The First 90 Days: Essential Steps for a Successful Post-University Job Search

University can be the most fulfilling time of your life, as you achieve the qualifications of your dreams while meeting so many amazing people along the way. You’re bound to have lots of fun during your studies, especially when it comes to the social aspect. However, once you graduate, it’s then time to take things a little bit more seriously as you explore the job market for the first time.

Figuring out what job you want to do after you graduate can be a challenge, as it’s not often that you’ll end up at your dream role straight away. Many roles won’t hire someone just based on their university degree with some businesses looking for more hands-on experience. This can be hard to come by, as how are you supposed to get the experience if nobody will hire you in the first place?

This guide will explore the first 90 days after receiving your degree and how you can successfully traverse the job market to kickstart your career. Continue reading to find out more.

Preparation Phase

The first 30 days should be used to prepare yourself for your job search. This involves creating an effective CV that has information about all your qualifications and any job experience you might have had. You can also use this as a way to showcase your qualities, as you can list all of your skills and expertise to let employers know what they’ll get from hiring you. Don’t forget to create cover letters and get a list of professional references too.

There’s more than just making a good CV though, as optimising your digital footprint is also essential in today’s job market. You should focus on making your LinkedIn look professional with this being one of the most important websites when it comes to finding your next career path. Cleaning up your social media platforms should also be considered, just in case your potential employer checks to see the type of content you are posting.

Once you’ve got everything ready, you can get started with your search and start applying for the roles that you think best suit you.

Application Phase

After graduating University, it’s common to mass-apply for any role you find on job boards like Reed or Indeed, but this might not be the best approach. Tailoring your CV and creating a cover letter for each individual job is a much better approach, as it will make it look more professional and like you’re actively pursuing that one role. Of course, if you find yourself being consistently unsuccessful, you can start to apply for more general jobs to get you some experience.

Networking can be a big part of this phase. Connect with university alumni, former professors and professional contacts to get your foot in the door and speak to more like-minded people who can give you some strong advice.

You can also find some training courses that will give you a better chance of employment after completion. Lifft Group offers training courses that can be completed within 24-hours to give trainees the chance to qualify to drive specialist vehicles. This can help university graduates get into a stable career once they complete their course.

Interview and Follow-Up Phase

Mastering the interview process will give you a better chance of being hired. You can follow the STAR method for behavioural questions, which stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result. This allows you to explain the context of a situation, the task you were given, what actions you had to complete and the results achieved at the end of it. This gives you a clean framework and allows you to organise your answer.

Prepare questions to ask the interviewer, as this will show that you’re engaged and want to learn more about the role. The questions you ask can also provide another opportunity to showcase your relevant skills and experience, which can help make a memorable impression.

Send a thank you email within 24 hours of the interview, as this will be a nice touch. You should then wait around one or two weeks before enquiring whether your application has been successful or not. If you don’t get the role, don’t feel disheartened as it might just be that someone else had more relevant experience in this instance. Get back on the horse and continue with your applications.

Conclusion

Remember that momentum is key in the post-graduation job search. To maintain a good pace, treat the job search as a job itself, dedicating a professional schedule to networking, applications and skill development. The consistent effort you invest in the first 90 days is what will determine your success, as you hopefully get a long-term career in your chosen field. Just keep at it and don’t give up.