Congratulations! You made it through college and earned your degree. But there isn’t much time to rest on your laurels- before you’ve even gotten to hang up your cap and gown, we guarantee somebody will be asking you if you have a job lined up yet. Fear not- here are 7 helpful hints for how to begin the search that will hopefully get your foot in the door in your chosen field.

Join (and use) job boards.

Many companies post career opportunities on message boards when they are looking to hire new staff members. By frequenting multiple job boards, you can be sure you aren’t letting any possible opportunities pass you by.

Make your profile squeaky clean.

OK, you just got through with college- there HAS to be at least one pic on Facebook of you doing something less than professional. A surprising number of hiring managers admit that they won’t hire a prospective employee with social media profiles featuring questionable pictures or posts, so make sure to go out there and delete anything you wouldn’t want your boss to see.

Network with friends and family.

If anybody you know has an in with a particular industry or organization you’d like to work for, see if they can get you an internship or entry-level job with their firm. People love to help their friends, family members and neighbors, and may be able to pull a few strings to get you an interview.

Don’t dismiss volunteer work.

Sure, it’s nice to earn a paycheck, but volunteering or accepting an unpaid internship at a company is a great way to get your foot in the door. Not only can you showcase your skills and work ethic to the people who do the hiring, but you can also learn on the job and get trained for the career you have chosen, and see if it is really a good fit for you.

 Stay connected with college buddies.

When you and your friends graduate, you’re all in the same boat. Keeping in touch with your old dorm-mates or sorority sisters may help you with your job search if one of them lands a sweet job and refers you to their hiring manager. Also, how awesome would it be to work with your friends doing something you love?

 Set the bar low at first.

Sure, you are on top of the world when you are handed that diploma, but you’ve got to keep it real, expectation-wise. Hardly anybody lands a six-figure income in upper management straight out of college. Be prepared to do some grunt work for little or possibly no pay at first, but remain optimistic because that hard work can have a huge payoff in the future.

 Don’t give up.

When you’re first starting out, you may get a few doors slammed in your face, but it is important to remain positive and focus on the big picture. Sooner or later the job you were meant to have will come along, but for now, keep trying and don’t get discouraged.

Let Employment Solutions give you a helping hand as you embark on your first job search. We can help recent college grads in and around Denver find entry-level, experience-building jobs in their chosen field. Call us today to get started!