17 game-changing tips for getting a job after college

Edited by: Brad Hanson
• Updated •7 min read
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
A young person in a white shirt and suspenders hands their resume to someone whose arm and shoulder are in the foreground of the photo.Image: A young person in a white shirt and suspenders hands their resume to someone whose arm and shoulder are in the foreground of the photo.

In a Nutshell

It takes graduates an average of three to six months to find a job after college. Some tips that may help graduates get a job after college include getting internship experience, networking to find unadvertised jobs, writing resumes with Application Tracking Systems in mind and maintaining a LinkedIn profile.
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Many graduates feel stressed about finding a job after college. In fact, according to a 2022 survey by Grand Canyon University, having a successful career is the leading stressor for recent college graduates. If you’re a recent or soon-to-be graduate, you may wonder whether it’s hard to get a job after college.

Since each person has their own skills and experience, there’s no concrete answer to this. However, these stats may give you an idea of the job market for recent graduates — including what percentage of college students get a job after graduation and the average time it takes them.

  • It takes about three to six months for the average college graduate to find a job after college.
  • As of September 2023, the unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree holders was 2.2% compared to 4% for those only holding a high school diploma.
  • In October 2022, about 8 out of 10 graduates with an advanced degree (master’s, professional or doctoral) were employed.

Now that you better understand the current job landscape, it’s time to learn how you can prepare for the job market. Here are 17 tips on how to get a job after college.

  1. Get experience during college
  2. Start networking
  3. Research the job market
  4. Be proactive
  5. Become a volunteer
  6. Attend career fairs
  7. Create a portfolio website
  8. Land an internship
  9. Consider a part-time job
  10. Keep your LinkedIn updated
  11. Leverage career services
  12. Take online courses
  13. Find a mentor
  14. Create a routine
  15. Join professional development groups
  16. Write your resume with ATS systems in mind 
  17. Apply on company websites

1. Get experience during college

While in college, you’ll have opportunities to join clubs and organizations, attend events and seminars and learn new skills. Each of these can help you learn more about yourself and enhance what you have to offer — plus, you can add your experiences to your resume.

Pro tip: If you didn’t have a job during college, use your participation in a club or organization as your job experience.

2. Start networking

When you’re ready to start your career, you may hear that networking is very important, and that’s because it’s often the only way to find out about job listings that aren’t advertised. Meeting people within your major and professional organizations can be a great way to start building connections. You can also look to friends, family and coworkers in your network.

Pro tip: If you haven’t heard back from a job you applied for, ask for help from your network or college alumni who work for that company.

3. Research the job market

Just like a research project for a class in college, exploring different types of jobs can help you narrow down your job search. Learning about the fastest growing jobs in your industry, what a typical day looks like, how the job market is and what the requirements are can help you understand what to look for –– and may even increase your chances of getting hired.

Pro tip: When doing your research, take note of common skills and experience required in the job descriptions and tailor your resume accordingly.

4. Be proactive

If you want to find a job right after you graduate, remember to be proactive. Apply to different jobs, contact people in your network and on LinkedIn and follow up on any jobs you haven’t heard back from. By showing interest and being proactive, you’ll let hiring managers know that you’re ready to put your skills and experience to work.

Pro tip: After applying for a job, send the hiring manager a personal email letting them know you applied and why you believe you’re a good fit for the position. You can also call them a few days after you apply for the job if you haven’t heard back yet. 

5. Become a volunteer

Seeking volunteer opportunities can be a great way to give back to the community while building your skills and connections. Finding a volunteering activity that you enjoy might also help boost your communication and interpersonal skills, which might help you during interviews.

Pro tip: Join a volunteering club or organization on campus to help the local community.

6. Attend career fairs

Recruiters at career fairs are ready to meet people and want to learn more about you and your experience. This is a great way to develop your interviewing skills and learn more about different companies and job opportunities.

Pro tip: Research companies on the career fair list beforehand, so you can come prepared with specific questions to ask the recruiters.

7. Create a portfolio website

Creating a personal website can help you showcase your skills and experience for potential employers. Even if it’s just a simple website, this is a great opportunity to share your writing, photography, art or just to tell your story.

Pro tip: Add your website to your resume, job applications and LinkedIn profile to make it easier for employers to learn about you.

