How to Find a Job After Graduation

Although there are many reasons to go back to school and pursue a degree, most people are taking on this challenge in order to further their careers. Whether someone is looking for a promotion, hoping to change fields, or simply wants a new job at a new company, a degree is often the best way to help them get where they're trying to go.

However, once a degree has been completed, there still remains the challenge of actually finding a new role or obtaining the promotion one is seeking. There are a plethora of resources available to those seeking to advance their careers - so many that it can often feel overwhelming, and it can be difficult to know where to start. If you're wondering how to find a job after graduation but aren't sure what your first step should be, here are some of the top job search and career advancement resources to focus on.

 

Top Career Resources

Networking Platforms

Networking is one of the best ways to advance your career, and digital networking is an easy way to forge connections and find peers and mentors in your industry. There are many networking platforms out there for you to leverage - LinkedIn is the best known, due to its size and popularity, and it's highly recommended that you build a robust profile on the site to help in your job search.

However, it's also important to look into smaller, more niche networking sites as well. Look into networking platforms based on your industry or career path; you should also check to see if your college has a private networking platforms or groups for alumni.

Job Listing Sites

Gone are the days when businesses relied on classified ads in the local newspaper to promote their job openings. Today, most jobs are posted online. A search for jobs in your area will yield hundreds of results, but it can be difficult to discern which of these listings are real, reputable, and worth your while. Limit your search to trusted platforms such as Indeed.com or LinkedIn - or contact your college to see what resources they have available to you. Many career services departments offer access to curated job listings that have been vetted and approved, meaning you'll be able to apply without worries.

College Career Services

Your college's career services department can be a tremendously helpful resource - and offers access to many useful services beyond job listings. Career services professionals can help to coach you in your job searching skills (for example, resume writing or interviewing), offer access to career databases and industry resources, put you in touch with alumni in your field, help you find internship opportunities, or even just have a conversation with you to help you determine your career path. It's also important to remember that these services are typically available to all alumni of a college, not just current students and recent graduates - so even if you graduated years ago, it's worth it to reach out and take advantage of the resources they have to offer.

Business Publications

If you're looking to brush up on certain skills or learn more about an industry, you should read up on business and industry publications, as they typically offer useful tips, tricks, and insights. General business publications, like Forbes and Inc., regularly post job search advice, employer perspectives, and answers to common questions (like "how do I write a post-job interview thank you note?"). Industry and trade publications exist for virtually every field imaginable, and can offer valuable insights that may be able to help you better understand - and ultimately find a job in - the career path you're pursuing.

Networking Events

As mentioned above, networking is an essential piece of the job search, and although digital platforms make this process easier, it's important to not discount in-person networking. Making a face-to-face connection with people in your field can be an important first step towards securing a job, whether you're meeting a prospective employer, a peer, or a potential mentor. Attending networking events in your area - such as job fairs, alumni gatherings, or industry meetups - is a great way to build connections that may help you find a job.