6 Steps for First-Time Job Hunters

Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor



Congratulations, you've done it! You made it through college, have your degree in hand and are finally ready to make your mark. You are now in the real world and it's time to get your professional life started.
If you are in the middle of this crossroad, it can be scary, exciting, confusing, overwhelming or all of the above. Following are some steps to make a successful college-to-real world transition.
Step 1: Pinpoint Your Direction.
After four (or five, or six) years of college, you are completely certain about what you want to do, right? If not, now is the time to determine what your strengths are and identify what kind of careers suit you. Are you someone who loves to be around people? Or are you happier crunching numbers or creating computer programs? Consider all of your strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes and interests when thinking about your career plan. Read about fields that interest you and talk to others who are doing jobs that you find interesting. Focus your direction on positions and fields that match your interests and talents.
Step 2: Do Your Research.
It is vital to learn as much as you can about the companies that interest you and to consider all of your options, says Pam Webster, a recruiting manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. She should know: Enterprise is the nation's largest recruiter of college graduates.
"You should be open-minded about opportunities in companies and industries you might not have thought of before," she says. Once you have identified companies that you want to target, Webster suggests looking at their Web sites, reading news articles and talking to current employees to learn as much as you can. "You also need to look at a company's stability," she says. "Is the company going to be there for the long term?"
Step 3: Assemble Your Toolkit.
It is important to have the right tools for any task. The tools needed for a job search are a résumé, cover letter and a portfolio of your work. Take the time to develop a résumé and cover letter that clearly convey your strengths and experience. Here are a few tips to remember:

Think about the type of résumé you need. A functional résumé, which highlights your abilities rather than your work history, is a good choice for first-time job seekers.

Focus on accomplishments and results you have achieved, rather than simple descriptions of experiences.

Use action words in your résumé and cover letter to describe your experiences, such as "initiated," "produced" and "managed."

If you are low on practical work experience, look to your part-time work, school activities or volunteer positions. "Evaluate all of your experience and translate how it applies to any job you might apply to," Webster says.

Step 4: Network.
One of the most important tasks in any job search is networking. Take advantage of any resources you have, including your school's career placement office, friends who graduated before you and are already working, friends of your parents, former professors, and neighbors. Send e-mails to ask if your contacts know someone who can help you. Pass your résumé around and ask others to do the same. Call your contacts to see if they know someone who works for a firm you are interested in joining.
Step 5: Play the Part.
If you want to join the professional world, you need to act -- and look -- the part. Buy a business suit and wear it to all of your interviews. "Make sure your e-mail address and voice mail greeting are appropriate," Webster says. That means if your e-mail user name is "crazygirl2005," you might want to get a new account. Webster says you should also remember to be professional at home. "Be prepared for a phone call or a phone interview at any time," she says. The more you play the part of a well-trained professional, the more people will see you as a professional.
Step 6: Don't Give Up.
The real world can be a real challenge. Set realistic expectations and recognize that you will probably have to start at the bottom and work your way up. You will likely face rejection as you start looking for your first full-time job, but everyone goes through it. Just remember to be proactive, be persistent and remain confident that there is a great job out there for you!

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Analyze The Job Market Before Starting Your Job Search

Spending a bit of time researching and understanding the job market in your professional field or geographic location will help you be more effective in your job search. Knowing the job market climate is key to deciding when and where to best focus your efforts on getting a first job or transitioning to a different workplace.

Job market information is available at libraries, in career magazines or in newspapers. The Internet offers a wide variety of search options ranging from job description, pay scale, geographic location, professional associations or agency standards.

In order to analyze the job market of your choice you can begin by asking yourself a few simple questions.

How much competition exists in the market?

The more competition the more dynamic, professional and interesting your resume should be. A good first interview will be critical as there will likely be numerous candidates interviewed so it is important to make the best possible impression.

A marketplace with less competition may be more beneficial to first time employees that may not have an extensive resume.

Are the employers looking for more than just the required skills?

A bit of research on who has been hired in the workplace will help you answer this question. If the advertisement or posting calls for Bachelors level training but everyone on staff has a Masters you can be assured the agency or organization is looking for more than just the requirements on the posting.

Also be aware that there are skills that may not be mentioned on the posting that might give you an edge in the market. If, for example, you spoke another language that was used in the area it may be an additional asset when seeking employment in that location. Make sure to include it in your resume.

What is the current employment trend in the area?

Is the geographical area in a depression or an economic upswing? Are businesses moving into or out of the area or field? Are there lots of lay-offs or downsizing?

Most of this information can be found either on the Internet or in the local papers. The local employment center can be a valuable source of this type of market analysis.

Does the market favor employers or job seekers?

This question will help you analyze your ability to negotiate with employers and your ability to apply for jobs that may be outside your traditional job qualifications. When the market favors job seekers the employers are more willing to provide work for first time employees or employees that have not had experience in a particular field. This is a good time to try new careers and to move jobs.

In a market that favors employers there is less chance of changing jobs and any moves should be planned in advance to avoid any unwanted unemployment.

When you feel confident that you can answer these questions you will be able to determine the condition of the job market. If it is a favorable market for the employee it will be easier to obtain a job and to be able to negotiate with your employer the conditions of your employment.

A market analysis that indicates a strong employer bias will work best for experienced individuals with credentials that exceed the minimum requirements of the employers.

Understanding the job market analysis will help you decide where you will have the best results in seeking employment. Focussing your time and effort on markets that are positive towards the employee will provide the best outcomes.

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