list
ALL GREAT CAREERS
START SOMEWHERE
A guide to getting hired after college graduation
WRITTEN BY MAURIE BACKMAN
I
t can be intimidating looking
for your first job after college,
but here’s encouraging news:
The job market is booming,
so much so that employers
plan to hire 10.7 percent
more Class of 2019 graduates
than they did from the Class of 2018,
according to the National Association
of Colleges and Employers. Here are
some tips for setting yourself apart
from the pack and landing a job.
1
HAVE A COMPELLING RESUME
Emphasize the courses you took (espe-
cially those relevant to your field) and
the grades you scored in them. You can
also list any on-campus jobs you might've
held down, as well as internships or volunteer
experiences. Also, talk up your skills. Maybe
you're a spreadsheet wiz, or you have a keen
eye for design (and a link to a portfolio that
proves it).
Your cover letter is a chance to let
your personality shine. It's also your
opportunity to prove to prospective employ-
ers that you have valuable skills to bring to
the table. Invest the time to create a snappy,
engaging letter, and then tweak it as different
jobs hit your radar.
3
BRUSH UP ON YOUR
INTERVIEW SKILLS
One of the best ways to be a better
interviewee is to know what sort
of questions to expect, so look up some of
the most common ones and prepare some
answers in advance. At the same time, study
12
BACK TO SCHOOL 2019 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE
your resume so you're prepared to discuss
it with ease. Find a friend or family member
who's willing to run through some mock inter-
views with you, and actually go through the
motions; it's a good way to prepare for what
could otherwise be an intimidating prospect.
4
LINE UP SOME REFERENCES
Line up some references from
college, like former professors,
teaching assistants, and advisors
who can vouch for your capabilities. You can
also tap personal resources, like longtime fam-
ily friends, who can speak to your character.
5
NETWORK LIKE CRAZY
Even if you graduate college knowing
no one in the field you're interested
in, you can meet the right people
by attending industry events, going to local
meetups, and sourcing contacts online
through sites such as LinkedIn. If you're hoping
to get hired quickly after graduating college,
there's a good chance that'll happen as a
result of today's job market. But it never
hurts to increase your chances of success,
and the above moves will help you do
just that. ■
2
CRAFT A CREATIVE
COVER LETTER