The truth is that most college graduates struggle with finding a job. The majority of college career centers lack the resources to meet the individual needs of the over 2 million college students who will graduate with a bachelors degree in 2021 seeking entry-level jobs. 

If you want to prepare for a successful job search and take advantage of job opportunities, here are 5 college grad job search tips for success. 

Start Online Networking — Now

If you haven’t already, start building your network to leverage the power of networking in 2021 and beyond.

Often, it’s about the people you know and who they can introduce you to. Studies show that 70-80% of jobs are filled directly through personal referrals. Networking is a key part of any successful job search. You don’t need to wait until you are working to start building your network.

So, start developing your network now. Start by building relationships with people that you come into contact regularly. This may include fellow students, teachers, professors, and advisors on campus. If you volunteer or work in a job or internship, there are several opportunities to build your network.

Job Search Tips for College Grads

While the job market recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, here are a few important things to keep in mind to position yourself for job search success. 

Mindset & Attitude for Job Search

Be flexible when considering your options. Entry-level jobs are just that, entry-level. Your first job is the first career step. It may take a couple of steps to figure out what you really want. Don’t get too bogged down trying to land the “dream job.” Your career path will evolve as you build experience, skills, and knowledge about your career passions to create new goals.   

You’ll also need to be resilient and determined. While some industries are thriving (technology, accounting, finance, supply chain, logistics, marketing, human resources), others are still recovering (hospitality, travel, entertainment). Keep your fundamental goals in mind.

Consistently work your job search and career marketing plans to achieve the best results in the shortest time. 

You’ll Need a Modern College Grad Resume 

Your resume is probably one of the most important career marketing tools you’ll need for a successful job search. Yes, I said “Career Marketing” tool since essentially that is what you will be doing — marketing yourself.  

Keep in mind that the modern job search is driven by technology. This means your resume must highlight your unique qualifications for your career target, separate you from your competition, and get you past the applicant tracking system (ATS) software. You’ll need to include the appropriate keywords and keyword phrases that illustrate your skill and experience for all job applications. 

Yes, I said “skill and experience.” Even college graduates seeking entry-level positions have relevant skills and experience to draw upon. Whether it’s academic projects or coursework, volunteer experience, or community involvement, there are several areas to explore to find, and highlight, valuable experience.      

Finally, your resume must have strong visual appeal to connect with human recruiters and hiring managers. 

How To Include Internships (Paid and Unpaid)

One of the most common questions that college graduates have is “Where do I put my internship experience?” This is a good question. Unfortunately, like with many things in resume writing the answer largely depends on you, your situation, and your career goals. 

For some clients, internship experience warrants a whole section due to the depth of experience, the number of internships involved or other unique sets of circumstances. 

In situations where you had one internship, aligned with your career goals, and you have other work experience, you can include the internship in the work experience section.

Other internships are narrower in scope and duration and may fit better in the Education section. As I said previously, there are so many variables, no client situation and background are an exact match.  

The bottom line here is whether your internship is paid or unpaid, it’s work experience. If it’s relevant to your career or job target — include it. Your volunteer experience, community leadership, and other areas may also be valuable to highlight your qualifications in your college grad job search.  

Build a Professional Image and Leverage the Power of LinkedIn 

Let’s face it, the world is becoming a digital landscape. This is true for both the workplace and the job search. 

According to LinkedIn, there are more than 100 million job openings every month, with 35 million of them being filled by applicants through LinkedIn. Without a doubt, this professional social media platform is one of the best ways to find a job.

LinkedIn is the “professional” social media network and the “place to be” to market yourself to potential employers. To maximize your career and business opportunities, build a professional profile on LinkedIn that communicates your unique combination of skills, experiences, passions, and personality. Keep your message professional, LinkedIn is not the place to relive your partying escapades. 

You’ll need to dig in and learn how recruiters and hiring managers use LinkedIn to find candidates like you. As a starting point, you’ll want to focus on your Headline, About, Education, Skills, and Experience sections. These are all relevant for most college grads seeking entry-level jobs. You’ll also want to use a photo that presents you in a professional environment. Appear as you would want to appear while meeting a potential boss for the first time. 

Think of LinkedIn as your digital billboard. There is so much to unpack but you can find more tips and insights on LinkedIn here.    

