If You Can’t Beat ‘Em Join ‘Em: Find What You Love To Do and Start Networking to Find Your Next Job

By Kelsey Hilton, Account Executive

December graduation is quickly approaching. As I begin to feel the stress of finals week, the pressure to find a job in the “real world” is also haunting me. My college days are sadly coming to an end along with the reality that in less than a month I will move back home with my parents and need to find a job.

Graduating college can be a very stressful time in a student’s life. It is a milestone that many of us have always dreamed of accomplishing, but also a stage in our lives that we may not be ready for. As classes come to an end, the quest for a profession is lurking around the corner.

Job-hunting is a difficult task, but in today’s economy it has become a vastly grueling process. Though it isn’t easy to find a job, there are ways to make the hunt less stressful than it has to be. The stress many of us face derives from the belief that our first profession out of college is going to be our last, and we adamantly search for our “dream job.”

But job hunting doesn’t need to be this stressful.  

Some helpful tips for recent graduates when looking for a job, according to an article in Forbes Magazine, are to first figure out two things: “What tickles your fancy?” and “What are you willing to pay? - Both in the figurative and literal sense in order to obtain that kind of work.”

But even with these tips, it can be discouraging reading real-life statistics stating that 50 percent of new college graduates are unemployed or underemployed. Even with many factors against us, today we have the luxury of technology at our fingertips. More importantly, because of these technologies, recent grads need to network, network and then network some more.

We have the opportunity to be linked to people from all over the world who can possibly help us connect with a future employer or lead us in the right direction. 

The possibilities are endless.

Networking is an essential part of job-hunting in today’s market and you need to be networking everyday. Whether it’s online or through face-to-face interactions--it’s crucial.  

By joining networking groups and associations in a field you wish to enter, or attending industry meetings and conferences, you are increasing your opportunities.

Though these tips do not necessarily ensure a future career, they improve your chances of landing your next job and will make the process significantly less stressful. 

Here are five steps to follow for smooth networking.