Perfect Ways of Finding a Job After College Revealed
The main aim of a college education is to fill your mind with the necessary knowledge and show versatile angles of the chosen profession. Upon completion of your studies, you can be well-prepared for landing a real job. Yet, finding your first job after college will be nothing like your previous experience. While you could successfully participate in an internship or fellow programs and get relevant hands-on experience, finding and reaching your full potential at the workplace can be challenging. But there are no reasons to stress out; instead, read on to learn what you should be prepared for.
Think Ahead While Still in College
Many students consider getting their first working experience while still in college, including opportunities where they might pay for a letter of recommendation or other professional services. For this, they visit student career fairs to learn about part-time jobs and internships available to them. Some internships or fellowships in serious organizations may last months and resemble a full-time job. Often, when students find a great internship or part-time job that sets a great start for their career after college, they prioritize. In this regard, they keep learning core subjects pertinent to their profession and choose to buy college research papers in subjects of secondary importance. Internships allow getting great work and hands-on experience that prepares them for their job, and they feel like they realize their potential while still being students.
Most often, students in nursing programs are deemed to start their careers early because the nursing field requires significant practical exposure. In addition, when they get into nursing internships, they often strive to be fully accepted by their seniors. If you are a nursing student who possesses great theoretical knowledge, it will not instantly give you the deserved place under the sun when you start your internship. The majority of professionals in nursing will still perceive you as a student, who lacks experience to handle the most complicated or significant tasks. It’s important to remember: even if you feel you’re not perceived seriously, do not jump to conclusions right from the start. Be patient and focus only on your success. You can concentrate on the nursing specialty of your choice and learn from your senior colleagues in hospitals while delegating minor tasks in other courses to nursing writing services.
In any internship or part-time job, do not panic if you make some mistakes but ask for guidance from experienced colleagues. Keep your head up, do not lose inspiration, and try to learn about your internship workplace and the specifics of duties as much information as possible. Later, all that information and practical background will become handy when landing a full-time job after college.
7 Tips to Start Your First Job with a Swing!
If you are looking for a job after college, you might feel lost about what to consider and expect. However, that’s quite a common feeling even for those who participated in internship programs or worked part-time during their studies. Indeed, a first full-time job differs from everything you may have encountered in college. Yet, there are a few aspects to remember to decrease the stress and anxiety about finding a job after college.
1. Do not set too high expectations
The worst thing you can do is to give up, saying “I can't find a job after college”. In most cases, when that long-awaited first job seems unattainable, the problem lies in the approach to the job search itself. You are likely looking for high-paying jobs that demand a relevant academic background and years of experience. At the beginning of your career, you should not set very high salary demands. Also, you can experiment with working in different fields where your qualifications are in demand. There is nothing shameful in working in entry-level sectors, such as sales and retail. However, you can also try filling in applications for such competitive positions as Graphic Designer, Customer Support Agent, Marketing Associate, Paralegal, Assistant Editor, HR Coordinator, and Content Writer.
2. Craft a full-fledged curriculum vitae (CV)
Although you will participate in numerous online and offline job interviews, having your CV at hand is always better. Besides, your invitation to an interview may be directly connected to the resume you previously sent to your potential employer. If your CV or resume interests the company’s representative, they will likely contact you to communicate face-to-face. A decent resume makes you visible and even recognizable among others. It serves as a well-organized promotion of your own image. Many graduates mistakenly think they have almost no experience to add to their CVs. Think about your academic achievements, exchange programs, and volunteering experience. It all endowed you with useful communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills that can be listed in your CV or resume. Creativity is also appreciated though you must prepare a professional document that adequately introduces your candidacy to your potential employer. If you think your CV or resume needs some polishing, you can turn to a custom writing service so that experts review it and suggest amendments if necessary.