Best Entry-Level Job Sites for College Graduates

In this technological age there is no shortage of career websites for college graduates to search for entry-level jobs following graduation. I’ll list a few of my favorite entry-level job sites below. 

As I mentioned previously, LinkedIn is an amazing resource and the place to be for all things professional. In addition to networking opportunities, LinkedIn is job search database, it serves as a digital resume and a social network all in one place. Build a strong, keyword-optimized profile to market yourself and be found by recruiters and hiring managers. LinkedIn has so much to offer that it ranks as the #1 place to find entry-level jobs for college graduates.   

Indeed, is second on my list since it is the largest job search engine in the world. The portal is so large that it offers something for everyone, including entry-level job seekers and college graduates, and provides extensive search criteria.  

Another online search option that you may not have heard of is Google. Google has built a very powerful job search engine pulling jobs from many popular sites including Ladders, Zip Recruiter, Career Builder, LinkedIn, Military.com, Glassdoor, and Monster. Like both LinkedIn and Indeed, you can search, sort, save, and set job alerts in the portal. For many, Google will save you time since you no longer need to check all the different job search portals. Be aware, you will not find Indeed listings among your Google results. So, you’ll need to continue to check Indeed if you want to see their job postings.   

Another great job search hub is FlexJobs. This is an excellent resource for college graduates. FlexJobs specializes in remote, work from home (WFH), and flexible jobs including entry-level and early career experience level positions. FlexJobs is a fee-based service that utilizes the revenue to create a great user experience by ensuring positions are legitimate, providing product discounts, and job search support services. 

You can follow this link to find a few more online search options and additional resources.

Career Services Professional for College Grads

Searching for entry-level positions after graduating from college can be complicated and exhausting. The differing perspectives of grads and parents can create stress that isn’t good, or helpful, for anyone. Instead, cut down the stress, reduce the time spent in your job search and optimize your employment options by hiring a pro. 

EZ Resume Services is a full-service career firm offering tailored services for college graduates and entry-level job seekers. Whether you need help to clarifying career goals, identifying relevant skills and experience, or creating exceptional career marketing materials, we can help. 

Schedule a complimentary session with me. We’ll discuss your situation and create a plan to move forward.

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Recently, I heard an example of one job seeker who had sent off their resume 50 times and had secured one interview. This can be discouraging to your job search efforts! However, this scenario hasn’t happened just to one person. It has happened to many people who experience difficulties during a job search.

GOOD NEWS

The good news is, this jobseeker recognized that they needed help and sought assistance. Whether you’re in the job market by choice or due to circumstances beyond your control –  there are specific areas that you should focus on to increase your chances of success!

10 KEY JOB SEARCH ACTION ITEMS

Here are the top 10 things to do when you are looking for a job.

1. Get Your Financial House In Order – You’ll be in better shape to make a change if you’re on a sound financial footing. As you start this process make sure a financial evaluation is part of your plan.
2. Change Jobs, Change Careers or Change Direction? – Do you want to change the company you work for or change your career path entirely? Review your options and consider them realistically.
3. Develop a Plan – Take time to establish goals and organize your activities. Outline a strategy and then use your plan to create a weekly list of activities. Review and update your plan to make sure you are moving forward.
4. Recruit Support – You don’t have to go it alone in your job search. Ask your family and friends to support you. Use the services offered by your city, county, or state employment office. Consider professional help offered by a resume writer or career consultant.
5. Marketing Material – If your direction forward involves a job search, you’ll need a resume and cover letter at the minimum. Based upon your job target and career level, you may need to update or create a LinkedIn profile.

More Job Search Action Items

1. Networking – One of the best ways to get your foot in the door is through people you already know — and the people they know. Make a list of all the people you know who can help you with your job search.
2. Social Media – Review your current social media profiles for any potentially negative content. In today’s job market, recruiters and hiring managers regularly check social media to screen candidates.
3. Job Search – Plan to invest time and effort to reach your goal. You need to network, research jobs that are not posted publicly as well as review online postings. You also need to ensure your effort is productive. Remember – stay positive and focused.
4. Interviewing – Take time to prepare for interviews by researching the company. Outline how your skills and experience make you the ideal candidate. Prepare, practice and plan for each interview so that everything goes smoothly.
5. My Search Isn’t Working – First, figure out where you’re lost or stuck in your job search. Is your resume getting interviews? Are you getting offers after your interviews? You have to identify the problem before you can find a solution. Consider seeking guidance from a resume writer or career consultant.

