The last thing you need to do is reach out and network. It's not enough to just send in a resume and cover letter and hope that you'll be contacted. Reach out to people who work at the company through LinkedIn and introduce yourself. Use the fact that you're a graduating student seeking knowledge to your advantage. There are professionals who enjoy the opportunity to mentor.

Even if these new connections don't translate into an immediate job, you've made your first professional contacts which could come in handy at some other point in time. Knowing how to conduct a proactive job search will serve you well throughout your professional life.

Remember, There's Nothing Wrong With Changing Career Paths


College student happy at his internship

Sometimes you find happiness and success in a career field that you didn't go to school for. That's okay (and normal). Life happens!

For new grads, the goal is usually to find work in your field of study and it's great when things work out that way. But as the job search process goes on you may fall into a job that you weren't planning to and end up liking it. If the job makes you happy and there's room for growth, there's nothing wrong with keeping it. It's a personal decision.

This will be true throughout your professional life. You may end up working in your field, but, as time goes on, priorities and life circumstances change. You may develop new skills that draw you into a new career direction. The goal is to always put yourself in a position to succeed and sometimes that means making a change.

Preparation and keeping an open mind are the two common themes when it comes to the job search for recent grads. There are no guarantees for new graduates, so you have to be ready for anything. Hopefully, by knowing what to expect, you'll know how to land a job after college and can land a job that matches your talents.

Here at Work It Daily, we understand how difficult it is to find a job and grow your career as a recent college grad. If you're struggling to find a job that's right for you, we can help.

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Acquiring Job Advance Your Career Career Changing Careers and Employment Education Internship

4 Ways College Grads Can Get A …