3. Interact with your fellow graduates
It is unwise to lose connections after graduation. Contact your former college mates to learn about their job-seeking success. Perhaps some acquaintances have family businesses where your skills are highly needed. Don’t forget to discuss your job search with the closest ones. Your family and friends may help you discover the right starting point. Thus, networking is crucial because communication often leads to many unexpected pathways. Remember that your first job after college may be an alternative to your ideal job – even something unrelated to your diploma.
4. Use trendy job-seeking applications
Of course, creating impressive lists of business contacts is not enough to land a job. To increase the span of your job search, you can register and become an active user of the trendiest and most effective job search apps, which can be installed on your PC or smartphone. One of the greatest apps of this kind is LinkedIn, which combines the features of business networking and social media. Using such tools to scan through the desired job positions in your local area, other cities, and abroad is expedient. In the modern world, you can also invent a unique job-related vlog to streamline enticing information or experiments about your abilities and talents.
5. Prepare for your first job interview as a pro
Your skills and qualifications may suit the required position perfectly, but self-confidence will not do the trick unless you study the company’s background in detail. Yet, there should be a balance between your profound knowledge of the business and manifestation of yourself. Do not overpraise either of the sides. To prepare for the interview, scrutinize the main pages of the company’s website (when available), or look through all the data they sent to you beforehand. Pay attention not only to the history and mission of the company but also to the qualities they want to see in their prospective employees.
6. Dress smartly, but do not go overboard
The way you look will give the first impression. Naturally, the contemporary world has become more loyal to some alternative appearances, yet knowledge and skills remain the quintessence. A genius with pink hair will still be a genius. However, it is wrong to flaunt your artistic personality at the interview. Your appearance should not be extravagant. It is better to wear something smart-casual if the chosen position does not demand strictly formal attire. If there is a specific dress code, it is more important not to breach it. Contemplate what the employees of this company tend to wear to their workplace and try to dress in a similar way. It is acceptable to select formal clothes even if the dress code is semi-formal.
7. Follow up with your interviewers in a while
Although it does not appear to be a requirement, and the interested interviewer will follow you up, you can also take a step forward. Write an appreciation email to thank your interviewers for allowing you to become one of their applicants. Show gratitude for taking the time to listen to you. Moreover, wishing them to find the best person to fill in that particular position would sound polite. It will display your altruistic side. Such a sly approach usually works for your benefit. The company’s representatives will appreciate your serious attitude to the job. Hiring you but not someone else may serve as a decisive point.
Non-Standard Professions that Might Turn in a Great Career
Seeking a job after college may become a pandemic, especially if you do not want to lower the bar and stick to your diploma, which allegedly guarantees a highly prestigious job. Yet, finding a job in your desired field is possible if you are sure of your capabilities. Nevertheless, think out of the box and go for various job listings, including not-so-popular ones.
How to Become a Cyber Security Expert
Cyber security expert is one of the most sought-after positions. We cannot imagine our world without the Internet and constant online presence. Our obsession with virtual reality is immense, and our jobs and private data are integral to it. Although there is an undoubtful advantage of being perpetually connected, there is also an enhanced danger of the personal data breach. This situation has made cyber security one of the most important jobs one may have. Major hacking attacks happen daily, even if you do not suspect them. If you fully estimate the whole picture, you can realize that our cyber data (both personal and global) needs to be strongly protected.
If your degree allows you to be a cyber security expert, your duties will be to investigate, detect, resolve or prevent all the evident and potential threats. Usually, hacking attacks are carried out against the IT infrastructure of a certain organization. When seeking employment in this sphere, you may look through such job titles as Incident Analyst, Computer Security Specialist, Computer Scientist, Cyber Security Analyst, Cyber Security Architect, and even Certified Ethical Hacker.
A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Information Technology may be enough to become a Cyber Security Expert. Your integral skills should be related to computer networking programs, software programming languages, and database management.
