SECURE A JOB - FRESH GRADUATE MUST READ

Networking is an invaluable tool when you’re in the market for a new job – particularly for graduates who may not have professional contacts. If you’re not sure how to network, never fear. With a few easy steps, you can build a great network of useful connections.

STEP 1: Be prepared

Being able to explain who you are, what you do, and that you’re exploring new career opportunities easily in one sentence will help you sell yourself to potential contacts. 

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1. Make a beeline for someone who is standing on their own and introduce yourself. In all likelihood, they’re just as nervous as you are and will be grateful you’ve included them.
2. Casual conversation while you’re standing in line can be a Godsend. The wait also presents a great small talk opportunity. A simple “wow, it looks like it’s going to be a big crowd tonight” or “the food looks amazing” are great openers (but don’t ask if the event is open bar…)
3. Offer someone a genuine compliment. Telling someone you love their dress is a great way to break the ice and will instantly put them in a positive frame of mind about you.

Forget what you might have heard before now, having valuable work experience will greatly boost your chances of landing a good job and give your career a head start. Seeing that you are a fresh graduate, taking up volunteer and intern roles will help you gain the necessary experience and exposure to secure your dream job. While most of these volunteer and intern roles may be unpaid, some actually come with stipends and other benefits.Job search in the 21st century has gone digital. You’ll find plenty job vacancies online and the best places to be are on jobs websites. Some jobs websites are actually more effective in terms of job ad volumes, credibility and actual recruitment of users via their platforms. Jobberman.com is one of the most credible jobs websites with tonnes of valid jobs for fresh graduates like you. Simply register, complete your profile and start applying for suitable jobs.Now that you have a university degree, it is equally important that you seek more knowledge by acquiring skills that would set you up for a fulfilling career. There are a number of professional courses and certifications you can undergo to stand out from the lot. If you are going into Digital Marketing for example,  you can start learn SEO can build have your own agency like Charlotte SEO company. There’s certainly one fail-proof way to impact your career for the long-term — develop and maintain a vast network of contacts. While you may have originally be prompted to build your network during your job search, a large pool of professional contacts has more to offer than just connections to job openings.2. Join professional social media groups3. Follow social media feeds of companies and industry influencersKeep this elevator pitch short, authentic, and conversational.

STEP 2: Get out there

Next, you’ll need somewhere to network. Some networking events are open to all, some are by invitation, and some will require you signing up to a networking group in your area. Meet up is a great place to start if you’re looking for local events with likeminded people.

STEP 3: Clever ways to say hello

Striking up a conversation with a complete stranger can be intimidating, but everyone is there for the same reason - so don’t worry, you’re not intruding by saying hello. If you get stuck, there are three clever ways to introduce yourself at networking events:

STEP 4: You’ve talked about the weather, what now?

Once you’ve broken the ice, create a meaningful conversation by asking your new contact about themselves. When they ask you about yourself, give them your elevator pitch and answer their questions, but always lead the conversation back to them. This will show that you’re interested in them.

Keep your conversation business and event focused where possible, and never allow yourself to become intoxicated, even if the drinks are free. You never know when you could be meeting your future employer, so drink lightly!

STEP 5: This isn’t speed dating, but…

It’s important for you ask for a business card so you can follow up with your new contact, but you don’t want to ask for one too early and appear pushy. If they have not offered one by the time the conversation is winding down, you could say, “I’d love to stay in touch and follow up with you about XYZ – what’s the best way to get into contact?”

Even if you meet the most interesting person at the beginning of the event, don’t be tempted to talk to them all night. Know when it’s time to shake their hand and move on. You might say something like, “It was really nice to meet you, but I’ll let you carry on,” or “I’ve just seen someone I need to say hello to”.

After the event, be sure to follow up with every contact for whom you received a business card. This small professional courtesy can go a long way, so thank them for their time and add a personalised note to prompt their memory of you.

STEP 6. Internships/Volunteer Jobs

However, you must bear in mind that the goal is not the financial reward. Need I also say that when permanent and better roles open up in any company, the interns or volunteers within that organisation are often contacted first before other applicants are considered. So write to any company of your choice and request for an intern role. Guess what? Because an intern or volunteer role is largely one that comes at little cost to the company, you will most likely be accepted.

STEP 7. Leverage on Jobs Websites and Social Media

LinkedIn is also a very effective social media platform to build your professional network and land a job. You can use LinkedIn as a professional network to create resumes and showcase your skills and qualifications.

STEP 8. Get Additional Skills

The benefits to establishing a strong network for your career are seemingly endless. Here are just a few ways to consider if you’re looking to boost your career with the foundation of networking.

STEP 9. Continual Development

This goes without saying. If you will continue to be relevant and move up the rung in your career and industry, you must engage in continual personal and career development. Read books, take courses, attend seminars; whatever will make you better, do it.

So there you have my 6 tips for a great career after college, do well to use them and find out what also works for you.

STEP 10. Don't forget the opportunities that SMEs offer

Many graduates ignore SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and focus all their energy on the big graduate schemes with companies they've heard of - but in doing that they are missing out on fantastic opportunities. Working for a small company can feel risky, but even big companies are going bust nowadays so nowhere is 100% 'safe'. What's more, if you choose wisely, you'll might well get to do much more varied work than if you'd been accepted for a big graduate scheme. Don't worry if you don't have all the skills and experience specified in the job ad. Because SMEs tend to have fewer applicants for their roles, they are often willing to be more flexible than big companies are. If you're missing one of their must haves, don't draw attention to it, just highlight the skills and experience that you do have and explain how you feel that would be an asset to their company.

STEP 11. Don't be afraid to let people know you're job seeking - if you don't ask, you don't get

There's no need to be ashamed of looking for work. Recent research we commissioned showed more than one in five would not tell anyone they were job hunting. This was even higher – 36% - among those aged 55 and over. We know that most jobs are never advertised, and when people are recommended for jobs they are more likely to get them. So even if you feel a bit sheepish about it, you should definitely ask your family, friends and business contacts if they know of anywhere you could be valuable. Additionally, open up to your social networks as your social circles can help you professionally. People generally love to feel they are helping others, and if you don't ask, you certainly won't get.

STEP 12. Don't get too fixated on getting your dream job straight away

If you're a new graduate, you probably have at least 45 years of working life ahead of you, so don't get too fixated on the idea that you have to get your 'dream job' right now. In the past 20 years, we've seen the rise of the internet, online businesses, multimedia, mobile technology and globalised working, all of which have transformed the workplace and given rise to whole new career areas. It's a fair bet the next 20 years will see all sorts of change, and, for many of you, what will turn out to be your 'dream job', or, at the very least, your long-term rewarding career might not have even been invented yet. You don't have to have a clear career plan yet - it might even be better not to, as you may find it changing as new ideas and experiences come along. So apply - carefully - for roles that are going to give you useful experience in areas like use of technology and information, and dealing with clients and people, and you'll be ready for whatever comes along. Don't apply for every job out there - you'll never be able to offer each role enough attention. Remember that if a job gives you a contact to ask for more information, get in touch and ask what you need to do to stand a good chance of getting it, and tailor every application to the role and your experiences.

STEP 13. Keep up with industry news

Even though you don’t have a job yet, you need to stay on top of what’s going on in your field. There are three basic things you should be doing to keep up with industry news:

1. Read trade publications and industry journals

The news can clue you in to trends in hiring, companies on the rise, and companies going through rough patches.