STRATEGY & PLAN

Most important, make sure to develop a plan and strategy to achieve your objective. Your plan becomes your roadmap. Work your plan and strategy to create opportunities. Prepare and practice to take advantage of the opportunities you create.

NEED HELP?

Are ready to get your job search moving and find the job that fits you best? If so, schedule a complimentary session with me to get started.

To Your Success!

Rob

The post 10 Key Action Items for A Successful Job Search appeared first on EZ Resume Services.

The reality is that the modern job search is complicated by evolving technology. Technology makes it easier for job seekers to apply to TONS of jobs via the internet. However, on the receiving end, it requires more effort to receive and sort through the large volume of resumes received. To handle the volume in a systematic, organized, and impartial manner, technology is used to receive and filter resumes. The key is to understand how sending your resume with technology can work for you – not against you.

HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY READ MY RESUME?

The vast majority of companies utilize Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) software to receive, review and store resumes. But that’s not their only function. The primary technological benefit hiring managers and recruiters get from ATS is that the systems filter candidates OUT. The ATS system reads your resume and compares it to the job description. If your resume is not ATS friendly or keyword optimized to the job description, you will be filtered out before a human ever reads it – regardless of your qualifications.

PASSING THE TECHNOLOGY FILTER

Understanding the challenge you face is only half the battle. But, if you’ve come this far and you “get it” – you’ve come a long way. Now, to pass the ATS test, you need to focus on three key areas to improve your results. Let’s review each now.

#1 – KEEP IT SIMPLE

If you need to write your resume and don’t know where to start, the internet has thousands (if not more) free templates to help you. The problem is most cannot be read by ATS systems. Stay away from fancy fonts, graphics and formatting – keep it simple. Use standard fonts such as Calibri, Arial or Verdana. Keep your headings simple (Skills, Work Experience, Education) and well-organized with the appropriate white space around each section for definition. List your work experience in chronological order, or you risk confusing the ATS system and being filtered out.

#2 – KEYWORDS COUNT

As I said previously, the ATS compares your resume with the job description looking for a specific keyword match. Keywords can be skills, abilities, credentials or other qualities that the job description contains. You should review the job description to identify the keywords included. Look for hard and soft skills. Keep in mind that hard skills are usually more important than soft skills. But a mix of both is important. Once you have identified the Keywords needed, find a way to include the ones that apply to you on your resume.

#3 – TAILOR EVERY RESUME

Remember, the ATS wants specific keywords to see a match. Therefore, to increase your chances of passing the ATS filter, you must tailor every resume for every position. Yes, this is time-consuming and a lot of work. But it’s necessary if you want the job. Why? Because in today’s job market, jobs with the same titles can require very different skills and abilities (keywords) from different companies. Even positions with the same company but in different departments can require different skills.

TAKE-AWAY

The bottom line, sending your resume and waiting is no longer an option. Technology can work for you or against you. If your resume is effectively communicating your skills, abilities, and qualifications and you are applying to positions you are qualified for, you should expect 3 calls from every ten resumes you send out.

NEED HELP

Ready to get your job search off the ground? Schedule a complimentary session here. We’ll discuss your needs and ways that we can help you.

To Your Success!

The post Three Key Reasons You’re Not Getting Calls After Sending Your Resume appeared first on EZ Resume Services.

Now, entering 2021, some industries, such as healthcare and technology, are experiencing strong demand while others, such as hospitality, travel, and entertainment continue to struggle. Depending on the field you are in, you might be lucky to find a job within a few weeks of looking for one. Or, if you are like a lot of people, it could take months to find the right job fit for you.

Finding a job can be a full-time job in itself.

If you are tired of spending time chasing mediocre job listings and going to interview after interview with no luck, there is a solution for you.

A job search strategy job worksheet can help streamline your job search process and get you faster, more positive results in your job search. It can also help to identify why your resume is not getting any calls from recruiters and employers.

Keep reading for more information about how this tool can help you find your perfect job.

What is a Job Search Strategy Worksheet?

