Marsha Hebert .jpg)
What you did to land a job in college won't work after college.
As a recent college graduate, you've made it through the challenging years of late nights, coffee-driven study hours, and stressing about finals, and you've made it to the finish line with your diploma in hand. Congratulations are definitely in order!
Now, it's time for you to launch your post-graduate job search to land your dream job. There is a good chance you feel unprepared for this next chapter in your life – and you're not alone. Here, you'll learn some of the biggest mistakes job seekers make after college and get tips on how to avoid those post-college job-searching faux pas.
The proof is in the pudding
As TopResume's career advice expert, Amanda Augustine, reports in a recent #OfficeHours Live Chat with award-winning author Danny Rubin, many graduates are not prepared to enter the job search.
Similarly, in a recent TopResume survey, HR professionals, recruiters, hiring managers, and career-service professionals expressed that recent college grads often fall short when it comes to their post-graduate job search. Graduates lack things like effective communication and interview preparation, which is preventing them from succeeding in the job market.
Based on the survey and results, below are the top seven mistakes employers claim recent college grads make that sabotage their chances of landing a job.
1. Inappropriate or ineffective communication
In our fast-paced world, texting and instant messaging are the norms of casual conversation and communication. However, your job search is not the time for this informal form of communication.
Be proactive and take the time to learn the appropriate way to write business communications, including structure, salutations, titles, signatures, and what to include in the subject line and header sections.
Related reading: Email Etiquette: 11 Email Communication Best Practices
Don't forget about nonverbal communication. Another of the mistakes college graduates make has to do with things like posture, eye contact, and facial expressions. Slouching or having what's referred to as closed-off body language can be mistaken as a lack of interest. It's a good idea to practice sitting and standing with good posture and work on maintaining good eye contact because nonverbal cues can sometimes be louder than words.
Related reading: 10 Easy Ways to Improve Nonverbal Communication Skills
2. Being too informal with hiring managers
The language and tone you use are also important. When communicating in person, be assertive and confident – while also being polite. When you call to speak to a hiring manager, you don't want to use the same language or tone you use with your best friend or parent.
The same holds true for speaking with employees at a given company. One of the biggest mistakes college graduates make is forgetting the fact that someone like the receptionist is the company's gatekeeper and will let the hiring manager know if you act in a less-than-professional manner.
By following these tips, you will immediately put yourself one step ahead of your competition. To support you in this effort, it might be a good idea to take a Marketing 101 course through a free or inexpensive online platform such as Coursera. You might also want to search for a Business Communications 101 course to take just to further these skills.
Expert Tip: No matter if it's on the phone or in person, any time you come in contact with a prospective employer, introduce yourself with professionalism and continue that tone throughout your conversation. Treat this type of interaction as if it were a formal interview – not casual conversation.
3. Applying to unrealistic jobs
You have to have a basic understanding of your own skills, but more than that, you have to know how your skills translate into what the employer needs. Don't be one of the 41% of students who apply for unrealistic jobs – jobs that don't properly match your skills to the job description.
You can avoid this common mistake college graduates make by having a specific career goal rather than using the throw-your-resume-at-a-bunch-of-jobs-and-hope-something-sticks mindset. Hiring managers are quick to recognize when you apply to several job openings that you're unqualified for or that don't make sense with your career goals, and it makes you appear desperate and indecisive.
Instead, you should be applying to specific positions you're clearly qualified for. That will help you reach your future goals.
Related reading: What Are Career Goals and How to Develop Them
4. Using networks ineffectively
Ever hear that most jobs are obtained based on who you know? Well, that's absolutely true! This means you have to have a professional network. Yes, it's far easier to sit behind your computer and apply to jobs that are posted on job boards. However, under the umbrella of the mistakes college graduates make, this is probably one of the biggest for a couple of reasons:
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There are a metric ton of jobs that never get posted on job boards. Read about the Hidden Job Market.
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Some of the positions listed on job boards are there so employers can fill their candidate pipeline rather than actual positions.
So, you are likely to waste a good deal of time spinning your wheels if you just use job boards. Some of the benefits of having and using a professional network are:
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You learn about those hidden jobs.
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You find out what's new in your industry.
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You can get referrals and recommendations from peers. In fact, you are 10 times more likely to land a job when your application is accompanied by a referral.
Related reading: The Importance of Networking in College — Plus 7 Tips for Success
The best thing you can do for your career is get out of your comfort zone and meet people. Go to networking events, follow up with contacts, join your college's alumni program, and interact on social media sites such as LinkedIn.
Expert tip: Fix one of the mistakes college graduates make right now by updating or creating your LinkedIn profile. Then, begin actively using it to network before you do anything else. Even if it doesn't help you land your first job, it could help you land a future job or aid you in setting yourself up as an expert in your field.
5. Arriving unprepared for the interview
Recruiters and hiring managers have busy schedules, so imagine their frustration when a candidate comes unprepared for an interview. Prepare for an interview by working with an interview coach or a friend and practice answering possible questions you might be asked. Prepare the questions you'll ask the interviewer as well, and be sure to give your wardrobe and appearance some thought – you want to look and act professionally.
Rubin suggests, "Prepare three stories you would want to share – two business-related about your work ethic and one that is personal where you faced obstacles and had to work through those obstacles. When asked why you are a good fit for the position, you can refer to these stories." Everyone loves a good story, so if you prepare properly, you'll stand apart from your competition.
Expert Tip: Be succinct with your stories and share them using the STAR method so you can maintain your focus without rambling or becoming sidetracked – another of the mistakes college graduates make.
6. Not asking enough appropriate interview questions
Now, you've reached the part where you've found a job that you're qualified for, you sent in a resume that shined a light on how you'll be a valuable asset to the company, and you've gotten a coveted call for an interview. Know that one of the mistakes college graduates make is walking into that interview unprepared.
One of the basic rules of job interview preparation is to have a list of questions to ask about the position and the company during your interview. Not only does this show you're excited about the position, but it demonstrates that you're keen on finding out how you'll be a good fit. This is critically important because one of your main goals is to prove you're the best candidate for their team because you can meet their needs.
Don't be one of the 48% of people from that TopResume survey who has the deer-in-the-headlights look when asked if you have questions at the end of the interview. “No” is never an acceptable response.
Related reading: 13 of the Smartest Questions to Ask a Hiring Manager
7. Not following up after an interview
Not following up after an interview is a common mistake that graduates make! It gives the impression that you're not assertive enough or interested enough in the position for which you have applied. It's true you don't want to be overzealous or come across as a pest, but it is appropriate to follow up after an interview to find out the status of the position and your application.
Your best bet is to follow up within a day with a thank-you email, expressing gratitude to the interviewer for his or her time and reiterating why you feel you'd be a great addition to their team. Then, allow five to seven days before you follow up with a status update request. Keep in mind that these are professional communications, and it is essential that you treat them as such.
Related reading: The Power of the Follow-Up Note
Ready, set, go!
There is a lot of research out there that indicates recent college grads are often not prepared for the expectations employers have of them when it comes to the job search and interviewing process. Fortunately, it is possible to become prepared by taking the mistakes provided above to heart and applying the tips to remedy them. Doing so will support you in a smoother job-search process.
Click on the following link for more job-search advice.
Are there mistakes riddling your post-grad resume? Submit for a free resume critique to find out where you stand.
This article was originally written by Ronda Suder. It's been updated by Marsha Hebert.