Need A Job After College? Avoid These 7 Mistakes!

By Jason Klein @JasonKlein24

Check the clock.  Your alarm’s about to go off.

In the past, you probably opted for more sleep.  Now, there’s no time to hit the snooze button.

Your alarm’s about to go off.  Seniors, you have another month.  Underclassmen, your time will come sooner than you think.  When it does, you’ll awaken from a four-year collegiate dream to find yourself in the middle of a difficult and confusing job search for the first time. 

You might not be fully prepared for the grueling and cutthroat hiring process that awaits you.  Leaving the comfort of your dorm room, and shedding the invincibility that goes along with college life, can be a startling reality. 

Before you wake up in the middle of a nightmarish job search, it’s best to prepare for the process early.  Whether you plan on looking for full-time employment, or an internship, here are the seven mistakes you need to avoid before trading in your backpack for a briefcase. 

1. Don’t Stress Over Finding The Perfect Job

Your first job will not define the rest of your career.  Recognize this, and be ok with it!  Make things easy on yourself and just focus on the first 2-3 years after graduation, instead of worrying about the next forty years. 

The average person will change jobs 7-10 times over the course of their career.  You might start out at a public relations agency, then teach high school history, and end up as a successful pharmaceutical sales rep.  Every new experience, regardless of subject matter, is a good experience.  You’ll meet new people, build your network, and develop new skills.

2. Don’t Chase The Money, Chase Your Dreams

Money is important.  No question.  After all, that’s why we work.  As you prepare to enter the workforce, try not to worry too much about your paycheck though.

Instead, think of yourself as a little-known stock.  Right now, you’re new to the market and are priced accordingly low.  Focus on increasing your value to attract bigger dollars down the line.

What’s the best way to raise your value?  Develop your skills and diversify your talents!  A seasoned multi-tasker is a true asset to any company looking to maximize their employees.  More skills will give you more leverage when it comes time for a raise, or finding your next job.  Even though you might be eager to start earning a paycheck, it might make more sense to start with an unpaid internship to gain the experience you need and build up your network.

3. Your Resume Is Not Enough To Get You Hired

A typical employer spends just seven seconds evaluating a resume.  That’s it!  Doesn’t seem fair, but it’s true!  Too often, your resume could end up in the trash without getting a fair look.  Think about all the money and hours you invested into your education.  Letting it ride solely on the back of a one-pager isn’t being fair to yourself.

Try creating a portfolio, filled with examples of your work, to give an employer a much better idea of what you’re capable of.  You should also consider starting your own blog and developing your digital brand through social media.  This will give you an opportunity to “tell your whole story” and give employers a better sense of who you are on a personal level.

4. You Can’t Rely Exclusively On Online Job Boards

If you’ve found the perfect job opening online, chances are, thousands of others have found it too.  The odds of landing a job off a publically posted position are slim.  In fact, the odds of someone actually responding to your application are very low too.

Instead of lumping yourself in with the rest of the general public, spend your time building a network, connecting with someone on the inside, and learning about job offerings before they even hit the web.  Without someone working for you “behind-the-scenes,” your resume is likely to never be taken seriously.  In fact, it may never even be seen by a decision-maker.

5. Avoid Too Much Social Media Socializing

If you’re only using social media to connect with friends, you’re not using it properly. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn can create new opportunities to network and develop your own, unique, online brand.  It’s a quick and effective way to spread a message or highlight your work and abilities.  It’s also a great way to connect with people already working at companies you’re interested in.

Scour your social media pages for inappropriate material and do some major thinking before posting, tweeting, or commenting on anything.  That crazy spring break shot you posted on Facebook was probably good for a few laughs among friends, but a potential employer won’t find anything funny about it.  You don’t want to lose out on a job opportunity because of something you posted online.  If you assume everything you post will be seen by a potential employer, you’ll have appropriate guidelines in place.

6. Believe It, There’s Still Homework After Graduation

Become an expert on any company you plan on applying to.  You should spend time at home reading the company’s website and understanding their history and mission statement.  Also, read up on their competition and get familiar with specific challenges they face as a company.  Coming up with solutions to these problems will demonstrate your value in an interview setting.

If possible, find out who you’ll interview with and learn everything you can about them.  Know where he or she went to school, where they grew up, jobs they’ve held, and their accomplishments.  Learn what they like to do on the weekends, what teams they root for, and where they go on vacation.  Armed with this information, you’ll be able to effectively break the ice and connect with your interviewer on a personal level.

7. Don’t Get Discouraged By Rejection

You are going to get rejected.  If you know this going in, and can mentally accept it, you will be able to deal a lot better with it when it actually happens.  Odds are, you will not get a job offer on your first interview.

Remember, every “No” you hear from a prospective employer will ultimately bring you closer and closer to that “Yes” you covet.  Some of the most successful people out there had to experience failure before they achieved success.  Manage your frustration, work hard, and stay focused on the task at hand and you’ll eventually get that “Yes.”

If you think a job will just fall in your lap after college, you’re dreaming!  It will take a significant effort on your part to land that first job.  Avoiding these common pitfalls in the days and weeks leading up to graduation is a good start.

Just keep your eye on the clock.

This is no time to snooze.

Jason Klein is Co-Founder of 1 Degree Hire, a Westchester-based resource for future college graduates and first-time job seekers.  Visit 1DegreeHire.com for a free 3-part video series to help you identify your dream job, get interviews & get hired! Follow Jason @JasonKlein24 & @1DegreeHire on Twitter.