Take Action: 10 Steps for Landing an Entry-Level Job
No bones about it, the economy has changed since you entered college. And a change in the economy means a change in the employment market and how candidates search for jobs.
I remember when I looked for jobs my final semester of college. I didn’t network whatsoever–it was just something I hadn’t learned to do. I’m fairly certain I only applied to job listings–whether in the paper, on job boards or on company Web sites. This strategy alone landed me many interviews. During Spring Break, I had nine in-person interviews in three days. None of those went anywhere, but I was certainly getting bites. I graduated and landed a job, which I discovered online, two weeks later.
Needless to say, you’d be searching just short of forever if you followed these same rules today! I always tell students and new graduates that, today, you need a solid plan. November 2 is Job Action Day. In honor of this holiday, create your plan over the weekend and begin implementing it on Monday!
1. Get your cover letter, résumé, e-mail pitch, “elevator pitch” and accomplishment stories in shape. These forms of communication will be on the frontlines of your entry-level job search. It’s best to perfect them before you begin. If you don’t even know where to start, I recommend staying away from online templates and instead seeking the help of a career expert or the staff of your campus career center. (I’ve written about each many times in my Examiner.com column.)
2. Learn new interviewing technologies. If you don’t already have a webcam, buy one. Recruiting 2.0 has brought on many new technologies employers are using to keep costs low while still attracting the best candidates. If employers are using them, you need to, too.
3. Start a professional blog. If you haven’t already done so, start a blog relevant to your career. You’d be surprised how many entry-level professionals are found and then hired because of their blogs. Click here for a step-by-step guide. (And a hat tip to Dan Schawbel and the Personal Branding Blog for this piece.)
4. Clean up your online image. First impressions count, and yes, employers are watching. While those photos of you and your friends might be funny to you, I guarantee employers will not find them amusing.
5. Begin networking. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 70 percent of jobs are found through networking, and some believe the number is even higher. Always network and get to know your contacts before you ask something of them—in this case, an entry-level job lead. Twitter is my personal favorite place to start, but LinkedIn and Facebook are good, too. (Don’t forget my site, Come Recommended!) It’s important to note that while you might start relationships online, you eventually need to take them offline and in-person!
6. Arrange informational interviews and job shadow opportunities. Thanksgiving or Spring Break are great times for this. Both informational interviews and job shadowing are excellent opportunities to get to know an organization and to introduce them to you and what you can offer.
7. Quality over quantity. While you’ll definitely want to comb online job boards (see the right side of my column’s homepage for some great ones), be sure to focus your search. My recommendation is to identify two cities in which you could potentially live—although be careful not to pigeonhole yourself into your “local” and “permanent” addresses if they are both small towns. Then, make a list of 10 organizations at which you would like to work in each of the two cities (20 total).
Visit the cities’ chambers of commerce, local chapters of your professional organization, local Business Journal Web sites, etc. to conduct your research. If you’re looking for a career in public relations, for example, don’t limit yourself to only public relations firms. Many different types of organizations hire public relations professionals, and the same is true for other fields.
8. Follow the application instructions. You’d be surprised how many candidates—in their hurry to get out job applications—don’t follow all the instructions and are eliminated from consideration. Read the job ad very carefully. (Or, if you’re applying through a networking contact, be sure to inquire about all the requirements.)
9. Follow-up. Do not neglect this step. Following up can make a world of difference in this economy. Click here for detailed information about when and how to appropriately follow-up.
10. Be willing to volunteer if you don’t land a job immediately. If possible, don’t let gaps form on your résumé during your post-college job hunt. Once you start applying for positions, be sure to include both internships and entry-level jobs in your search. If you end up landing an unpaid—but meaningful and résumé-building—position first, take it and continue searching. Arrange to work at the unpaid internship 15 to 20 hours each week, and get a second paying job to help cover your bills in the meantime. Just make sure you leave time to continue your search!
What other tactics would you recommend? What have you tried—what’s worked and what hasn’t?
