After completing college, it can sometimes be overwhelming to land a job in the professional realm while so many others are seeking appointment as well. While this can be a stressful experience, there are some tried-and-true tips to make the process easier. For Aldo Salinas, a recent graduate of California State University, landing a professional position after college requires graduates to take a few important steps. Here, Aldo Salinas shares his top three tips on how to get hired after college.
In Aldo Salinas’s experience, the most important thing to do when planning for a career after graduation is to make sure to get references from respected professionals in your field. References from established professionals in a certain specialty can provide prospective employers with the reassurance that an individual’s reported qualifications are accurate. In Aldo Salinas’s opinion, the best people to ask for a reference include professors, internship managers, coaches, and previous employers. While credible references won’t guarantee employment after college, they do help employers learn more about an applicant’s professional strengths.
Next, Aldo Salinas emphasizes the importance of a well written and concise resume. Many colleges and universities offer a career development service that helps students prepare a professional resume. In today’s competitive job market, recent graduates seeking employment need to be a bit more creative than previous generations. As a result, Aldo Salinas recommends that recent graduates seeking employment create at least three different resumes highlighting different strengths. For example, recent graduates may have a resume focused on previous work experience, one focused on academic skills acquired, and a resume emphasizing volunteer experience or extracurricular activities.
Lastly, Aldo Salinas recommends that jobseekers diversify their search. Although modern society has come to rely upon the Internet for job opportunities, Aldo Salinas reminds recent graduates of the importance of reaching out to organizations or companies in the community. Not every company or agency posts job offers online and failing to canvas community businesses for possible opportunities may cost a college graduate their first professional job. Additionally, Aldo Salinas urges recent graduates to read newspapers and print publications that may feature opportunities not available on the internet.
Aldo Salinas believes that every college graduate should be proud of their accomplishments. Additionally, Aldo Salinas urges graduates to highlight their strengths and be aware of their weaknesses when interviewing for an entry-level position. Aldo Salinas knows that having at least three resumes, quality references, and diversifying a job search can all expedite the process of getting hired after college.