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Author’s Bio: Diksha is a social media specialist and part time blogger. She loves to write and exploring on higher education in India and abroad, jobs and career in different fields . Currently she is working with StudyNation.com – a leading educational portal to help the students.You can follow her on LinkedIn and Google+
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Whatever economic changes are made, the fact remains that the population is rising at an exponentially higher rate and the number of employment opportunities does not match this growth. Recent college graduates are on the threshold of this activity where on one hand, they need jobs and on the other hand, there is an acute shortage of jobs.
Nonetheless, it is important that every new college graduate search jobs in a comprehensive way to get that ‘ideal’ job. Wrong job search practice is a way to lose fine opportunities. Below are the Top 10 common job search mistakes made by recent college graduates and avoid them.
10 Job Search Mistakes by Recent Graduates
1) Lack of Career Focus Scares away Employers
This will come across as surprising but employers do become wary of hiring those who do not have clear career focus in mind. In other words, if you are looking for a job just for the heck of it, you will not find yourself with good job options. Therefore, you need to show career focus and if you are targeting a work field where job opportunities are less, have a backup option ready in advance.
2) Narrowing Geographic Options
While it is certainly probable that your social and personal background might limit your job option to certain geographic locations, it will be to your benefit if you widen the net a bit and look for jobs in the neighboring areas as well. This is especially true of career options in which jobs are less in the chosen geographic field.
3) Excessive Preoccupation with Salary
While the fact is that you want to work for a living, excessive preoccupation with salary will ruin chances. As a new college graduate, you will only get internships or entry level jobs, and it will be stupidity to expect high paying jobs at such an early stage. Instead, you should focus on learning skills and gaining good work experience to go for a better work position after a certain period of time.
4) Unwillingness to Accept Entry Level Jobs
Again, these days’ students are unnaturally fed with dreams of landing that ideal job that will settle you for the rest of the life right at the outset. The fact is that only a handful of students among thousands get such life changing opportunities and the rest have to move up the ladder from the beginning. As a new college graduate, you will only be offered entry level or internship jobs, and you have no other option but to take it.
5) Lack of Networking
It is true that finding a job today is much easier than it was in the past but one of the best ways, still, is the use of networking. By networking, we mean reaching out to prospective people who can help with your job search and put in a good word as such, if necessary. Such people could be college alumni, family members, local members of professional groups and other local professionals.
6) Lack of Proper Communication
Even before an employer gets to meet you in person, the employers forms an impression by seeing the resume or any other form of written communication like emails. If you make grammatical or typo errors in the first point of contact itself, no prospective employer is ever going to take you seriously. Therefore, ensure that any forwarded document is proofread beforehand.
7) Lack of Follow Up
Your role doesn’t end with the interview. Once the interview is over, send up a follow-up email or letter to the prospective employers. This attitude not only indicates your interest but also shows your enthusiasm towards the job, which every employer applauds. In the follow up email, show your eagerness for the position and how you think yourself as the perfect fit. Periodic follow up email is a must as a silent non-pushy reminder.
8) Limited (or No) Employer Research
As a new college graduate, it is entirely possible that you are applying to hundreds of jobs every week and again, it is also not possible to research about each and every company you are visiting for interview. Nonetheless, what you can do is have a firm knowledge of the chosen industry. Further, there will be some companies where you just want to be hired; you need to do a thorough employer research before the interview. You cannot hoodwink the employer; the lack of knowledge will reflect in your communication.
9) Not Visiting Guidance Cells
These days, almost every college has a career guidance department to help its students in making the right career choice. It is important that you consult a professional or get guidance from them to avail the best of the opportunities once you are ‘out there’ in the field.
10) Counting Chickens before they Hatch!
You will be lucky to land a job with the first few interviews. Otherwise, you have to spend weeks giving interviews; a major flaw to do here is to expect a job and stop job search. For instance, you go to this interview and the response is so good that you ‘assume’ to have got the job and stop all further efforts. It might take weeks for the employer to reach a decision and by stopping active job search; you are spoiling chances and delaying the process. Keep searching until you have the appointment letter with you.
Conclusion
Jobs for new college graduates are there, even if somewhat restricted by economic pitfalls. You have to put the best foot forward and not make the above ten mistakes, ever.