8. Land an internship

Finding an internship can be a great way to test what a potential job in that field might look like. Plus, those who begin a job with paid internship experience may be able to start at a higher salary than those with no internship experience. Getting an internship can also help you build connections and could even turn into a full-time position if you make an impact as an intern.

Pro tip: Taking an internship position after graduating college can help you learn new skills and could even help you counter offer to a higher salary at your next job.

9. Consider a part-time job

Even if it’s not in your field, pursuing a part-time job can also help you build connections and skills. Getting a part-time job on campus can allow you to earn extra money to pay your tuition, and it can help you understand your work style and what kinds of tasks you enjoy doing. Finding a part-time position in your field may even lead to a full-time position later.

Pro tip: Working part-time after college can help you develop your work ethic and bring in extra money while applying for full-time positions.

10. Keep your LinkedIn updated

Many recruiters will probably look at your LinkedIn profile during the hiring process — in fact, 77% of them use it for recruiting, according to LinkedIn. Keeping your LinkedIn profile updated with your most recent resume and experience can help show recruiters what you can offer their team.

Pro tip: You can also add an #OpenToWork frame to your profile picture on LinkedIn to let recruiters know you are actively looking.

11. Leverage career services

On-campus career centers may be one of the best sources for new job opportunities, especially locally. Employers can leave their information with university career centers, meaning they’re open to hiring graduates. On top of giving you career guidance, career centers may also offer resume and networking workshops, mentoring programs and mock interviews.

Pro tip: You can still visit your campus career center after graduating to get tips and strategies on improving your resume and interview skills.

12. Take online courses

If you want to upskill yourself outside what you learn in class, try taking online courses to get additional experience in your field. Doing so may even help you get a higher salary, plus it can help you see if the career path you’ve chosen is right for you.

Pro tip: There are a variety of open online courses you can take for free on websites such as Coursera, Udemy and edX.

13. Find a mentor

There are many benefits to having a mentor, like providing career guidance and constructive criticism. A mentor is someone you trust and look up to, and they can be a supervisor, coworker, teacher or even a friend. Building a relationship with your mentor might also help you strengthen your communication skills, which can help you during interviews.

Pro tip: If you don’t have someone close to you to become your mentor, check your college career center to see if a mentorship program can link you to alumni.

14. Create a routine

The job hunt may seem difficult, but building a routine might help you keep track of your goals. Schedule times on your calendar for each task, such as:

  • Searching for jobs
  • Updating your resume and profile
  • Following up with recruiters
  • Taking online courses
  • Networking

Try to also make time for your health by scheduling mental health breaks. This could look like working out, taking a walk, watching a movie or reaching out to a loved one.

Pro tip: Try using time-management techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique and time blocking to help you stay on track.

15. Join professional development groups

Job board websites might feel overwhelming if they offer a high volume of job postings. Narrow down your search by finding professional groups for a specific field or location. These groups can also be a great place to connect with other job seekers who can share career insights.

Pro tip: CheckFacebook and LinkedIn to find groups, such as remote job seekers and city-specific jobs.

16. Write your resume with ATS systems in mind

Since some job postings tend to get hundreds of applicants, you may need to find ways to stand out. One way to do this is by writing your resume for an Application Tracking System (ATS) — software that many companies use to screen resumes for applicants that match their job posting. ATS software screens out about 75% of applicants, meaning these resumes never even get seen by a real person.

For this reason, try tailoring your resume to each job listing and use exact keywords from the posting in your resume. This can give you a better chance at being screened as a “match” for the job if the company uses ATS software.

Pro tip: Use software like Daxtra or Resunate to see how your resume may fare in an ATS system.   

17. Apply on company websites

Another way you may be able to stand out from the crowd is to apply directly on the company’s website instead of on big job boards. Some companies regularly update their websites with current job openings and actively check for candidates. Applying through their website may also make your application more personal and show that you’re especially interested in working for them.

Pro tip: If you find a place where you genuinely want to work, it may be worth emailing them, even if they don’t have current openings.

What’s next: Save up for continuing education

If getting a job after college is your goal, there may be classes or certifications you can take to improve your marketability in this job market. Additional courses may even help you get a good salary offer when interviewing and negotiating.

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