Summary:
Let’s talk about careers and employability today. People say that landing a job straight out of university is impossible. Yet, this is not true. Do you know that the employment rate of bachelor’s degree holders aged between 20 and 24 is over 86%? Want to learn how to get a job after graduation?
Learn more in this three-part article:
Building a career straight out of the university depends on what you do to gain employment.
You must be proactive, goal-oriented, and prepared once you enter the job market.
Above all, put your job search strategy early enough.
Understanding how to get a job after graduation is vital to your success.
Ensure you always create a professional image on social media or offline.
An excellent professional image concerns how you dress, address others, and interact with strangers.
An easygoing person will likely build a more robust network, allowing them to land a job sooner.
A compelling CV (you can create yours using our free templates and resume builder) could also help.
Ensure that you tailor it to the opportunities you are seeking.
You must also show all your strengths and skills, ensuring that you stand out.
Have you carved yourself a niche? Selecting a suitable place ensures that people notice you.
Usually, it will depend on your employment objectives.
At the same time, hone your skills and assess your strengths.
Right from the outset, communication, teamwork, and business acumen are some of the best skills to have right from the beginning: collaboration and business acumen. We have also provided hacks on how to write a resume like a guru.
Pro Tips: How to Package Yourself for Employment
You are seeking an opportunity straight from the university.
Now would be the best time to prove you have what it takes.
Here are a few tips that could guide you through the process.
- Improve your social networking skills, especially on LinkedIn
- Tailor all your job applications per the role you are applying
- Ensure that you know what you want
- Take online courses to hone your technical skills
- Take up volunteer tasks
- Ask for connections, including using job sites
Why Careers and Employability Coaching Is Invaluable
Allow me to take you to a few years back.
I grew up in a relatively small village in southeast Africa.
This community had one primary school, and I had to trek about seven miles.
While it was a little far, my friends and I enjoyed going to school.
Some things that motivated us were getting free fruits and seeing our friends play.
Besides, we would spend some time at the stream, where we washed and swam.
I also had an enjoyable time in secondary school.
This school was within the same community too.
Yet, things changed when I relocated to the city for my university education.
I spent four years at the university, yet no one discussed career and employability.
Often, each undergraduate student should have an employability coach.
It would be best to allocate one right from the start of their study period.
I keep asking myself whether this program is presently in our universities.
And if it is, does it help in career planning?
Effective Strategies on How to get a job after graduation
Suppose the program did not make any significant impact on your career decisions.
In this case, embracing effective strategies in your employment journey would be best.
For this reason, we share a few techniques, including in Part II and Part III of this series.
Most students did not have any professional support after graduation.
The university had no student service units, meaning I had to chart my career path.
Thanks to my naivety, I made so many mistakes along the way.
I struggled, trying to find employment through trial and error.
It was a sad phase of my life that I would wish no student to go through.
In 2012, fortunes knocked: I arrived in England to undertake my research degree.
There, I found each university had a Careers and Employability department.
It was a great revelation.
My challenging journey and experiences have shaped who I am.
Today, as a careers consultant, I help students prepare for the job-hunting phase of their lives.
This also includes working with master’s and doctoral candidates in six UK universities.
This makes it easier for them to get their dream and well-paying jobs.
I boast over ten years of experience working as a university lecturer.
My vast experience has prepared me to advise and train students on various employability issues.
As mentioned, no student should go through trial and error when looking for a job.
Having a reliable, professional employability coach is the only solution to such problems.
It is wrong for these students to assume they should consider career options alone.
Can We Emulate What Stars Do?
To know how to get a job after graduation, you should indeed learn from the sports stars.
Professional footballers, boxers, athletes, and other sports persons often have coaches by their sides.
No one tries to succeed on their own.
Yet, most graduates want to try the job market without professional guidance.
It is time to do what they do—get a coach!
What Does an Employability Coach Do?
Excellent employability coaches ensure that students develop their employability skills.
The skills are often in three categories, including the following.
- Technical knowledge and experience
- Transferable skills
- Quantified results
You will need a strategic approach to succeed in our competitive job market.
Landing your dream job will remain a mirage unless you stand out from the crowd.
A good employability coach ensures three things.
One, the coach prepares to handle the recruitment process.
Two, she guides you in choosing the right career path.
And three, she will show you how to build relevant professional skills.
Let’s Find Out More Together
We will be back with Part II and Part III of this series.
This series will provide a step-by-step guide and strategies for recent graduates.
The strategies will assure you of better results.
We can assure you this knowledge will shorten your job-hunting period.
How to Get a Job After Graduation: Final Thoughts
You need to understand how to position yourself.
Also, know how to build your skills.
Mastering these will improve your employability chances more.
What’s more?
Having the right attitude ensures that you create sturdy social networks and connections.
These social networks often help identify potential recruiters on time.
How about you build a professional LinkedIn profile using our free LinkedIn profile builder?
And never underrate the power of a compelling. Write yours fast and easy using our free resume builder.