A job search strategy worksheet is a tool to help you find the job you actually want and one that will be a much better fit for your needs and skillset. It helps bring clarity and focus to your job search.

It helps you identify the jobs that are well suited for you, allowing you to focus on jobs that are a good fit versus spending time and effort pursuing jobs that are not a good fit. 

You can either print out the job search strategy worksheet or fill it out on your computer. Either way, take the time to review and complete one to remove the guesswork, stress, and frustration from your job search. 

The Power of Writing It Down

Writing down your career goals is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself as you start your job search. Goal setting is considered by many to be an important first step to career success.

Use the job search strategy worksheet provided here, to write down your career goals and conduct a career self-assessment. It will help to clarify your strengths, weaknesses, goals, areas for improvement, career interests, and values—all important ingredients you need to consider when choosing a specific job or career target.  

It also touches on the power of visualization. When you complete your job search strategy worksheet, it will help you create a picture of your perfect job. Once you have, envision yourself in that picture.

Tips for Completing a Job Search Strategy Worksheet

Are you ready to get to work and develop your job search strategy? Start with these easy steps as outlined on the job strategy worksheet and build a winning strategy for your job or career target.

Objective

The first step in a job search strategy worksheet is to write down the main objectives that you want to realize in finding a new job. Now, writing down something generic like, “I need a job, any job,” won’t work. You need to be more specific.

For example. Is it to meet a certain salary requirement? Is it to work for a company that aligns with your values and passions? Or is your main career objective to work for a company where there is plenty of room for internal upward movement?

Whatever your main objectives are, write them down. This will help focus your energy on the companies that will help you satisfy the goals you have set.  

This is a good time to also list the things you DO NOT WANT in your next job or career. Identifying your objectives will save you time and energy since you will stop applying to positions that do not align with your career goals.  

Location Preferences

The next step is to identify where you want to work. This is critical. Are you willing to relocate? If so, where? Across the country, within the state or across town? Are you willing to endure a commute, or do you plan to rely on public transportation? Perhaps you are interested in remote work only and want to live by the beach?

Whatever you decide, once you define your location preferences for your job search, you can focus on jobs that meet your specific requirements.

Eliminate any job that does not meet your location preferences from consideration and dedicate more time to jobs that fit your needs. You may decide to weigh some factors more heavily than others.  

Professional Skillset

Write down all of the competencies that you have to offer potential employers. Think skills, experience, and knowledge. List the things that you bring to the table that would make you a strong candidate for your ideal job or career.

Are you excellent at corporate communications? Do you have a history of completing projects on time and meeting deadlines? Are you able to multitask on a variety of projects?

List out all your relevant job experience, education, training and certifications. Use this section to see where you thrive professionally. 

This section can also help you identify parts of previous jobs that you do not enjoy. Highlight areas that you want to avoid in your future job. This can include things like meeting with customers or making presentations. 

Personal Skills and Strengths

List your personal talents and superpowers (soft skills) that make you unique and a valuable candidate to hire. In 2021, highly desirable soft skills include adaptability, work ethic, creativity, active listening, teamwork, and others.

Are you creative? Do you work well in teams? Are you a problem solver? Do you get along with people easily?

This is very important to figure out. Keep in mind, employers want to hire candidates who are well qualified for a position. But they also want to hire someone they get along with who integrates well with the team and organization.  

Personality matters just as much as job experience for some positions. 

Career Interests

Next, list what kind of position you are seeking.

Do you want a full-time position or are you looking for something more temporary or part-time? Are you someone who likes to be in the same position for a long period or do you prefer to be promoted and move up the ladder at a rapid pace?

Identifying the type of career you want – not just the type of work you will be doing – will help you narrow your job search down to something that aligns with your career goals.

Ideal Company

This is the part of your job search strategy worksheet where you list the ideal qualities of the company you would like to work for. 

Ask yourself these questions.

What type of company would you love to work for? How important is a company’s culture to you? Do you like when a company has a strict hierarchy, or do you prefer a company with more open channels of communication?

Another factor that may be important to you is the type of work that your ideal company does. For example, if you are passionate about the environment and clean energy, it would probably be difficult to work for an oil and gas company. 

Some job seekers put a high priority on working for a company that aligns with their values. You want to work for a company that you feel good about. Write down the criteria that are important for you.

