How to get your first job after college

You’ve finally finished university! You’ve passed your exams, submitted your final project, and danced the night away at your graduation ceremony. Now what? It’s time to put all that knowledge into practice in real life.

There’s just one problem: when it comes to looking for your first job after university, you probably don’t know where to start.

Don’t worry! We’ve put together a guide to help you prepare for your applications and interviews to succeed in your job search.

Application

YES: Take time to replenish your energy

You don’t have to jump headlong into job hunting straight after graduating. After years of studying, you deserve a break.

Your first job after university is a chance to start anew, so you should go into the process with a clear head.

The numbers are in your favour: according to a recent EU report , the employment rate for university graduates aged 20 to 34 was 83.2% over the past three years.

However, the numbers vary considerably from one country to another, from a very high 92.7% in Germany to just 58.7% in Italy. In short, you can afford to take some time to recharge your batteries and prepare a plan of action.

DON’T: Wait too long and miss opportunities

According to a study published in the American Economic Review, which looked at over 8,000 CVs sent to 3,500 job openings, being unemployed for three months is no problem for potential employers.

However, after six months you already run the risk of not being invited for an interview. If you spend more than a year out of work, your job prospects can be drastically reduced.

The good news? The study also shows that once you’ve found that first job after college, the time you were unemployed before it won’t be taken into account when you look for your next job.

YES: Write a solid resume

On average, only 10% of job applications lead to an interview. In other words, your resume is your cover letter.

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Whether you’ve had 10 internships or just focused on college classes, a well-written resume will help you get more interviews than one written at the last minute. Here are some tips:

Stick to a single page for maximum impact.
List your academic and professional history in reverse chronological order (i.e. 2021 before 2020) so that your most recent accomplishments appear at the top.
Omit objective statements (e.g., “Recent graduate seeks first opportunity in digital communications”). This just takes up space.
Avoid corporate jargon and buzzwords. Use clear, simple language, and don’t just say, for example, that you’re good at solving problems – demonstrate it through your experience.
Keep the format simple: include headers, bold dates, a basic font (e.g. Helvetica), and leave enough space between sections so that information can be clearly distinguished.
Add your phone number and email address at the top so potential employers can easily contact you.
Freelance projects, blogs, and gig economy jobs all count as work experience, so include them.
If you don’t have work experience, focus on transferable skills you’ve learned at university and any relevant academic projects.
Leave out academic achievements, unless they are impressive. The hiring manager doesn’t care if you were the smartest person in kindergarten.

Keep in mind that on average, you’ll likely have to send out 30-50 resumes before you find a job. Perseverance is key!

DON’T: Forget to personalize requests

A solid resume and a flawless cover letter are worthless if you send them to the wrong person. To land your first job out of college, you’ll need to make a positive impression on a stranger.

According to StandOut CV , recruiters spend an average of 6-8 seconds skimming a resume. If your documents are too generic and don’t show that you’re familiar with the company and the position you’re applying for, you’re likely to be passed over.

YES: have a LinkedIn profile

Compared to others, LinkedIn may seem like a boring social network. However, it is great for helping you land a job interview.

A recent study found that 122 million people have been invited to an interview through LinkedIn and that 35.5 million have been hired after connecting with other users on this platform. This equates to three people hired every minute!

DON’T: Forget to set other social networks as “private”

Some potential employers check other social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok) to get a better idea of candidates. Unless you have an exemplary public image, it’s best to keep your social media private.

Interview

YES: show confidence

Confidence comes from many sources: dressing appropriately for the position, looking neat, arriving on time, knowing the company, and offering thoughtful responses.

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Here are some tips:

Choose what you are going to wear the night before and try to match the atmosphere of the company.
Visit the company’s website and take notes.
Rehearse possible questions and answers with a friend.
Set an alarm and arrive with plenty of time to relax before you go in.

DON’T: be arrogant

There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Don’t brag or exaggerate. Don’t gloat over your personal successes and don’t belittle others either.

Try using we instead of I. In group interviews, you don’t need to try to be the protagonist; leadership is about understanding the situation.

YES: ask questions

Approach the interview as a conversation, not an interrogation. You’re not just there to answer questions, but you can also ask your own questions.

Make a list in advance so you don’t forget anything and show that you’re prepared. Here are some examples:

What training will I receive and what are the opportunities for professional development?
What is a typical work day like?
Why do you like working here?
What are the company’s current objectives?

DON’T: beat around the bush

Get to the point and keep your answers short. According to Interview Genie, your answers to basic questions (“Why are you interested in this job?”) should last between 30 seconds and 2 minutes, while for deeper questions (“Tell us about a difficult project you’ve worked on”) you can go as long as 3-3.5 minutes. Any longer than that would be excessive, as you risk losing the interviewer’s interest.

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Job

YES: trust in your worth

If a company wants to hire you, it’s a sign that you should believe in yourself. Imposter syndrome is so common that it has its own article on Wikipedia , but that doesn’t mean you have to feel like a fraud.

Remind yourself that you are good enough. Dare to express your true personality at work and don’t shy away from challenging situations. If you start off on the right foot, you’ll keep going in the right direction.

DON’T: Ask for too much too soon

Before negotiating your salary , take a look at industry standards and ask your friends who work how much they earn. This will give you an idea of how much you can ask for, without straying too far from reality.

YES: have the courage to leave

The million-dollar question: how long should you stay in your first job after college? According to the website TopResume, the average time people spend in the same position is 4.6 years. If the situation allows, try to stay in the job for at least two years.

Otherwise, hiring managers might think you’re too volatile. However, if the idea of waking up every morning to go to work terrifies you, don’t wait any longer and start looking for something better.

In the meantime, make the most of the experience and, when a more favorable opportunity presents itself, move on without looking back.

DON’T: Constantly change jobs

Changing jobs because you’re not a good fit is fine. Jumping from company to company like you’re in a relay race is not.

When looking for your first job after college, you should focus on finding one that allows you to hone your craft in a hands-on environment. If you’re changing every two or three months, your resume and work history can suffer.

Monster.com notes that if you’ve had six jobs and haven’t stayed at any of them for more than a year, a hiring manager is less likely to invite you in for an interview.