Are you a college graduate just starting your career? If so, congratulations on completing your education and welcome to the wonderful world of job hunting! The prospect of applying for jobs, interviews, and more demanding responsibilities may be worrisome after years in school with the known method of lectures and homework. There will be many queries, such as what sections to include in your resume, what kind of employment you are suited for, and what things to say during interviews.

Although these worries are valid, the chances are in your favor. Overall, those with bachelor’s degrees had a lower unemployment rate than high school graduates or those who only possessed some college/Associate’s degrees. That being said, it takes new college graduates an average of 3 to 6 months to find work, which may be especially disheartening when you have student loans to pay.

Fortunately, there are a few simple methods you can use to increase your chances of finding a full-time job as soon as possible. It’s not unusual for each new employment opportunity to receive hundreds of applicants, so utilizing these tried-and-true strategies will put you ahead of the pack.

Tailor your cover letter and resume to each job

Most recent graduates have limited work histories, making it difficult to produce a full-page resume. Don’t worry if you don’t have much past employment experience; employers looking for entry-level jobs do not always want you to have prior employment. If you have any work experience, include it in your CV; but, more importantly, emphasize your high GPA and leadership roles while also mentioning any technical skills you possess.

If you’ve held several jobs or internships before graduation, don’t feel obligated to include them all on your CV. If a number of the positions were temporary/short-term, for example, don’t feel compelled to describe them all. Only list those experiences that are relevant to the role you’re looking for or show a pattern of teamwork, dependability, and problem-solving.

To help you get hired, your cover letter is your chance to sell yourself as the ideal candidate for the position. Don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to creating cover letters. Although it takes a little longer, writing personalized ones for the jobs that interest you is worth it. Make it clear that you’ve read the job description by describing how your experience and abilities match those of the employer. If the employer is seeking for engaging salespeople, for example, feel free to explain how your involvement in various campus activities made you a natural connector with people.

Prepare responses to common interview questions

Find other job-hunters and arrange mock interviews with them to determine where you stand. Get honest feedback on your answers and general demeanor from friends or family members who have worked in the business before hiring. A lot can be learned by preparing ahead of time for your responses. Here are some of the most common questions you’ll hear, as well as the best answers:

Tell me about yourself. Okay, technically this isn’t a question, but it’s the first thing every interview asks you. Avoid discussing non-work subjects or hobbies that aren’t relevant to the job. Rather, play it cool and stick to discussing why you’re qualified to undertake the position. If you don’t have any work experience, give examples of outstanding academic accomplishments and demanding extracurricular activities that you completed through hard effort and tenacity.

Why do you want this job? The interviewer is attempting to ensure you’re truly interested in the position advertised and not that you’re just trying to get your foot in the door. Pull two to three tasks from the job description and describe why they appeal to you, as well as how you imagine the role will help your career develop in the long term.

What are your strengths? A skilled interviewer will read between the lines to discover what you’re really trying to say. Many candidates reply with such statements as “I’m a quick learner” or “I get along with everyone.” Show the interviewer how your degree and experience translate into real-world abilities, such as “Majoring in Math prepared me for working with a high volume of data,” or “My time as student body president polished my negotiating skills.”

What are your weaknesses? This may be one of the most difficult questions you’ll ever encounter, but it doesn’t have to be complicated to answer. Your response should be something that will not influence your ability to do the task, as well as an explanation of how you’re overcoming the shortcoming. If you’re applying to be a lab technician, it’s probably safe to say that you aren’t great at public speaking, but you do try harder when socializing. However, if you’re applying for the position of traveling sales rep, the interviewer may be relieved to hear that you despise being confined in an office and are therefore seeking for jobs that allow you to travel.

Where do you see yourself in five years? That’s a harder question to answer. Focus less on job titles and more on the professional skills you wish to learn and how they will benefit the firm. For instance, you might want to enhance your project management abilities and gain leadership experience so you can play an important role in the company’s growth. The interviewer is attempting to determine whether you have long-term potential with the organization or would depart as soon as opportunity arises.

