Ask the Coach - April 14th

Last year, I graduated with a business diploma from college, but I don't have a ton of experience in my field. I feel like I've applied for a ton of jobs and haven't heard back from anyone. What am I doing wrong?

Dear Recent Grad,

First, let me congratulate you on graduating with a business diploma – well done. I know the urgency to land your first entry level job, but do not panic, it will come.

Graduating comes with a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand, you are incredibly excited to close this chapter and move on to the next in the “real world.” But on the other hand, this major change comes with a lot of uncertainty — and with that, anxiety. This is especially true if you find yourself unemployed and still searching for an entry-level job.

Below are some job-search tips to help you land your first entry-level job after college graduation!

Come up with a job-search game plan

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Simply saying “I want a job” won't help you accomplish your career goals. 

You need to make a solid plan to keep your job search on track. For instance, once your personal branding materials are in order, make a goal for the number of job applications and networking activities you'll complete each week.  You should be on Monster, Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster, Workopolis and Zip every day to see what is out there.

Take advantage of all the free job-search tools.

Make sure your resume is up to date and sells your “personal brand”

As an entry-level job seeker, your resume is typically one page long, though this page-length limit is no longer mandatory. Remove any references to your high school career and focus on highlighting your best-selling points, such as your education, leadership skills, internship experience, technical skills, and any awards you achieved during your college career. 

If your applications are met with radio silence, it is likely your resume is to blame.

Remember too that you must modify your resume to match the skills and requirements outlined in the job description.  You may need several versions of your resume. One size does NOT fit all.

You will want to have a few versions of your résumé on hand (different ones for different industries or job titles), so you are ready to go when opportunity knocks. 

Do not write a generic cover letter

Cover letters are a great way to show off your personality and anything that’s not on your resume Your cover letter can help you express your passion for a company's mission or explain any employment gaps in your resume.

The cover letter is the first thing a potential employer sees and therefore your “first impression”.

Clean up your social media habits

If you are looking for a job, your best bet is often to change all your social media profiles to "private" (unless your following is relevant to your work, of course). And while you're at it, you might also want to develop a professional profile, if one doesn’t exist.  Recruiters look at all your social platforms to gain a true sense of who the applicant is.

Do not forget to create or update your LinkedIn profile, as its often the first place hiring managers turn to when looking to learn more about you and your experience.

Don’t be afraid to intern 

If you are having trouble breaking into your desired field, be willing to pursue an administrative or customer support role, or even an internship, to get your foot in the door. Many “entry-level” jobs today require one or more years of relevant experience.

If you didn't intern during college to gain the prerequisite experience, you are at a disadvantage when competing for an entry-level job.  

Target internships that offer part-time hours or a flexible schedule so you can build up your resume with relevant experience and still have time to take on other work to pay the bills. It's a lot easier to land an entry-level job within your desired industry once you've gained some relevant internship experience and have begun to build a strong professional network in that field. Plus, internships can turn into full-time jobs if you play your cards right.

Keep in mind that your first job probably won’t be your dream job, and that’s okay. Try not to get discouraged, you will land something if you take these suggestions under consideration.

Best of luck,

Merrill