Qualifications Needed

What are the qualifications that your job target requires? Do some research so that you have a good understanding of the skills, experience and qualifications needed for your dream job.   

Does your job target require someone bilingual? Maybe your job target requires digital and graphic design experience?

Knowing and understanding the qualifications of your dream job can help you make more informed decisions about the skill sets you need to win interviews and get hired. List the common skills, experience and qualifications required for your job or career choice. Generally, at a minimum, your qualifications should be a 70%-80% match for the positions you pursue.

Preferred Job Title or Function

This is where you consider all of your input and start to develop a job or career target. Need help? Use the online Skills Matcher to help you identify career options that might be a good fit for your skills.

Consider your professional skillset, the qualifications needed for your ideal job target, and companies that align with your values to create an actual list of potential jobs. Focus your efforts on the jobs on this list.

Preferred Salary 

What is your preferred salary? Are you willing to negotiate? Are you willing to take a pay cut to start at a new company?

Again, do some research upfront so that you have a general idea of the salary or pay rates as they apply to your search. Two resources that may be helpful to you are O*NET and PayScale.

Be prepared and know what you are willing to accept when it comes to salary. Being prepared and informed will help you position yourself for success when it comes time to negotiate.

Contact Us Today to Jump Start Your Job Search

The job search can be challenging, but it can also be extremely rewarding once you find that perfect job. 

Completing a job search strategy worksheet can help you discover what the perfect job looks like for you.  

If you are ready to get your career search off the ground and find the job that fits you best, reach out to us here at EZ Resume Services.

Sign up for a complimentary session to go over your career goals and let us help you find the pathway to your perfect career. 

The post Advance Your Career With a Job Search Strategy Worksheet appeared first on EZ Resume Services.

Conducting a quick, efficient job search hasn’t always been the easiest task. Now, with the market being so competitive within the past few months, it’s easy to find yourself discouraged with the results of your job search efforts.

If you’re frustrated while finding employment opportunities, then it’s time to re-evaluate your job search strategies. When it comes to finding a job, there are a couple of ways you can improve your job search results. From enhancing your digital presence to networking with the right people, here’s what I’ve found works.

1. What Are the Best Job Searching Strategies? Start With Digital Presence

First on my list of the best job search strategies is maintaining a strong digital presence. Like it or not, recruiters and hiring managers routinely search for candidates on social media, primarily LinkedIn where profile strength matters. But also, employers are checking your personal social media profiles to evaluate you as a candidate. Be mindful of your activities online and manage your online reputation carefully!

2. Professional Networks

Add networking to your list of one of the best job searching strategies available. Networking can provide access to the “Hidden Job Market” which are jobs that aren’t posted online. Connecting to employers in this way allows your network connection to provide a strong introduction or first impression that cannot be made through a resume alone.

3. What Are the 5 Steps to Success in a Job Search? Don’t Forget a Staffing Agency

If you’re asking yourself, “How do you successfully find a job,” don’t forget to consider contacting a staffing agency. Not only can an agency help you find a job that is perfectly suited for you, but it can also coach you through what you need to do to succeed. While working through a staffing agency may not sound like a great option, the bottom line is that they will put you to work and many temporary assignments lead to permanent positions.

4. How Do You Successfully Find a Job? Update Your Resume

From writing cover letters to utilizing specific keywords to match a job description, there are a lot of variables that need to be in place for you to get contacted for interviews. Résumé writing is a strategic process that requires a high level of objectivity and strategic writing. If you need help with your cover letter and resume, I would love to help.

5. It’s Time to Learn a New Skill

Last but not least, if you want to increase your chance of finding a job, I encourage you to use this time to learn a new skill or brush up on some you haven’t used in a while. Whether it be learning a technical skill or brushing up on your video conferencing technique, use your time on a skill that will help you in your job search.

Tips for Re-Evaluating Your Job Search Strategies and More

Whether you’re looking to improve your job search strategies or are simply looking into my resume services, I want to help. I know how difficult applying for jobs can be. But fortunately, I’ve put together the perfect platform to help ease the process. 

Let me help you with your career goals. Feel free to visit the Contact Us tab to book a complimentary session with me where we can discuss your current resume, career goals, and more.

The post 5 Tried and Tested Job Search Strategies I Recommend Constantly appeared first on EZ Resume Services.