The job search. Oh, the job search. After you’ve spent nearly all your life stumbling through school, some old guy hands you a piece of paper and BAM. It’s time to find a job. The scariest thing is that just a year ago you caught your roommate making instant mac-and-cheese using blue koolaid because the water in the dorms was off. Now you find yourselves standing in a shapeless gown with pointy hats and the world expects you to be responsible adults. You gasp and splutter, feeling a cold sweat break out on your forehead. “Excuse me?” you say. “I can’t even paint my fingernails on my own without turning into a disaster!” Well fear not. I’m going to give you a few tips on how to increase your chances of having a successful job interview. Also, everyone feels just as inept as you do when they start. It’s part of the human experience.
LOOKING FOR A JOB
Take a deep breath, look down at that little piece of paper that cost you more than a new house, and smile. You've done it. The sweat, the tears, the essays… They’re behind you now. Unless, of course, you’re becoming an educator yourself. In that case you’re a masochist and there’s no place in this article for people like you.
Kidding!
No matter what your degree, give yourself a pat on the back. Then sit down, grab a caffeinated drink and start your documentation. A good resume can make the difference between being skipped over like you’re invisible and snagging an interview. A good site for your resume-writing needs is here. Don’t forget that you’ll also want to write a cover letter. Oh look. I lied about no more essays. Whoops!
Now that you’re ready for submission, you can start your web search. Find job opportunities that match your degree. Sites such as Indeed and CareerBuilder can take hours off of your search and save you some hair. Once you find something that looks promising, do some independent research on the company. Scams are everywhere, unfortunately, and you don’t want to fall victim to them when you’re in such a fragile post-graduation mental state.
Once you've got a few good looking opportunities sorted out you can start submitting your resumes! Make sure you tailor them to each specific opportunity and always proofread before you click that submit button. Keep a list of all the companies you’ve applied to as well as the date that you sent it in. Plus it’ll give you a stack of papers to straighten nervously while you sit in front of your computer and wait your life away! Bonus!
>>MORE TO COME!<<
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