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Graduation is the end of one era of your life and the beginning of a new one. You so close to the finish line you can smell your degree and you're searching for the best way to put it to work. Leading up to this point in your academic career you've probably heard and read all of the job search advice you can get your hands on. However, everything you hear may not be completely true. Let's take a minute to dispel a few myths and separate fact from fiction.
Myth: Mass mailing resumes is an effective strategy
Truth: This method is not very reliable. Although it's great to get your resume out there by hand or through sites like Monster, Beyond, Yahoo Hotjobs, and Job.com, the best way to find a job is to network in your field of interest. Some sources say that nearly 70% of job seekers find their positions through networking.
Myth: You can use the same cover letter for every job
Truth: That's an awesomely bad idea. You cover letter should be customized specifically for the company and the job your applying for. A cover letter gives you the chance to demonstrate how your skills and experience match the needs of the employer. It's also a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm about working for the company and your knowledge of the organization by including some specific information you've uncovered from researching them.
Myth: Recruiter will read your entire resume
Truth: Most recruiters will have hundreds of resumes to go through in a day. They most likely won't have time to read the entire contents of each one. In fact, most employers will spend only 30 seconds or less reviewing your resume. This means it's even more important to have a visually appealing resume free of grammatical and spelling errors. You should also use a layout that highlights the strongest parts of your resume so they don't get skipped over.
Myth: You should start your job search in the semester you graduate
Truth: Absolutely false. Searching for a job is a process and a delicate one at that. It should begin even before your senior year. Every internship, leadership experience, and career fair up to this point is a stepping stone that brings you closer to a successful job search. Start applying and interviewing for post graduation jobs about six months before you graduate so that you have enough time to carefully consider offers.
Myth: Give 100% effort to every job lead
Truth: This one's pretty iffy. In today's economic conditions, you never know where a great job opportunity might come from and depending on your financial arrangements you may not have the luxury of waiting around for that ideal job. That said, it's important to set priorities. Try to focus your energy on the leads that you would be most likely to accept if they became offers but definitely follow up on all leads that you come across.
Myth: You should accept the first job offer you receive
Truth: This completely depends on your situation. There are many factors that must be considered when evaluating a job offer. We all know job searching can get stressful and even more so the longer you're looking. However, don't let the stress pressure you into accepting a position that you're not satisfied with. Take time to fully assess your situation and your options. It might turn out that the first offer is the best choice, but be confident in your decision.
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