Life After University: Tips To Get Your First Job After Graduation
With graduating students pursuing their first jobs, a degree is no longer a golden ticket to employment, particularly within the country’s constrained economic environment.
The transition from graduating to working can be quite a challenge. So, here are five tips for landing (and thriving in) your first job after graduation.
1. Build as much connections as possible
I cannot emphasize enough how important this is. Grow your network and make as much connections as possible, but don’t forget to use them. Let everyone in your social circle know that you’re looking for a job and you just need an interview to prove yourself. Don’t underestimate any connection or anyone you know. Family relationships, university colleagues & professors, friends or even neighbors and friends of friends may surprise you with where they can get you. However, be smart and don’t look desperate because you are confident of your skills and you just need some support to show them for the right person.
2. Use online recruitment platforms
Don’t believe the people who say it doesn’t work. I personally was able to make more than 7 interviews and received 5 offers from online applications. A better proof would be that my very first full-time job was granted through an online posted vacancy. Make your 8-hours job after graduation or even few months before is to apply everyday to well selected jobs. Make the extra effort when possible to speak about yourself through well written cover letters, answering competitive questions or even contacting someone from the company you are applying for such as the job poster or who you believe would be the hiring manager. Below is a list of some good online international portals and in GCC:
- Bayt.com
- gulftalent.com
- internsme.com/ oliv.com
- monstergulf.com
- naukrigulf.com
3. Build a strong profile/CV
Don’t leave your profile empty. Write a good summary and fill into all necessary information. Don’t leave so much basic information un-known for the recruiters and include any part time jobs, projects, social and academic participations you’ve done. Avoid random information and be specific to prove that you are not copying. Build a good video CV or a personal website if possible and finally, get other people advise and opinion on your profile. In a better explanation, make yourself stand in the crowd.
4. Do as much part time/internships as possible
This is something you should have considered through your University years. However, if you haven’t done anything, it’s not too late; start immediately. This is not limited to companies’ part time but also include doing anything your good at such as websites developing, graphic designs, photography, private tutoring, tax calculations, promotions and much more.
5. Learn something new
Don’t waste your days sleeping in the morning and playing cards in the evening. You probably will never be free in your life like you are after graduation. LEARN something you enjoy and I can’t count all the possibilities available. Get a certificate in something related to your field, attend online free/paid courses, learn a language, a new sport or even a new hobby.
6. Get ready for interviews
Don’t ever go to an interview clueless or slightly ready. Prepare something special for your interview such as a study, a presentation or a video if possible. Read more on how to get ready for an interview online; there are thousands if not millions of articles out there.
7. Don’t be demanding
Be open and avoid putting so much checking points in your list. We all start small and grow as we go. There are some people who got a dream job after graduation but lost it after a year or got stuck into it for many years. On the other hand, we all know someone who started with underpaid jobs and now have grown to be seniors with the same organization or in different ones. If we speak only about money, I know people who moved from 5,000 starting salary to more than 20,000 salary in less than 3 years. And I know people who are still on their 12,000 starting salary for 5 years.
8. Be patient
Finally, don’t lose patience easily. Keep going with the same optimistic attitude and it will definitely come. When it does, it’s your time now to grow and take the stairs up.
Also Check:
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- Ambassador /Engineer (Internship)Opportunities At Abbott
- What To Wear (and What Not to Wear) To a Job Interview