It’s graduation season, which means there are hundreds of thousands of recent graduates itching to use their degrees out in the real world. So, grads, this post is dedicated to you. We know that finding what may be your first job can feel like an insurmountable task, but we’re ready to help you take the first (second, and third) steps to getting your foot in the door.
Head over to our Jobs blog for more insights like which companies are hiring the most graduates (Google, anyone?) and some of the highest paying entry level jobs in the country, or keep reading to get your feet wet.
Let’s start with some data about when and where you should be looking for a job. If you feel like you’re behind in the search process, don’t worry. This time last year, we saw the most graduates apply and get hired between the months of April and June.
Not sure where you want to move after graduation? These are the cities that are hiring the largest number of recent graduates — they’re also some of the largest and most innovative cities in the country meaning there’s a ton of opportunity for you to flex the skills you’ve accumulated.
Before you get started on your search, here are a few quick tips to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward:
1. Make sure your profile is updated. This is your chance to make a great first impression for recruiters and potential employers. Your first task is to add a photo, even a selfie will work! Next steps, make sure your education, relevant experience and summary are updated. All of these things ensure you’re putting your best foot forward when making your big entrance into the professional world. For more tips and tricks on how to build a perfect LinkedIn profile, keep reading here.
2. Reach out to your network. Your network is your most powerful professional tool, and it’s likely your professional network is already bigger than you think. Add professors, classmates, even your family! To expand your network even further, check out the Alumni tool to see where alumni from your school have ended up and consider reaching out to them to discuss their experiences. Any one of these people could be your introduction to your dream job and, who knows? A casual coffee could turn into your next gig.
3. Set your career preferences. By setting your preferences, you’ll receive more personalized job recommendations and you can also switch on Open Candidates, which signals to recruiters that you’re open to new opportunities. In the Jobs tab, under Jobs You May Be Interested In, click into “Update Career Preferences” and set the job titles you’re interested in, preferred location, job type and industry preferences.
Hiring is trending up. Put your profile and connections to work today to find your first job and kick-start your career.
Methodology:
To create this report, we analyzed thousands of profiles of members who indicated on their profile they had received a bachelor's degree between 2015 - 2017.