7 Things Every First-Time Job Seeker Must Know

Typically, graduating from college can be one of the significant milestones in your life. It’s the start of a new chapter of your journey in the real world.

After your graduation, you’ll be prepared to utilize all the knowledge you’ve gained for a few years as you find and get your first job.

However, searching for a first job isn’t easy.

It requires a lot of time, dedication, patience, and perseverance to ensure you get the right one for you. 

Thus, if you’re new to the real world, below are seven things every first-time job seeker, like you, must know from the get-go:

Begin The Job Search As Early As Possible

As a first-time job seeker, one of the important things you should know is that you should start searching for a job a month or two before graduation.

This can help save you the agony of seeking employment after graduation, which can very difficult on your end. 

To get started with your first job hunting experience, you should seek referrals from your college professors or family members.

Try to ask them if they can recommend some openings in the industry you’re eyeing.

Also, check out some career fairs in your college. Any opportunities you can get from there can save you time from sending countless job applications after you graduate. 

Make Sure To Research The Company

Another essential thing that you should keep in mind is to conduct a thorough research of the company you’re planning to apply to.

Although most employees want someone who has the skills and qualifications for the job, they’ll also look for applicants who have knowledge about the company itself. 

To show your potential employers your knowledge about their companies, use your cover letter and the interview stage as an opportunity to express your enthusiasm about them.

By doing so, you may be able to impress them and increase your chances of getting your first-time job as quickly as possible.

Prepare A Good Resume

For first-time job seekers like you, writing a good resume is one of the crucial things you should do after graduation.

Primarily, a resume refers to a formal document that job candidates draft to show their qualifications for a position. It outlines your personal information, educational background, achievements, work experiences (if applicable), and references. 

In case you’re torn between the idea of putting too much or little information, you should remember that your resume should be concise and straightforward.

This means that you must only include information that’s relevant to the job or company you’re applying to.

For example, if you’re choosing personal references to be added up to your resume, make sure they’re the right ones.

To better understand what these personal references are and who to choose, check out some reliable online resources that can provide you with valuable information. 

Ensure Your Social Media Profiles Are Clean 

In today’s modern world, people’s information is scattered online.

This means that employers can search job applicants’ social media accounts to know more about you and determine if you’re fit for the job you’re applying for.

Because of this, it’s essential to clean up your social media accounts before seeking your first-time job.

You can do this by checking your profile and identify posts, photos, or videos that may harm your reputation as a job candidate. 

However, if you don’t want to delete any of your posts, photos, or videos, you have the option to tweak your account’s privacy settings to control who can see and be notified of your latest activities on your social media.

You can also create your own LinkedIn account, add your interests and start interacting with other professionals. 

Generally, one of the things that new graduates worry about after graduation is the fact that they don’t have any previous working experience.

While it can be true, it doesn’t mean you have nothing to show your prospective employers. Unknown to many people, fresh graduates have related experience in the form of volunteer work, internships, and other support projects. 

Thus, if you’ve completed some of these activities and projects, don’t hesitate to include them in your resume as they can help employers determine whether you’re an excellent fit for the job. 

Practice Your Interviewing Skills

For first-time job seekers like you, you may not know what to expect during an interview to ensure everything will run smoothly.

Hence, if you want to ace your first job interview, you’re going to need some preparation and practice. 

While lack of confidence and nervousness can be common reactions for those seeking jobs for the first time, you can overcome them by practicing your interviewing skills. You can do this by following these tips:

  • Go through some interview questions and outline your possible answers.
  • Let a family member or a friend help you prepare by doing a mock interview. 
  • Make yourself comfortable with hearing yourself speak out loud. 

As you can see, there can be many ways that can help you practice your skills in handling an interview. That’s why if you want to make your first job interview a great success, don’t hesitate to practice so you’ll know what to say, allowing you to become more confident. 

Don’t Forget To Follow Up

It’s also essential to know that after the interview, you need to wait for your prospective employer’s feedback. In case you don’t hear anything from them, it’s time to do a follow-up by mail or in person. 

Typically, following up is crucial because it allows you to know if your interview has been successful. In the event you were rejected as a job candidate, don’t hesitate to respond to a job rejection email and don’t stop applying for jobs until you get the right one. 

Bottom Line 

Indeed, seeking a job for the first time can be a challenging undertaking. This is especially true if you have no idea what to do to make this endeavor a great success.

Therefore, if you want to become successful in your search, keep these things in mind and you’re good to go. 

By knowing everything a first-time job seeker needs to know, you’ll be prepared towards getting your first job in no time.