This is the time of year when employers are looking to scoop up fresh new hires from colleges. It may seem early, but employers are eager to lock in top potential talent.
The job market for the class of 2016 is looking good. In fact, 42 percent of companies surveyed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers characterized the job market for 2016 graduates as very good or excellent, far more than in prior years.
[Read: 5 Things College Career Counselors Wish Students Knew.]
Unsure of what you want to do? You aren’t alone. Many college graduates are unsure about what to do after graduation. Larger employers offer rotational programs designed for just this reason. New employees joining rotational programs work in different departments or parts of the company, which helps employees learn and evaluate jobs in different areas. This also sheds light on how the business operates, increasing an employee’s business acumen. “Rotational programs give you the opportunity to be in a somewhat structured environment where you get to try out different roles to see what you like,” says Liz Wessel, CEO and co-founder of WayUp, a website to help college graduates find jobs.
Start early. Many employers start recruiting on college campuses in March and April so keep an eye out for on-campus career fairs, recruiting events and presentations. It seems early, but some large employers have already selected their new batch of hires. “Big companies have the capacity to do all of their recruiting nine months in advance,” Wessel says. And she adds that some employers are going after summer interns or entry-level hires as many as 12 months in advance.
You haven’t missed the boat … yet. The good news is that not all companies can plan six months or more in advance. Smaller companies are more likely to recruit on college campuses and elsewhere for immediate openings or to backfill entry-level positions, even after graduation. Some brand name companies may find that they’ve miscalculated how many new hires they needed and reach out to recruit more.
[See: 10 Things They Don’t Tell You About Your First Job.]
How to find a job. Your job search should be a combination of activities, some through your college career center and some initiated by you. These tactics include using job boards and networking. Tap into resources provided by your college, including job postings, alumni networking events or on-campus recruiting.
But don’t stop there. Expand your search to include job boards that specialize in entry-level jobs such as CollegeGrad.com, CollegeRecruiter.com and WayUp.com. Don’t forget niche job boards that cater to a specific occupation or industry. For example, finance or marketing jobs have their own specialty job boards. Search the Internet and ask people who work in the profession you are interested in for job board recommendations.
Most importantly, identify companies you would like to work for or are more likely to hire new graduates. Armed with this information, thoroughly research the company through the company’s career page and by talking with employees. LinkedIn is one of the best resources for finding people inside companies, including alumni.
Scoring a job could take a while. There is little you can do to speed up a company’s hiring process. “For those students scooped up during on-campus recruiting, offers can be made on the spot,” Wessel says. “In other industries, it can take an average of 30 days to make one hire. For some, it can take up to 90 days.” The best advice is to ask the recruiter what the timeframe for filling the job is and then persistently and appropriately follow up. This doesn’t mean calling the recruiter every day. Understand that timelines can slip. If you haven’t heard back from a job you have applied to or interviewed for, ask someone you know inside the company to gather inside information about what’s happening within the company or department that may be slowing down the process. Wading through the sheer number of applicants can slow things down, so don’t show your impatience or frustration during the follow-up.
[See: 10 Things New Grads Can Do Right Now to Get a Job.]
Always have a diverse search. Don’t put all your focus on one company or one job. Just as you applied to several different colleges to hedge your chances of getting into one, so should you be researching and applying to other companies or jobs you feel confident would hire you. Your first job after college can help your career in many ways, even if it isn’t the right fit. You’ll learn about a new industry, meet new people and perhaps learn what you don’t want to do. You can apply what you’ve learned in your first job to help make smarter career choices moving forward.
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