As a new graduate, it isn’t easy to get an entry-level job because you are just stepping into the real world with little or no working experience at all. So, you should always focus on getting your foot in the door, rather than getting your dream job. At the same time, you should try to know about conducting a search for entry-level employment as much as possible. It’s important that you take a strategic approach towards finding and landing entry-level jobs.
Given below are some key strategies and guidelines that you should follow to make getting entry level jobs easier.
Build Professional Relationships
When you are a novice in the job market, one of the key things you should do is create as many professional connections as possible. Anybody that you think can help you in your job search or help you land a job in the near future should be on the list of your professional connections. This includes teachers, professors, industry experts, working professionals and people you meet while volunteering.
Stay in touch with the people you connect with and keep them aware of how your entry-level job search is going.
Keep Your Job Resume Short (and Sweet)
The best resumes are those that are short. A lot of jobseekers think that longer resumes impress employers, which is wrong. Regardless of how long your work history is, you should include only those experiences that are relevant to the entry-level job you are applying for.
A banking firm won’t care about that job you had as a food server in a local restaurant. So, always include relevant information.
Craft a Great Cover Letter
A generic cover letter won’t help you much in your entry level jobs search. If you are really serious about getting an entry-level job, you should create a new cover letter each time you apply for a new job.
Cover letters are different from resumes, which may need just a few tweaks here and there when you want to apply for a new job. A cover letter is something, which should immediately set you apart by showing your intelligence. Try to say something smart in your cover letter in a way, which grabs the employer’s attention quickly. Show your language skills as well.
Create a Social Media Presence
Don’t just build social media profiles, build a presence. There are social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn where you can create a profile for others, most importantly recruiters and employers, to see. When it comes to getting entry level jobs, building a social media presence is one of the key strategies your should adopt for success. What’s important to understand is that your social media profile should not be a diary or display of your personal life. If you want to land a job quickly, you should always ensure your social media profiles look professional. Avoid talking about religion, sex or politics and posting pictures of a birthday party. Post things that enhance your image as a professional and showcase your job skills.
Don’t Look Desperate
When looking for entry-level jobs, one of the key strategies to follow is not to look too desperate for a job. Don’t let the employer feel that you are out in the market to occupy just any job that comes your way. Instead, you should look like a professional and act like a qualified candidate who knows what he/she wants.