This post is part of the Career Collective effort founded by Miriam Salpeter and Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter. Other posts about Job Action day from the Collective include:
- Meg Montford: Job Action Day: Finding Your “MOJO” After Layoff
- Debra Wheatman: Plan B from outer space; or what do you have in case your first plan doesn’t work out?
- Heather Mundell: Green Jobs – What They Are and How to Find Them
- Erin Kennedy: Cutting Edge Job Search Blueprint
- Grace Kutney: Securing Your Career While Navigating the Winds of Change
- Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa– Why Our Job Search Advice is the Same but Different
- Gayle Howard: The Enlightened Jobseeker
- Laurie Berenson: Making lemonade out of lemons: Turn unemployment into entrepreneurship
- Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter: You Can Thrive In, Not Just Survive, an Economic Slogging
- Rosalind Joffe: Preparedness: It’s Not Just for Boyscouts
- Rosa E. Vargas: Are You Evolving Into The In-Demand Professional of Tomorrow?
- Dawn Bugni: Your network IS your net worth
- Miriam Salpeter: Optimize your job hunt for today’s economy
- GL Hoffman: The Life of An Entrepreneur: Is It for You?
- Katharine Hansen: Job Action Day 09: His Resume Savvy Helped New Career Rise from Layoff Ashes
- Martin Buckland: Job Search–The Key to Securing Your Future Career
- Chandlee Bryan: Where the Green Jobs Are
- Barbara Safani: Where the Jobs Are 2009 and Beyond
Gayle Howard
Fantastic post Heather. This gives real information with “verbs” so that graduates can follow this great advice and distinguish themselves from the competition. (Particularly important too is the part about online image. Recent info from recruiting firms indicates that the average recruiter checks the last five pages scouring for information using Google, so through your advice of creating blogs and so on, a graduate’s image can be enriched and become more high profile and positive!)
Posted 10-31-2009
Barbara Safani
Heather,
I really like your suggestion to buy a web cam. They are relatively cheap now and they certainly open up possibilities when interviewing. Nice post!
Posted 10-31-2009
Rosalind Joffe
Everyone has to start someplace. New graduates, people looking at graduating and anyone starting a career needs to read this. This is really helpful. I’d add one more point: Practice the arts of patience and persistence.
Posted 11-1-2009
Amanda Kubik
Good info! I am a big believer in making lists. I find that when I have a list of tasks to be completed each day it makes me more accountable to myself instead of just saying I’m going to do something. It is also helpful to have a routine (search websites on Mondays, blog on Tuesdays, networking on Wednesdays, etc.). I basically treat the job search like a job: I have “assignments” with due dates and a schedule with “appointments.”
Posted 11-2-2009
Chandlee Bryan
Heather,
Terrific post. I especially like your advice on choosing quality over quantity–tailoring your application materials can make a big different: after all, employers don’t know how interested you are in an opportunity until you demonstrate your level of engagement.
After all, showing enthusiasm and dedication with past and future employers, helps you “come recommended!”
All the Best,
Chandlee
Posted 11-2-2009
J.T. O'Donnell
Thanks Heather for giving the step-by-step instruction that every student/recent grad appreciates.
Young professionals need this kind of outline to get them started – it’s such a helpful tool!
JT
CAREEREALISM.com
Posted 11-3-2009
Dawn Bugni
I’m bookmarking this one and sending my soon-to-grad/recent grad clients here. Great breakdown of how to launch a successful search.
Posted 11-3-2009
Rosa Vargas
Great post, Heather. Strategic plan for college graduates (and good idea of seasoned professionals also). Follow up is one of my favorite points, as many people who plan don’t follow up!
Posted 11-7-2009
Jim Edwards
First you have to know where the jobs are before you mount a strategy to go after them. Most executive job seekers look to executive recruiters and job boards for open positions. The problem with this is recruiters get 15% of all executive searches and fill half of them, and only 1% of anybody ever gets a job from a job board.
Posted 11-8-2009
Entry Level Jobs India
Great article on landing your first entry level job !!
Posted 11-9-2009