How to Land Yourself an Entry-Level College Graduate Position in 2022

Graduating from college can be quite a confusing time for young people.

When finishing college, you are most likely still in your early 20s, and you then suddenly find yourself thrust out of the college bubble and into the vast world of work. 

You now have important career decisions to make, which may very well alter the course of your life trajectory. 

You should prepare and start looking for entry-level college graduate jobs from around 12 months before you graduate, as positions get filled quickly and graduate work opportunities can be exceedingly popular with thousands and thousands of applicants from the U.S and all over the globe.

So, failing to prepare and leaving things until the very last minute when you have already graduated means you may find it a lot more challenging to land yourself an entry-level college graduate position. 

More graduate jobs are available than ever.

According to a survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, companies are rebounding from the pandemic and hiring 7.2% more college graduates in 2021 than 2020.

To provide some help and support, we have come up with a guide to how you can land entry-level college graduate jobs in 2022. 

Have a Clear Idea of the Type of Job(s) You Want 

The process of applying for graduate posts and narrowing what you want to apply for is generally a lot easier if you have a good, clear idea of the type of work you want to do.

The type of job you go for may be based on things such as your previous work experience, skills, education, the college degree you chose, and your personality and character traits.

Try and Remain Flexible and Open-Minded 

Finding jobs in today’s economy for recent college graduates can prove a somewhat tricky business.

Although it can be helpful and make applying to jobs more straightforward if you have a strong idea of the type of work you want to do, you may need to stay flexible as you may not get the exact job you want but instead receive an offer for something very similar.

Many job positions have a fair degree of crossover.

For example, if you have a college degree in Computing and want to become a computer developer, you get rejected for multiple entry-level jobs in developing but get accepted for computer programmer roles and decide to take on the job offer in programming. 

Getting your foot in the door in the working world is essential for college graduates and being flexible and open-minded may help you to land a graduate job position.

Look for Some Guidance and Career Advice

A good career coach will provide you with personalized coaching to support you with your career journey and job applications.

If you’re feeling a little lost in deciding what exactly you want to do and which employers you should apply to, find an expert career coach to guide you and help you with your career search goals.

Getting sessions from the career coaching provider Placement will mean you can benefit from Zoom calls where your assigned expert career coach will work with you to align your goals and develop an action plan, so you can find a job that’s just right for you.

Embrace Networking to Find a Graduate Job

Networking and making contacts and connections is a clever strategy that can help you in your job search.

Networking successfully with the right people may mean you can have important conversations with recruiters and employers, potentially leading to an exciting job offer.

It is something that you can practice either online through sites such as LinkedIn or in-person at career events and so on.

Keep an eye out for whether your college hosts career events where you can meet up with and speak to employers interested in hiring college graduates. 

Be Ambitious in Your Approach to Job Applications

Young college graduates should remain ambitious during their job applications.

You have the world at your feet, and self-confidence is a crucial attribute that can get you far in the working world. 

The worst an employer can do is say no and reject your application to a position, and you won’t have lost anything by giving it a go and applying.

You certainly should not be afraid of failure and having your job applications rejected by employers.

Many college graduates who successfully landed their ideal job roles after college also applied to many different positions they got rejected and turned down for.

Rejection is part of life that you have to deal with as an adult, and it’s all about how you move forward and progress from it.

Don’t allow the fear of rejection to put you off from applying to other graduate jobs.