So you’ve graduated from school, and haven’t received a job offer yet. Believe me, you are not alone. Searching for a job is hard enough, but when you are working full time at one, two or even three summer jobs, how do you find time to do a thorough job search? While many new grads use more traditional methods, such as searching through newspapers and online job boards, there are a number of alternatives that will help you to network and meet potential employers.
While there are a number of other ways to look for jobs, it is still important to keep up the job search through traditional means. Luckily we live in the internet age, which means that internet job searches such as Workopolis and Monster are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing you to search and apply at your leisure. It’s a good idea to also search regions outside of where you want to work, just to get an idea of what kinds of companies are hiring in your field.
Don’t forget to check out company websites. Most often, this is the first place that any job opportunities are listed. Even if they are not hiring at the time, you can submit a resume which is kept on file for a limited time. While you are on the company website, seek out the name of the person with the career you aspire to. Call or email them and ask to do an informational interview. This shows you have drive and motivation, and may just get your foot in the door.
While working at your summer job, you should use every opportunity possible to network and meet new people. Use this experience to meet potential employers. Always keep your eyes and ears open to anyone who may be working in your field. Strike up a conversation, let them know that you are a hidden talent looking for work in their field or at their business. You never know who will walk into your place of business.
Joining clubs and associations is a great way to meet local business owners, as well as other young professionals in your area. You could go to local Chamber of Commerce events to network, take part in a charity golf tournament, join a book club, or even join a sports team. Kiwanis and Rotary clubs even have memberships and meetings for young professionals. Many of these types of events are held on evenings and weekends, allowing you to go after work.
Another great way to break into the working world is through volunteering. While you should always look for a cause you believe in, remember to keep your eyes and ears open for future vacancies. Through volunteering you may also hear about vacancies at similar organizations or other chapters. Volunteering looks great on a resume, and may give you an edge over your competition in the job search.
As you can see, there are many ways to effectively search for a job, network yourself, work a full time job and still have fun. It just requires a little time and effort.
