Planning Out Your First ‘Big Kid Job’ Search

By Amanda Hill
Blog Content Contributor

Graduating college can be a bittersweet moment for all of us. We have the opportunity to live out our dreams, but the harsh reality of being completely on our own can be a tough transition. The first step for many us once we graduate is the famous goal, find the dream job. This can become a full-time job in itself, so it’s important to treat it as such.

I have devised a schedule to help you make the most of your day unemployed. Taking full advantage of this time to prepare your self for the harsh reality of what it takes to impress an employer.

9:00 a.m.

Start the day by checking popular job posting platforms and take note of the ones that sounds appealing.

9:30 a.m.

Carefully read through the job descriptions and job qualifications of the open job positions you took note of and highlight key words and skills. Transfer these words and skills to your resume to demonstrate your qualification for the position to employers. It is crucial to tailor your resume for each position you apply for. You can also include action-oriented words such as: achieved, authorized, accelerated, brainstormed and communicated. Anything that validates that you are a strong team player and have the ability to enhance business performance will catch the eye or an employer.

Remember to keep your resume to one page that lists relevant information to the
job you are applying for. It can seem unfair not to list everything you have excelled at as an individual, so take advantage of platforms such as linked in or online portfolios to list everything you are involved in, have accomplished, reference letters, etc. Keep in mind that a resume is your ‘first impression’, so it essential to continually strengthen it to grip the eye of an employer.

10:30 a.m.  

Research the CEO’s and current employees of the company you are hoping to land an interview with, along with what the company does and recent thing they have been involved with. Take notes and make a notion to discuss these things if you interview with them. Be sure to review the do’s and don’ts of interviewing to be
aware of the basic mannerisms of talking with an employer or recruiter.

11:30a.m.

Your network is the most promising way to get the job you are after. Connect with past employers and mentors to get your name out there. Perform informational interviews with people in your industry, or even with people that are already within the company you hope to interview with. This is a great way to gain insight on what employers are looking for, and could result in a potential connection. Take this time to send email, make phone call and meet with people who are willing to speak with you.

12:00 p.m.

Take a break, grab a coffee and something to eat… you will need it!

1:00p.m. 

Continue to reach out to networks by using social media platforms. Read articles
pertaining to your industry and make comments to build connections. Develop a
personal brand for your self as a professional, and clean up your social media
accounts to present your brand.

Twitter is known for displaying both personal and professional news. These blended views give you an outlet to develop your personal brands. Mack Collier states “getting on Twitter is not a strategy, twitter is a tactic to execute a social media strategy.” Think about what you want to communicate to your audience and communicate those things using a consistent voice. Follow hashtags: #jobhuntchat and #tnl for potential ideas.

2:00p.m.

Hopefully with all of this hard work you can fill this time meeting with
employers/recruiters and setting up potential interviews.

4:00p.m.

Use this last hour of your ‘work day’ with things you haven’t yet fully completed, and touching base again with anyone you might have spoken with throughout the day. Be sure to write thank you letters to the employers that allow you to interview with them, and cross your fingers that you landed the job.

It is important to make the most of this stressful time of your life and not be
discouraged by the demanding pressures. Remember that this is only a temporary
roadblock to living out your dreams, and the more you put into this process, the
happier you will become fulfilling the obligations of your dream job.