8 Tips for New Graduates Looking for a Job
“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
We just left graduation season. Along with the excitement and happiness of the occasion, in the back of many graduates’ minds is the dreaded job search. Looking for a job is a stressful process at the best of times and can feel even more overwhelming in times of uncertainty, like we are living in now.
I have looked for a job in a tough job market and times of great uncertainty several times, including twice during the COVID pandemic. My experiences have granted me a deep understanding of how exhausting and disheartening the process can be. Though painful in the moment, however, each rejection prepared me for a job in career services, helping students in their own job searches.
Drawing from my own experience and from my work in career services, here are eight suggestions to help new graduates as you embark on your job search. Keep in mind the hardest and most beautiful lesson I learned: that I was not in control—that I could only do so much, and the rest was in someone else’s hand. It was a lesson in trusting God—trusting that his plan is better and that we will get where he wants us to be.
1. Update Your CV/Resume
Here’s what I tell all my students about resumes: First, find your own format. Second, it is a living document. Finally, you can have multiple versions.
There are so many (and I mean many) resume formats and templates that choosing one can quickly become overwhelming. Find a format that works for you, and know that you are not tied to it; it’s a living document, and you can always change it.
Be sure that everything is consistent: font, bullet points, and headings. Update the resume to include your graduation date, leadership experience, and work experience (yes, internships count as work experience). In our hybrid work world, you do not need to include your address—just your contact information.
2. Identify Your References
Always ask before listing someone as a reference. It helps you and your reference if he or she knows to be expecting a call or email. I suggest having one document with all of your references’ names, titles, organizations, emails, and phone numbers. It will make applying for jobs much easier if everything is in one place.
3. Ask Someone to Review Your Resume and Cover Letter
Ask a trusted professor, mentor, or supervisor to review your CV/resume and cover letter—for different applications, if possible. It is so easy to miss our own spelling errors. For example, when I recently updated my resume, I realized that I had left out the second ‘i’ in Corpus Christi—and it is listed six times on my resume. I even grew up there. It is easy not to see your own mistakes.
4. Track Your Applications
You may apply to multiple jobs during your search, and I recommend using a spreadsheet or other document to keep track of where and when you applied and, depending on the organization, whether you make it to each interview round(s). Some industries move more quickly than others, and keeping track of when and where you applied for a job can be helpful during the search.
5. Tailor Your Application to the Job
Every job is different, even within the same industry. Read over the job description, and tailor your CV/resume and cover letter accordingly. You do not need to completely redo everything, but you can rearrange your resume to highlight different experiences and expand on different experiences in your cover letter. Show that you looked into the company and that you didn’t blindly send out the same resume and cover letter to 10 different employers.
6. Do Phone Interviews in Front of a Mirror
You are more likely to smile in front of a mirror, and that smile will be noticeable in your voice. The more you smile, the more relaxed, calm, and confident you will sound. I’ve found that standing in front of a mirror also helped me remember to breathe and to speak more slowly.
7. Choose a Quiet Space for Interviews
Virtual interviewing is the new norm. Find a quiet space with good lighting where people will not be walking in and disturbing you. Sit in front of a blank wall, or use a blurred background, so you don’t distract the interviewers (or yourself!). You want the focus to be on how great you are for the position, not how messy your room is or even how beautiful the painting behind you is.
Check and double-check your sound and video, and give yourself more time than you think to set up and for the actual interview.
8. Be Patient With Yourself
This tip is the hardest. The job search and interviewing process can be long and grueling, especially depending on your industry and what is happening in the world. There are many things that are outside of your control.
If you are experiencing rejection after rejection or not even making it to an interview, I suggest going back to your materials and asking someone to review your CV/resume and cover letter. Ask him or her to do a mock interview with you. Sometimes, we just need an outside voice.
For some new graduates, finding a job will be a quick process; for others, it may take longer. Know that we are all rooting for you! On the hardest days, take a step back. Go on a walk or read a book. Visit Jesus in Adoration. Do something different to help your spiritual, physical, and mental health.
Let us pray to St. Joseph, patron saint of workers, that we will entrust our job search to God and be open to wherever he is calling us.
Alexandra (Alex) Harrel resides in Irving, Texas. She is a new student affairs professional within the world of higher education. In her spare time, she loves reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time outdoors. Her favorite prayer is Hail, Holy Queen. You can follow her on Instagram at @2012alexandra.