What is the key to finding a job? When you leave college, the whole world is presented to you. It can be both inspiring and overwhelming. The amount of possibilities is exciting – you can be anything you want to be! And the amount of places where you could potentially make a wrong choice – well that can be quite a lot too. Checking in with what you think feels best right now, and moving with confidence. Whether you’re looking for how to find a job in another state or some tips to finding a job after college, read on to see if you’re taking these first crucial steps.
Finding a job you love
The old adage, “You’ll never work a day in your life if you love what you do.” may seem like a pipe dream, but it’s more achievable than you may think. One way the job market has shifted in recent years is that career paths are no longer strictly linear. In former generations people had one consistent job for years, frequently with the same company. It wasn’t uncommon for people to retire with 30 years of experience in the same position at the same place. Today’s job market is simply more dynamic, and that’s a great thing! It means you can find exactly what lights you up in this moment and roll with that.
The great tip to finding a job then? Find something you love and follow that through. Are you interested in great literature? Find a teaching job where you can share your passion with students. Are you interested in robotics? Look for an entry level job with an engineering company. The data shows that no matter what you choose, it probably won’t be the career you end up with when you retire, and that’s OK. As long as you keep checking in with yourself, you’ll continue to have a fruitful career path.
Ask yourself where you’d like to grow
This is the best one I can give you if you’re looking for tips to finding a job after college. There’s a myth going around that college teaches you what you’ll need in your career and beyond. And furthermore, there’s a myth that once you walk across the college graduation stage that you’re done learning. Every potential job will teach you more about the world around you and yourself. With this information, you can make some intentional choices by asking yourself: What do I want to grow next?
Now what could this practically look like? Imagine someone graduating with a degree in Science- maybe they want to learn more about how their field applies to agriculture. Or take someone who graduated with a degree in forensics- maybe they want to learn more about how it would look in their local police force. When you decide what you want to learn, you’ll see that your future career serves you- not the other way around.
Find inspiration
Once you have some good ideas of where you want to go with your job search, the next in our list of tips to finding a job is to find inspiration. Role models aren’t just for kids. Check out YouTube or LinkedIn to find people who have similar positions to those you’re applying to. How did they get started? Where did they start their journey? Mimicking the successful career paths of others is a great way to create direction in your career. You’ll see how they successfully managed the challenges along the way and learn from their mistakes. And you’ll learn some marketable terminology to help when you hit the ground with interviewing. By immersing yourself in the professional world you want to be, you’ll be more prepared to find a job.
And while you begin to apply, this is a great place to return while you wait for returned emails or call backs. You may find some information to help you improve your craft and make yourself even more marketable. You may also find some coursework or learning you can do while you wait for the perfect job to find you.
Resume for the job you want
This next tip may not seem new to you. Resumes are a must-do on every list of tips to finding a job. A resume has also evolved with the job market. No longer are generic one-size-fits-all resumes going to cut it. Your resume needs to tell your story. Together with a targeted cover letter, it will show your future employer both who you are, and who you want to be. Be specific on your resume about skills you both have and are looking to acquire. Use the knowledge from your recent personal reflection and your inspirational role models to create well formed sections with things you know employers are looking for. If you’re wanting to work in technology? You should be sure to include the programs you’re comfortable working in. Want to work in business? Having a section where you clearly explain the different languages you may speak will be important. It’s important that your resume speaks the language of your employer. Check out the job description to make sure your resume clearly indicates the required criteria they’re looking for.
Use our detailed writing a resume guide. It’s filled with lots of useful information.
Don’t be afraid to move and be bold
When the right job finally comes to you, don’t be afraid to take it- even if it means relocating. It may be challenging to consider how to find a job in another state, but sometimes big career moves require you to take the plunge outside your comfort zone. Your dream job market may not be the place you were born. Being willing to move will greatly increase the quantity of dream jobs available to you. It’s worth following your joy even if it means moving. Remember that your next job is just one stop on a much longer career journey- who knows you may end up moving back home eventually anyway.
Conclusion
Hopefully these tips to finding a job help you out! Whether you’re new to the job market and looking for tips to finding a job after college or looking for how to find a job in another state,
Take a look at some easy jobs ideas and kick-start your career off today!