Remember, you’re interviewing the company as well

Many job seekers are hesitant to ask questions in interviews since they want to appear like a pleasant and easy-to-get-along-with individual. However, keep in mind that if you accept a full-time position with this firm, you must work 40 hours or more each week. It’s in your best interests (and the company’s) to ensure that this is a good match. If an interviewer seems irritated by your inquiries, it should be enough of a warning sign.

After you’ve scheduled an interview, do as much research as possible by going through the company’s website, Glassdoor reviews, and social media accounts. This will a) provide you with important information about the company culture, b) assist in the formation of questions to ask during the interview, and c) prevent you from asking any questions that have obvious answers (e.g., “What is the name of the CEO?”).

Do you need some ideas? These are just a few of my favorite interview questions:

• Why is this position open?
• What are some of the challenges associated with this position?
• What does it take to be successful in this position?
• What do you like about working for this company?
• Do you have any concerns about hiring me that I can address?

The interviewer’s answers will provide you a sense of the company’s culture, performance standards, and promotion prospects. This might assist you in making a more informed decision about whether the position is appropriate for you.

Acquire new skills with online classes

Although a Bachelor’s degree is important for developing “soft skills” (such as time management and critical thinking) and technical abilities, your college education most likely did not cover many of the standards and qualifications organizations are searching for in their employees.

Fortunately, there are a plethora of low-cost online classes that may assist you stand out in an increasingly competitive job market. To determine what skills you still need, look through the job openings in your area; there’s almost certainly a course that will teach you how to become a self-taught specialist. Here are some of our favorites:

• LinkedIn Learning – fully online and part-time courses that teach everything from HTML Essentials to Instagram Marketing.
• Duolingo – This free website/app makes learning a new language enjoyable in just a few minutes each day.
• YouTube – When I’m trying to figure out an Excel formula or a Photoshop technique, I usually go to video lessons.
• Udemy – You’ll learn to code, take great iPhone photos, and more when you join.

Set up a LinkedIn account and/or online portfolio

LinkedIn has shown to be a valuable instrument for networking and recruitment. Creating an account just takes a few minutes, and you may stay in touch with other alumni and coworkers. You might never know if they’ll want to suggest you for their firm or vice versa down the road.

If you’re searching for a job in creative occupations like writing or design, create an online portfolio where you can showcase your work. Include the link in your email signature and on your LinkedIn/ social media profiles. A strong portfolio will help you stand out and may even result in lucrative freelance opportunities.

Clean up your social media accounts

Having an internet presence, such as a LinkedIn profile, is preferable than having none. However, not managing your online reputation may be more harmful to your career than you realize. According to a 2018 CareerBuilder poll, 70% of employers do research potential employees on social media, and 57% of those employers found something that led them not to hire the candidate.

Of course, there are certain jobs, like social media specialist or brand ambassador, where having an active social media presence is a plus. If you’re applying for a high-profile position, consider creating separate business (public) and personal (private) accounts and/or removing anything that might make potential employers hesitant to hire you (e.g. photos depicting illegal activities, offensive jokes, etc.).

Be prepared to pitch yourself at anytime

Sometimes a fantastic chance surfaces when you’re least expecting it – Sheryl Sandberg and Mark Zuckerberg met at a holiday party, with Sandberg quitting Google shortly afterwards to join Facebook. CEOs and executives can recognize talent when they see it, and a wonderful discussion might inspire them to seek out more about you.

Make it as simple as possible for potential employers and recruiters to contact you by carrying professional business cards with you everywhere you go. Feel free to include a generic job title such as “UI/UX Designer” and your contact information, as well as a link to your website or LinkedIn profile.

Apply to your dream companies

Don’t be scared to apply for jobs with your ideal firms – they, too, are searching for intelligent and talented individuals who enjoy their products or services. Check out their job postings to see if any of them match your qualifications. Even if none of them is a perfect fit, send your resume anyway! Your enthusiasm for the firm will come through in your cover letter, and this alone may be enough to get you an interview.

Remember, this is only the beginning of your professional life, and it will take some time (and a few employments) to figure out what you want and don’t want in a long-term career. In the meantime, concentrate on gaining experience, absorbing as much knowledge as possible, and establishing strong relationships with individuals at all firms where you work. Over time, you’ll acquire the self-awareness and self-assurance you need to create a job that you’ll enjoy.