Just because you graduated from your university doesn’t mean that you are completely done with college. Many university alums are closely associated with their college well after graduation and may even discover that they have a better relationship with faculty and administrators as a postgraduate than they did as a student.
The end goal of getting a college education is to find a rewarding job. Oftentimes, many new graduates who have earned their degree still may find themselves in a soul-searching predicament still wondering what they want to do with their life.
Unfortunately, after graduation, there’s only so much time that one has for that. Soon, the reality of student loans will kick in, which is usually enough of an incentive for students to start looking for employment well before graduation. Whether you have just graduated or you’re completing your last semester, Florida National University (FNU) would like to offer some helpful tips on how you can use your college to help find a job.
-
Figure Out What You Want to Do
This is an important step. Without knowing what kind of career you want to pursue, you could be wandering the halls of your university for an unnecessary amount of years. If you’re not sure about what you want to do, don’t worry. It’s quite common for freshmen and even sophomore students to have this uncertainty. In a case like this, you can pursue an associate’s degree in the arts or business administration. These degree programs are pretty general, yet applicable to multiple industries that might interest you long after graduation. These degree programs also offer elective courses that can assist you in exploring different subject areas that might appeal to you and inspire you toward choosing a career that you’re passionate about.
-
Learn How to Communicate Better
The key to any successful business operation is clear and concise communication. With one of our campuses in the Miami area where Spanish is the second-most spoken language, FNU understands the importance of being able to communicate effectively so that the message is conveyed clearly. Without good communication, whether it’s team-oriented or managed independently, tasks will not get done. If tasks aren’t getting done, then projects aren’t moving forward, and when projects aren’t moving forward, the operation becomes stagnant. A company cannot work on stagnant operations. It will simply cease to exist.
FNU understands that communication is the driving force of any business operation. That is why we offer three levels of English as a Second Language certificate courses were students whose primary language is not English will be able to exercise their English speaking, reading, writing and comprehension skills to become better students and ultimately, better working professionals.
-
Write an Impressive Resume
These days, filling out an application is just a formality. What employers are looking at are the resumes. While there are many resume templates available for you to just copy and paste, FNU challenges you to be creative and put your own signature print on a resume. It will go a long way. Plus, employers review thousands of resumes all of the time and hiring administrators are typically executives who know their way around Microsoft Word’s templates and can quickly recognize one when they see it.
If you want to standout above other applicants, than simply use resume templates as a guideline and then apply your own creativity. Your university professor and/or advisor will be more than happy to help you craft the best possible resume that will help you land the job of your dreams.
It’s also worth noting that you may need to have more than one kind of resume depending on what kinds of jobs you’re looking for. You’ll need to have at least 2-3 resumes in different formats that highlight certain skill sets you have.
If you’re in a situation where you just graduated, there is a chance that you’ll need your resume updated from time to time. You’ll also need references. As an alum, you’ll have the opportunity to contact some of your old professors and advisors to offer their names and contact information as a reference and possibly for assistance in revising your resume. You won’t know until you ask!
-
Master Time Management
Finding a job is actually a job within itself! Some new graduates get lucky and find a job before they even graduate. Others may have to wait a few months—maybe even years! However long it takes, you’ll need to be organized. Dedicate a few hours to searching for jobs on the Internet and put in some footwork if you have to. Some jobs may accept walk-in applicants and others will most likely refer you to their website. You might get lucky and land an interview on-site! Here again, you’ll never know until you just get out there. Between looking for jobs on foot and perusing the Internet, job searching could take up at least 6-8 hours of your day.
It’s very possible to receive an invitation to a job interview and not remember which position within that organization you’ve applied for.
Some platforms will send you an email notification confirming the job positions that you applied for. In such a case, simply manage that content in your emails. Create a folder in your email account labeled “Job Search” and store all of your job notifications there. When the time comes to reference which jobs you applied to, all of the information be readily available. This also prevents you from submitting duplicate applications. Another trick for good organization is to keep a spreadsheet of all of the jobs that you’ve applied for.
Other ways your university can help you is by organizing job fairs. Whether you’re a new graduate or still a student, we highly recommend that you attend—whether it’s your alum or not!
For more information about how you can further yourself as a professional, contact FNU today!
