By Lauren Bridgeman Cox
Career Support Specialist at ACU Career Development
Before you graduate we’d like to provide you with some Job Search Strategies. Read below to find out how to use our services as a student or alumni and learn job search strategies.
- Create a Plan
It’s normal to feel anxiety when approaching graduation, and thinking of searching for a job. The best way to overcome any project that seems overwhelming and vague is to strategize. But how do you strategize? Here’s one way.
Create a document for where you plan to apply. Write down the company name, copy the link to the application, write down the materials required, and provide the date that you applied. Then put a checkbox so you can check off whether you have sent in your application. That way, the application process doesn’t seem so overwhelming because you can clearly see what you have accomplished and what is left. You can also block out doing three applications a day, if that’s all you have time for, and use your document to decide which jobs you’ll apply for.
See an example below!
- Polish and Customize your Résumé and Cover Letter
When filling out a job application, make sure to submit a résumé (and cover letter, if required) that is customized to the specific job. This can only happen through good research. Use sites like Indeed, GlassDoor, and the company’s website to find out the missions and values of the company. Additionally, pay close attention to the roles and tasks listed on the application, and make sure your bullet points in your résumé reflect those skills. That way, you do the work for the employer by showing how your experience in previous positions relates to the position they are hiring for.
If you still need to build a résumé, you’re in luck. ACU offers SkillsFirst, a résumé builder, for free to ACU students and alumni. Log on with your ACU email now, then change your email in your profile to your personal email so you can access this resource as an alumni. We also offer a résumé and cover letter guidebook here!
Additionally, create a document that lists your references and their contact information. That way when you’re applying, you do not have to look up their contact information each time, but can easily copy and paste it into the application portal. This will make the application process go by faster!
- Take Advantage of your Network
Though it seems scary to ask someone you are not close to to recommend you for a job, in reality, people hear about job opportunities multiple times a day. If they know you are actively looking for a specific position, they are more likely to drop your name as a reference, or send you jobs that may not even be posted publicly online. Here are some key ways to take advantage of your network.
First, use college job posting platforms like 12twenty. These job sites are looking at ACU students specifically, so you will be taking advantage of your ACU network. After using your SSO to logon, look in the employers tab. Make sure to go to your profile and change your email from your ACU email to your personal one so you can access it after you graduate!
Second, talk to people you know at ACU, like professors, advisors, and ACU Career Development advisors. Email your current or former professors, classmates, or internship coordinators. You can also reach out to former employers and coworkers if they are part of the industry you are applying to. The worst thing a network person can do is not respond, or say no. Even though that rejection may hurt, more than 80% of people get jobs through people they know, rather than applying online.
Third, participate in networking events. Go to LinkedIn and search for job fairs in your area for your particular field or industry. Then you can meet certain employers in person. Even if they are not actively hiring for the job you want, they may know someone who is hiring at a different company. After you meet them, find their contact information on LinkedIn or their company website and send them an email, expressing your interest in meeting them and your gratitude for their taking the time to talk to you.
- When You Get an Interview, Practice!
When you are offered an interview, be sure to practice before you attend. Even if you think you don’t need to, you will benefit from preparing for challenging interview questions. One way you can practice for your interview is through Practice Interviews on SkillsFirst. You can practice your answers to common interview questions via audio or video, or by writing them down. Then listen to your recording, and evaluate how you did.
Another way to do this is through making a Mock Interview Appointment with ACU Career Development. During your appointment, one of our Career Advisors will ask you to send the position you are interviewing for and your résumé. Then they will ask you common interview questions. After the mock interview is over, they will talk with you about what to work on and what you did well. You can access the site here to find out more and to make an appointment.
Check out our Interviewing Guide. You can find this resource in two places. First, go to 12twenty, then go to the Resource Library tab. Click on Interviewing, and access the “Interviewing Guide.” Click here to access. You can also find the Interviewing Guide on the Career Development website here.
- Take Time to Breathe and Do Things You Enjoy
It is common for a new graduate to take around three months to secure their first job after graduation. Start early and know that it will take some time and dedication. Instead of trying to apply to a ton of jobs in one go, follow your plan and take it slowly. That way, you can have room in your schedule to do things you enjoy. You can even plan fun things directly after you finish your daily job applications so that it acts as a short-term reward. This will sustain your energy and determination into applying for jobs, and keep you from burning out.
We hope these job search strategies are a source of encouragement and a blueprint for how to navigate the job search journey.
ACU Career Development
