To the roughly 1.6 million college graduates in the class of 2014: You have my heartiest congratulations – and my sympathies. I graduated during the early 1990s recession when finding a decent job was very difficult, so I have an inkling of the challenges many of you now face.
Although the job-search technology available has changed considerably since then, as someone who is now on the other side of screening candidates, I can tell you many of the underlying principles for waging a successful search remain the same. Let me share a few:
Stand out from the crowd. You'll probably be competing with dozens, if not hundreds, of applicants for most jobs, so:
Before applying, research the company to make sure it's a good fit. If you do get called for an interview, kick it up a notch:
Employers are forced to do more with fewer resources, so they seek employees who are focused, polished and willing to work hard. I've spoken to numerous hiring managers who say many candidates they see don't convey those qualities. A few tips:
Register with job search engines where you can apply for jobs and make yourself visible to potential employers and recruiters. Popular sites include Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com. LinkedIn, AfterCollege.com and LinkUp.com.
Landing a good job can take months or even years, so be persistent and tap all available resources. For example:
Bottom line: You worked hard to earn your degree. Unfortunately, you may have to work equally hard to get your career going, so take advantage of the available tools – and good luck.
Jason Alderman directs Visa's financial education programs. Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Job search tips for new graduates