Five Tips for the Recent Graduate

Life post-graduation can be intimidating. After receiving a degree in the field you chose to pursue, it’s hard not to be confused. The last four years have been all about studying, acing tests, getting overly involved in on-campus organizations and volunteering to boost your CV. But now that it’s over, it’s normal to ask yourself: “What now?” or “Where do I go from here?”

The economy isn’t as great as we would like it to be, and because of that, your CV really needs to stand out from the others who are competing for the same job, but I’m sure most of you knew that. Since preparation is almost crucial to personal success, here are my top five tips to follow post-graduation in order to land that job you’ve worked so hard for.

1. Update your resume or CV
    Now that you have graduated from university, it’s time to update your resume or CV.  (*NOTE: Keep your original, pre-updated copy, this will be important if you mess up, or want to add something down the road) Make sure your descriptions are clear and concise and that you have the best possible references you can. Professors, Advisors or previous mentors are all good choices to keep in mind.
2. Be confident in your skills
   Before you go to your interview write down your best traits as an employee and one to two things you could work on. I can guarantee, a future employer will ask you, “What do you see as one of your weaknesses?” Make sure you answer in a positive way. For example, I tend to be really busy, BUT because of that I have really learned how to manage my time well.  It doesn’t have to be exactly like that, but you get the picture.
3. Be clear about your short-term and long-term goals.
    This isn’t important just for the employer, but also for yourself. If you want to obtain a marketing manager role, then keep that goal in mind when you’re researching short-term goals. It’s important to have an objective for an entry-level position as well.
4. (When you do land an interview) Show an interest in the company.
   THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Many new graduates don’t have much experience in their field, but don’t stress, you can still impress potential employers by showing them you have an interest in what they do. Before going to a job interview be sure to do a standard Google search on the company. Know their competitors, what the company’s strengths and weaknesses are, and definitely focus on their mission statement and goals. If you go into the interview with this information, you’re already ahead of the game.
5. Relax.
   So what you don’t get the first job you interviewed for. You’re new to the “real world,” and it’s not going to as easy as going to an interview and starting the following week.  Sometimes it may take a few tries. During your off time, get a part-time job doing something you love, or even better, something that could boost your CV. Life is too short to stress about landing a job right away.

The ultimate goal of a post-graduate may be to get a job. However, while the interviews are lining up, and you’re nerves are a little less calm, it’s important to relax and be prepared. It’s important to remember the job market is competitive, and standing out from the crowd is important. Follow the top five tips for post-graduation, and you could be starting a new job before you know it.

About the Author

Ashley

I’ve just graduated from Cleveland State University with a B.A in Journalism, and am currently working as a Manager in Training at Abercrombie & Fitch. I’m an Ohio-based writer who loves fashion, yoga, books and reality TV. I am passionate about my writing, and would like to eventually freelance for a publication in the magazine field. My dream freelance job would be to contribute to Teen Vogue.

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