Despite the growing demand for this vacancy, about 200,000 cybersecurity jobs are estimated to remain unfulfilled in the United States annually. These statistics favor recent graduates because your chances to find a job in the cyber security sphere increase. Looking through LinkedIn, you will also see that job postings appear regularly. Such a number of unoccupied positions can be easily explained: cyber security still remains underdeveloped in such industries as healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing. Currently, annual salaries vary from $45,000 to $84.000 for new graduates and mid-career professionals. Of course, a senior cyber security expert will earn a much higher salary, about $150,000 a year on average.
How to Become a Museum Conservator
You may also wrestle with your brain, trying to realize how to find a job after college, especially in museum conservation and history. To become a museum conservator, you must manage, preserve, and document various historical items, such as ancient artifacts, artworks, and exceptional old samples. The research process of this job is exciting. You will likely use versatile microscopes, special lights, and X-rays to conduct chemical tests. Those investigations will be not only historical but also archaeological. Another perk of your job may be to renew artworks, repair historical objects, and even create copies of artifacts on your own. All your findings and research processes should be documented.
As a museum conservator, you will participate in research work in other historical places. Your task may also involve writing articles for scholarly journals in historical conservation. You cannot obtain this job unless you have a Master’s degree in history, archaeology, ancient arts, library science, and conservation. The typical annual salary of a museum conservator amounts to $40,000. However, you may work in a renowned historical place, making this number significantly higher. This career is perfect for those passionate about history and antique items.
How to Become an Andrologist
There is one peculiar position you may pursue as your first job after college, and it is both atypical and in-demand. This position is related to andrology, which is a medical specialty that focuses on studying solely male health issues. As an andrologist, you must undergo special training to become a medical doctor responsible only for male patients from puberty to the elderly stages of life. Andrologists perform various diagnostic tests and screening to identify the cause of some diseases and contribute to developing the most effective treatment plans. Besides medication, andrologists use hormone therapy and even surgery. A large part of their job is dedicated to exploring the male reproductive system and discovering new treatment methods for the most widespread and even lethal diseases.
To become an andrologist, you need to have a profound educational background, which involves 4 years of medical school, residency training and even a doctorate degree in andrology. Often, future andrologists have to undertake internships at special facilities oriented at male reproductive health. In this field, having some practical knowledge before landing your first job is crucial. However, the job is quite well-paid, and as of now, the average salary of an andrologist amounts to $40,000. When being interviewed, your potential employers assess the levels of your empathy in addition to professional knowledge. You must also possess brilliant problem-solving skills and be able to make swift decisions in case of emergencies.
How to Become a Meteorologist
If you are interested in studying the physical processes and characteristics of the world's atmosphere and generally care about the global environment, then your ideal job after college is to become a meteorologist or an atmospheric scientist. The job of a meteorologist is not only to forecast the weather but also to predict changing weather patterns. You will be tasked with exploring the climatic trends of global warming, ozone depletion, and droughts.
Extensive meteorological research is useful for other fields, such as agriculture, forestry, air contamination control, air and marine transportation, and defense. There is also a variety of job titles in the field of meteorology. You can be an environmental meteorologist, physical or operational meteorologist, synoptic, and climatologist. To land a job in meteorology, you need to possess a Bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science. If you want to obtain higher-level positions, you must study more to get a Master’s degree. There is a growing demand for meteorologists because weather patterns constantly change, and air pollutants still remain a burning issue. The best job opportunities can be found in private corporations. As a meteorologist in a corporate setting, you will earn an average salary of about $90,000.
How to Become a Corporate Trainer
One more self-fulfilling job after college is a corporate trainer. Owing to technological advancement, corporate trainers have become incredibly in demand. To become a corporate trainer, you must possess outstanding computer-related and highly developed administrative skills. Your duties in this position are usually manifold because you have to create detailed corporate plans, schedule meetings, and provide administration for young professionals. You can be responsible for creating and conducting various learning sessions for the beginners. Sometimes, a corporate trainer’s job is to conduct interviews and tests for potential employees. Afterward, you will help to transfer new workers to their subsequent workplaces.
