How to Find a Job: The Basics

Finding and landing your first job after graduation is not the easiest thing to do. It will require some consistency and hard work over a period of time. However, the time it takes for you to go from wanting a job to getting hired is greatly determined by how you approach the job search. But before considering the more advanced tips for securing a job, it is important to have the basics covered. 

To land your first post-graduation job, you must understand the benefits you can provide an employer, be able to effectively communicate these benefits to employers, and to find a position that is the right fit for you.

What Benefits can you Offer a Potential Employer? 

Companies don’t just hire people to fill up buildings or to perform some social good or reduce the National Unemployment Index. Employers are constantly on the lookout for individuals who can provide value. If you can’t seem to recognize the skills, experiences, and knowledge that you possess that will be valuable to an employer, you’d only end up begging for a job. Job begging is neither fun nor effective. No business-minded employer will be willing to gamble business growth for charity. If you need a job, you should simply be able to show the employer that you possess knowledge and skills that will be valuable to the organization. 

Activity: If you do not know already, now is the time to identify your strengths and understand how these strengths will benefit your future employer. These strengths may include your education, projects, skills, knowledge, and experience among others. Make a list of everything you consider to be your strengths. Identify the listed strengths that are most relevant to your job search and highlight them. 

How do you Effectively Communicate your Value to Employers?

After you have identified the value you can offer a potential employer, the next step is to know how to communicate this value to employers. Sending out job applications complete with killer resumes and cover letters, interviewing, and sending out thank you letters are all ways you can and should communicate your value to potential employers. In essence, learning to write and speak about how you can provide value to employers is in itself a valuable job search skill you want to gain mastery of. 

Activity: After identifying your most relevant strengths, present these strengths appropriately in resumes and cover letters tailored for each role. Write a great resume and cover letter (that won’t get thrown out by a recruiter), ensure your LinkedIn profile is complete and up to date and that you are also adequately prepared to interview with potential employers. 

How do you Find a Position that is Right for you?

At this point, you know and understand the benefits you embody and can provide to potential employers. You also have these strengths properly communicated through job search tools like resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. This is the stage where you get to find the right fit. Now is the time to start sending out applications (maybe up to 100 applications if that is what it will take) until you are hired. You should also constantly follow up with potential employers with whom you have applied or expressed interest to ensure you are at the top of their minds whenever a job opportunity opens up.

Activity: Send out as many applications as you can. Not five or six but loads of applications. Ensure your applications are the best and that you invest time in tailoring each application to the role. Also, make sure you constantly follow-up and send thank-you notes after each interview. 

In conclusion, while finding your first job may not be as easy as ABC, these three tips will be helpful in getting you started on the journey from where you are (wanting a job) to where you should be (being employed) in no time.