10 Tips for Fresh Graduates

Tips for Fresh Graduate Job Search

The following tips are useful as starting points for a steady and successful career ahead.

1. Identify Your Career: Considering your academic training and qualification, you would have arrived at a fairly comprehensive idea about your possible career. Like when you did some professional course, your line of career was well decided at the beginning itself. Engineers, doctors, attorneys, accountants, artists, etc., belong to that category. If you pursued higher academic studies, including research, then academic career may prove to be suitable to you. Management graduates are suitable for good positions in any organization or industry, as they can adapt themselves in any situation. So, identification of career, based on academic training is very important before embarking on a career pursuit.
2. Your Resume is the Key: The next step after career identification is to enter the job market. How to do it? You do it by getting out your résumé properly done. The resume is your passport for any job application. It is also known by various names such as curriculum Vitae (CV), bio-data, etc. Whatever be the name, the basic idea is to give maximum information about you in clear terms, and without leaving out any worthwhile information. It is your marketing tool, so spend considerable time on it. If your resume appears incomprehensible or directionless, then you will be doomed. Highlight the things that are necessary for a prospective employer, like your qualification, skills, and accomplishments, etc.
3. Application Submission: While seeking a job, one must apply to the job opening. A company-specific application (in some cases, plain application only) should be procured, carefully filled in with all details, with resume and cover letter attached, and with required papers and certificate copies enclosed along with job application. Remember, incomplete applications are liable to be rejected outright. You can submit application online or personally. When postal delivery is insisted, you may send it through a reputed courier.
4. Interview Preparation: Sometimes, you may be required to sit for an examination or test, followed by interview for successful candidates. So, get as much information as possible about the prospective employer. Next, prepare with correct answers regarding your suitability for the job, your career expectations, your expected salary, etc. Some may even want guarantee from you to work for a minimum amount of time. You have to be ready for all such queries.
5. Initial phone Interview: After your submission of application, you may expect a phone call from employers for initial phone interview. Such phone interviews are meant for screening candidates, so be careful to be clear and audible over the phone. Keep the atmosphere peaceful and noise-free at home on the day of the phone interview.
6. Wear Suitable Attire: It is advisable to wear formal dress always as it suits the atmosphere at the interview. Do not wear college student dress, it will be frowned upon.
7. Appearance Counts: In addition to your dress, your appearance creates the first impression. The first impression that you create will dictate the course of the interview. Do not look unkempt. You should look well groomed and immaculate. Wear conservative shoes.
8. Your Voice also Matters: Your voice should be such that you should be heard clearly and audibly. Do not mumble, state emphatically, but politely. Do not raise your voice above the voice of the interviewer.
9. Exude Confidence: Do not be timid in answering any queries. Do not, for a moment, think that you are a fresh graduate. Keep eye contact throughout, without staring at the interviewer. Respond with confidence and self-assurance.
10. Thank the Interviewer: After the interview, thank the interviewer or a team of interviewers individually for their time. Follow it up with a 'thank you' note to all of them.
    
    If you follow the above tips and suggestions, your fresh graduate job search will lead you to a successful career.