I recently came across an article in The New York Times about a group of 20-somethings making the exciting yet scary transition from college to the working world. With its horror stories of underpaid and overworked young professionals desperately searching for the light at the end of the tunnel, this article is enough to send any soon-to-be or recent college graduate into a tailspin.
As one of those soon-to-be college graduates, I’ll admit this article had me spooked. I knew the job market looked grim, but I never thought a $10/hour job with no benefits and rotating weekend work (like the job of one of the young professionals cited in the Times article) could become a reality.
Nevertheless, I won’t let this reality stand in the way of finding a job, and not just any job, but a job that I actually like. Some might call this is a figment of my naiveté, but I firmly believe that a truly appealing job is attainable for any college graduate that wishes to work for it.
But what do I mean by a “truly appealing job”? Well I certainly don’t mean a dream job (after all, how many of us really know what our dream jobs are at this point?). Rather, I’m suggesting that an entry-level job can be truly appealing in the sense that it aligns well with my skills and values and presents a worthwhile opportunity for me to grow as a professional. So let me now share a plan (for both me and others in the same position) for finding that first job out of college.
Research
The bulk of the work comes before the application process even begins. Start by researching the fields and companies within those fields that interest you. Though a company website may have been the extent of your research for internships and summer jobs, it should be just the tip of the informational iceberg in the job search.
You can use the company website (but you should definitely join LinkedIn as well) to find the people whose jobs in your chosen company and/or field appeal to you. Reach out to those people; learn more about their job descriptions and the paths that led them to their current jobs. Ask if they would be willing (and in my experience, they always are) to let you conduct an informational interview or come in to job shadow for a day. Use these opportunities to get an in-depth look at the company culture, the specific job, and the skills and experience required for it. I frequently used these opportunities in my search for college internships, and they served as a really useful way of gaining a better perspective on a given position.
Network
If you don’t have a particular position or company in mind, have no fear because the power of networking is here. Don’t be wary of networking; it is by far the most useful tool for finding a job, especially an appealing job. Talk to family, friends, friends of friends, your parent’s friend’s nephew—anyone that works in a field that you can see yourself working in. You just never know who might be able to connect you with the right people and the right job.
Apply
Once you’ve done your research and found a job that seems like it might be a good fit, enter the application process with an open mind and a willingness to continue to determine if this job is meant for you. The interview(s) offer the perfect opportunity to do just that. We often forget that a job interview actually works as a two-way street; it gives the employer a better idea of who you are as a job candidate, but it also gives you a better feel for the kind of candidate the employer is looking for and whether or not you fit that description.
While in the interview, ask questions that provide helpful answers, like “What would you say are the top two personality traits someone needs to do this job well?”. You should leave the interview with a clear sense of what the job entails in terms of responsibilities, work environment and personal and professional qualities.
If you’ve gone through the research and application phases of the job search, you should have the information you need to decide whether to accept or reject a job offer when the time comes. But remember—don’t let the excitement of receiving your first job offer cloud your judgment; the first job that comes along is not always the right one. So be smart, do your research, and get your name out there, and together, we will turn our fantasy of an appealing entry-level job into a reality.
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Angela Monaco is an intern for WordWrite Communications.
