“Now there are a variety of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
On average, college students are not informed about what to do when they walk the stage and receive their diplomas at graduation. We are just pushed out into the world without warning or preparation beyond being told we need to get a job. That’s why seeking career advice can be crucial during this transitional phase.
As someone who has successfully graduated from college and managed to snag a good internship, here are my tips for college seniors and recent college graduates trying to figure out how to survive in the working world and maybe even succeed. I want to warn you, though, that even if you get a ton of valuable advice and tips from those who have done it all before, this does not necessarily mean that you will have a seamless transition from college student to young professional. Everyone has to make their own mistakes and experience the journey themselves, but hopefully, this post can help limit the number of errors you will need to make.
This post is about advice for recent college graduates and seniors regarding searching for and getting internships and jobs, not general life after college. That would be another post for another time. Career advice can help streamline this specific aspect of post-college life.
Table of Contents:
Set Up a LinkedIn Profile
When I was in my senior year of college searching for an internship, I asked classmates who had secured roles in a crowded job market. Most advised me to create a LinkedIn profile, connect with colleagues, and showcase projects and skills. I began checking LinkedIn daily for network posts, internship updates, and career advice from industry professionals, which was incredibly helpful.
LinkedIn provides employers with important insights about you that aren’t on your resume, and it’s a great way to connect with alumni. I also reached out to young female professionals in my field for advice, and some reviewed my portfolio and resume. Overall, LinkedIn is invaluable for young professionals, and I highly recommend it.
Join Job-Finding Sites and Apps
Staying updated and informed online is important in our digital world. Sometimes, it can even bring you financial benefits. Two helpful sites to bookmark are Indeed and LinkedIn, which you can also download as apps on your phone. While Indeed may not be the best way to find great job opportunities anymore, many companies still use it for their job applications. Having your profile set up on Indeed can save you time when applying for jobs. Career advice can guide you on how to use these sites well.
Another site I recommend is Glassdoor. It’s great for discovering companies that employees like and for avoiding the ones that aren’t great. Employees can leave anonymous reviews about the company’s structure, management, benefits, and salary ranges. You can think of it as a way to rate companies, similar to Rate My Professor for teachers. However, it mainly focuses on larger companies, as smaller ones with fewer than 50 employees are often not listed on Glassdoor.
Polish Up Resume and Portfolio
We all have resumes, but we usually only update them when applying for jobs. During other times, they often stay the same and can become outdated. To avoid this, I suggest checking your resume every few weeks to make sure it is still correct and reflects your professional self well. Getting advice on how to improve your resume can be very useful.
Remember, your resume might be the first thing a company sees, so you want it to be clear, current, and complete. Think about it this way: if someone needs a professional photo of you for a magazine, you wouldn’t send a blurry or old picture. The same goes for your resume. If you’re unsure about how to make your resume great, that’s completely fine. There are many YouTube channels and social media influencers dedicated to helping people create effective resumes to get job interviews. A quick Google search can help you find them.
Seek Advice from Older Adults
This might seem obvious, but many people don’t do it. We often believe that asking for advice on new experiences shows weakness, but it’s actually the opposite. When you ask more experienced people for guidance, it shows determination and humility, which can make you stand out among your peers. Seeking career advice from older individuals can offer valuable insights.
You can talk to a variety of people for advice. For instance, if your parents haven’t shared tips on adult life, set aside some time to chat with them about starting a career. Even though times have changed, their experiences can still provide helpful advice.
Show Skills Through Certifications
By the time you finish your college degree, you probably have earned a few certifications and licenses, in addition to your diploma. If you needed any certifications for your classes, think about adding the most impressive ones to your resume or LinkedIn profile.
If you don’t have any certifications to show off, don’t worry! Now is a great time to earn some. Many universities give their students free access to LinkedIn Learning, which is a great place for helpful courses with certifications. You can also find free courses with certifications on sites like Coursera, and several online universities offer free courses to non-students.
Early Career Considerations
Look, we all know that the job market is not exactly friendly to job-seekers right now. Many people are experiencing the same frustrations and challenges that you are. Job-seeking is a difficult task, and no one’s journey looks the same. Don’t get discouraged if you see people you know getting jobs quicker than you; they have different degrees, work in different fields, have different connections, and different requirements for their careers. Finding the right job is worth spending more time exploring the job market, especially when looking for a position that will kick-start your career right out of school.
If you have any additional advice for young professionals starting their careers, feel free to comment on this post. Those of us just starting out in the professional world can use all the help we can get!
Please like, comment, and subscribe if you connected with my post and if you would like to see more of my crazy, exciting journey through life with Christ while experiencing mental illness. Every interaction I receive here means the world to me. Thank you, and God bless you!
Until next time!
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