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It’s senior year, and you’re starting to think about your future. You’ve had a few internships and you’re confident in your ability to interview. You just don’t know where to start when it comes to getting that full-time, post graduate job you actually want.
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Research and Research Some More
Thanks to Google and the Internet, we can figure out just about any piece of information that we could possibly need. If you want to stay in the same city as your college, research your city’s primary industries, large businesses that started in that city, or any other criteria you want to add to your search. If you use Boolean search methods, you can further refine your search results. Researching “top digital marketing companies in Denver” lead me to Revenue River, so if Google helped me get hired, it can do the same for you.
Pace Yourself
Think of your job search as a marathon. There’s no need to become exhausted by exerting yourself too much, too soon. Applying to as many jobs as possible is a bad idea, because the applications you are sending aren’t as effective as they could be. By making a weekly goal I stayed on pace and my applications were more relevant. I applied to seven positions a week, in order to balance school-work, my part-time job, and extracurriculars. It wasn’t hard to reach this goal, and it gave me time to customize my application towards each specific job.
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Take the Interview(s)!
Someone wants to interview you! Congratulate yourself because it does take a lot of effort in order to even be considered for an interview. Before the interview, make sure you prepare by researching as much as you can about the company and reviewing your responses to common questions. Try to find awards, special recognition, or even articles to skim over, and be able to talk through your resume out loud. During your interview, be sure to show your interviewer you have done your research. It is also important to understand that the first interview is not just a time for the interviewer to ask you questions. Come prepared with your own questions to help yourself understand if the job is a great fit. If not, don’t be afraid to follow-up and tell them that. In my search, I was interviewed five times by different companies before my interview with Revenue River.
I went above and beyond in my final interviews by downloading their existing white pages, eBooks, and other pieces of content. Finally, by attending the first interview and successfully showcasing myself to Revenue River, I received an offer to write a guest blog post. Downloading their offers not only showed that I wanted to learn about digital marketing, it also kept me relevant because every time I downloaded an offer my name showed up in the hiring managers inbox. Of course, if you get the opportunity to guest blog for a company during the interview process, make sure it’s your best work, I’ve been told that my blog was key to me getting hired.
Handwrite a Thank You Note
This underutilized step can do wonders for your job application. It’s simple: thank your interviewer(s) for their time, and express your enthusiasm for your next interaction with them. Make sure you are writing legibly, and don’t forget to double-check your spelling. In my job-hunt, I found that writing a thank you note doesn’t guarantee a job, but it can help your application tremendously. A thank you note takes about five minutes to create, and will not hurt your chances for employment.
Each of these strategies supports the others, in that accomplishing one will help you in a positive manner towards the overall goal of employment. That being said, make sure you don’t forget about your studies. By researching, pacing yourself, taking the interview(s), and writing a thank you note, you can finish your last weeks of college with the piece of mind that you’ll be employed!