You must possess at least a Bachelor’s degree in education, communication, or human resources. Your starting position may be in the HR department, where you can be employed as a human resource assistant or HR specialist. Since most of your work will be dedicated to insightful communication with various people, this job demands sublime interpersonal skills even at its entry-level. Thus, if you have a degree or a certificate in psychology, your candidature may be preferred over others. The initial salary varies from $35,000 to $60,000 yearly. If you enjoy teaching and communicating with people, then a career in corporate training is an amazing choice!
The Best Scholarship Opportunities
Not every college graduate wants to dive into the whirl of corporate industries right after graduation. Some young scholars try their luck and check their knowledge by applying for graduate or post-graduate scholarships. It is an amazing chance to be fully financed to study at one of the most prestigious universities in the world or simply to take part in an insightful career-enhancing project. Hence, if you are searching for a scholarship instead of an immediate job after college, look through a few lists of fascinating scholarship and grant opportunities.
National Fellowships and Scholarships for Graduate Students
Boren Fellowship
This opportunity is for everyone interested in geography, linguistics, and those disciplines related to the national security of the United States. Boren Fellowship extensively supports various international programs in many countries. Yet, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and Western Europe are not included in the list. The deadline is in December.
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS)
CLS offers to fund senior students and graduates who strive to study foreign languages intensively. It also guarantees profound cultural exchange between students from across the globe. The deadline is in November.
Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship
This fellowship invites all the Ph.D. and ScD students from the US. Everyone involved in teaching and researching communities can try their luck. The deadline is in January.
Luce Scholars Program
This internship lasts for a year. Such an extensive program encompasses an in-depth language training program in Asia. Thus, every participant will be immersed in the particularities of the Asian culture. The program invites senior and graduate students, as well as recent alumni. The deadline comes in September.
The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships Program
The NSF GRFP finances individuals who possess research-oriented graduate degrees in STEM fields. It invites recent alumni, senior students, and graduate students. The deadline is in October.
SOROS Fellowship for New Americans
Pay attention to this wonderful program if you are an immigrant in the USA. It is open to recent alumni, seniors, and graduates. You can conveniently apply in November.
Exceptional Scholarships for International Students
- For Arts and Culture Students: The Elizabeth Greenshields Grant, Cost: CAD $15,000, Number of grants awarded: 50, deadline: open throughout the year.
- For Agriculture, Farming and Forestry Students: McConnel Family Endowment, Cost: $1,000, Number of grants awarded: 3, deadline: February
- For Architecture and Interior Design Students: Dorothy Dyer Vanek Endowment, Cost: $1,000, Number of grants awarded: 3, deadline: February
- For Education Students: Worda Russell Memorial Endowment, Cost: $750, Number of grants awarded: 1, deadline: February
- For HealthCare Students: Alice/Jeanne Wagner Endowment, Cost: $750, Number of grants awarded: 2, deadline: February
- For Mass Media Students: Allison E. Fisher Scholarship, Cost: $2,500, Number of grants awarded: 1, deadline: March
Great Open Scholarships for All Majors
- The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program
- Arlene and Dennis Schlosser Memorial Endowment Scholarship
- ESA General Endowment
- Maxine Wirth Graduate Studies Endowment
- College Mouse $1,500 Scholarship
- The Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program
- Mary Louise Smith Memorial Endowment
- The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
No matter whether you dive into finding a job right after college or pursue scholarship or fellowship programs, the tips on preparing yourself for employment presented above will work. Don’t be afraid to try again and again if you get rejected, and consider alternative job positions that might seem unreal at first glance. Remember that you need to be certain of your capabilities and show your confidence to your prospective employer. Enhancing your academic performance can also be crucial for career success for those still in school. Check out our 'Tips on How to Pass Exam Successfully' for strategies to excel in your studies and make a stronger impression in future job applications.