Job Search Tips: You Graduated, Now What?

Sure, you might have be relying on your uncle for a job or that auntie who works in a Multinational, but the reality on the ground is that such plans backfire sometimes. At the end of the day, you are responsible for your own career path and you need to have a back up plan.

The tips I am going to share with you will enlighten you on how to transition from the school environment into the sometimes harsh job market.

What to do after graduation

We are now in a new month and the year is still young and new. You still have time to get your act together before the year comes to end. So, what should you do?

1. Don’t use the same cover letter for the same job

It’s not a new slice of advice, but statistics prove that many Kenyan job seekers recycle the same cover letter for every single job.

To be honest, it’s quite lazy of you to use the same cover letter for all your applications.

Employers are looking for different things from each job. Therefore, take some time to create a clean and very nice cover letter for each job.

See Also >>> Sample Cover Letter For Unadvertised Job

2. Utilize job search sites

We advertise job vacancies here every day, and you can take it upon yourself to utilize our platform to get jobs.

On the other hand, we also have very many useful resources that can help you write a great CV and cover letter, prepare for an interview and ultimately land a job.

Most importantly, study the jobs we post that you are interested in, within the same profession e.g. All Accounts Assistant Jobs.

You should take some time to find out; what similar qualities are they looking for? Which similar responsibilities can you identify from the jobs?

After doing your research on the requirements and the kind of person employers are looking for, endeavour to be that. How? By tailoring your CV to match the desired requirements.

You will be a cut above very many job seekers.

3. Keep your search organized.

You need to conduct your job search in an organized manner.  Thus, have a book where you record all the places you have applied to, note down the company names and the job titles of each one, and also the date you applied.

Many times people receive a call from employers and they can’t recall which job they had applied to them.  Don’t be that kind of job seeker. Have all the details.

Being organized will also help you avoid applying for the same job twice.

4. Go through your social media accounts and delete any inappropriate photos

Best believe that employers take a few minutes to go through your Facebook account to look for an indication that you might not be the best candidate for the job.

Therefore, delete any photo you would not be proud of showing your parents or the employer in this case, since it might cost you the job.

Also untag yourself from that crazy photo at you took Mwangi’s bash, or that photo of you drunk and blacked out.

Strive to send a good message of yourself on all your social media accounts. It will count.

Read Also >>> Job Search Tips For Successful Online Applications

5. Network like crazy

After graduating, this is the time to surround yourself with ‘destiny helpers’. Get friends who have the same goals, or better still look for people who are already where you would like to be and look for opportunities from them.

This is also the time to link up with an old classmate to start a project or a business. The days of watching a marathon of series all week long are over.

Also, it will be very beneficial for if you to attend forums and conferences to look for opportunities and to network. 

Short and sweet, this is the best time of your life, because you have time to explore many available opportunities and venture.

All the best!

Got queries or comments? Leave them below. Susan is a Digital Marketer & Communications Officer at Career Point Kenya. Email: susan@careerpointkenya.