How to Find a Job After College in 2022 — 3 Key Tips

GETTING YOUR FIRST JOB AFTER COLLEGE IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN GETTING FROM COLLEGE TO YOUR CAREER. IT ALL STARTS WITH PLANNING YOUR CAREER PATH.

If you already know the career path you’re on, these 3 tips can guide you as you figure out how to land your first job after college. Still struggling with career path definition? We get it! Skip past the tips where we’ll tell you how to figure out a career path.

Job search strategies for college students and graduates who are pursuing their post graduation job search are unique and complex. We’re here to guide you.

Tips from a Job Search Coach

Set time aside to complete these important job hunting tasks and tailor them to your new career path. When presented with a new opportunity or networking connection, you will be ready!

1. DEVELOP YOUR PROFESSIONAL TOOLBOX

• Resume

• LinkedIn Profile

• Cover Letter

Make your resume, LinkedIn profile, and cover letter relevant with updated grades, activities, new skills, and recent accomplishments — everything you’ve done up until now. If you have questions about how to create these important career assets, you can download one of our helpful job search tools, or reach out to one of our expert career coaches who can guide you.

Identify and incorporate the keywords employers use to describe ideal candidates for the role you are pursuing so your job search materials get past the resume keyword scanner which is part of the applicant tracking system at most companies. This will prepare you to act quickly when an opportunity arises, as well as allows the employer to identify you as a competitive candidate, in their automated processes.

2. PREPARE TO INTERVIEW

Use trusted resources to formulate and prepare answers to interview questions. If you need expertise in this specific area, Priority Candidates provides clients with specific interview techniques and interview practice to help develop robust answers to common behavioral questions.

It’s also important to note that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic still has the virtual interview as the primary approach. Our virtual interview tips suggest that you familiarize yourself with common meeting sites such as Zoom, Google Meets, and Microsoft Teams. Ensure and test that your camera, microphone, and speakers work adequately, and your chosen space is well-lit with nothing odd or distracting appearing in your background.

3. RESEARCH COMPANIES OF INTEREST

Establish a researching process to make sure that you can quickly and fully understand the background of a company. You should also prepare substantive questions to ask about the company’s specific growth plan, their products, and training processes. This shows the interviewer you have demonstrated interest, and that you will put in the work to understand the fine details.

What Career Path Should You Take?

A true career assessment goes far beyond the simple career test or online career quiz. We offer a holistic and comparative career assessment with an expert so you can become aware of career paths you are best aligned with, and those you did not even know existed or you have the potential for. If you are considering more than one path, our expert career coaches can help you determine which path aligns most with your skillset and capabilities. This extra step can be the solidifying foundation to launch a successful career.

DEVELOPING A CAREER PATH FRAMEWORK

Think about your specific skill set and what you enjoy doing. Can you recall a project that allowed you to get lost in the moment? Do you feel passionate about one subject over another? See if you can uncover where your passions lie and how they can relate to career opportunities during your job search. It is important to think about your skills in terms of the ones employers seek in the field you are considering.

This might be your first job search, however there will be many more throughout your career, so it is important to start out with parameters that matter most to you. It’s important to have clarity and career path definition to help you launch and progress your career.

Feeling Overwhelmed About Getting a Job After College?

If you’re feeling more pressure than you can handle, consider taking a step back to regroup and develop the mindset needed for a fresh start in this challenging process.

We are expert college-to-career coaches and people have been turning to us for nearly a decade. We work with you to establish your job search strategy. We keep things on track, monitor your progress, and keep you moving forward on finding your first job after college.

While our roots are in New York City, Priority Candidates works with clients nationwide, during the entirety of the job search process, guiding college students, graduates, and 20-somethings to get hired.

Wishing you career success on wherever your career path takes you!