How to Get a Job After College

By Elana Gross and Jennifer Verta

Four years ago, you chose your college major because you were interested in that subject. Now you're starting your job search and wondering how to get a job after college. You’re not sure where to start. Who knows, maybe you’re not even sure you want to work in the same area you majored in. So, what now?

Prepare for the Job Hunt

The good news is that your studies won’t necessarily dictate your future occupation. You don’t have to become a history teacher just because you majored in history. Similarly, becoming a lawyer is not the only option for someone who studied law. Instead, think about the skills you learned over the past four years as more important to finding the right job for you.

Analyze Your Skills

Every job ad lists the skills the employer's looking for in the ideal candidate. Keep in mind, there are soft skills and hard skills. Soft skills are the things your professors have been talking about a lot: critical thinking, teamwork, and strong communication. They might come natural to you, or you might have to refine them over the years.

Hard skills, on the other hand, are the things you stayed up late mastering: computer programming, data analytics, accounting, editing, statistics, and even typing. Unsure about how to get a job after college that requires hard skills you don’t have? Remember, you can learn new hard skills by taking additional courses or certifications.

Now, think about the skills you've learned and identify which ones you're really good at and enjoy the most. Focusing on these when looking for jobs will move you closer to finding the right fit.

Understand What Can You Do with Your Major

Your next move in figuring out how to get a job after college is to match the skills you acquired in your major with the jobs that require them. Here are a few examples for different graduates to give you an idea.

Liberal Arts Graduates

There are a lot of majors that fall under liberal arts, including psychology, sociology, philosophy, history, creative writing, theater, English, and journalism. After four years as a liberal arts major, you're a seasoned writer with strong interpersonal skills and an ability to synthesize information clearly.

You shouldn’t be worried about how to find a job after college. You're inquisitive, a critical thinker, eloquent, creative, and great at research.

So, you’d be a good fit for jobs in:

STEM Graduates

The growth of STEM employment has outpaced any other occupation. Science, technology, engineering, and math major graduates are in high demand. You’re good at math (natch!), problem-solving, research, understanding data, collaboration, and writing. You’re innovative, curious, analytical, organized, and methodological.

You’d be a fit for jobs in:

Health and Medicine Graduates

If you're interested in health and medicine, you might have majored in psychology, biology, public health, health studies, chemistry, nursing, statistics, sociology, or even anthropology. You thrive under pressure and are great at research. You're caring, analytical, detail-oriented, and driven.

You’d be a fit for jobs in:

Business Graduates

After majoring in finance, economics, accounting, marketing, sales, statistics, or entrepreneurship, you developed strong leadership skills. You’re good at networking and motivating a team. You’re perceptive, detail-oriented, decisive, motivated, collaborative, and convincing.

You’d be a fit for jobs in:

Law Graduates

Most schools don’t have a traditional law or pre-law major, so you might have studied political science, history, criminal justice, philosophy, psychology, economics, or business. You're excellent at critical thinking and public speaking and have strong interpersonal skills. You're analytical, organized, determined, competitive, detail-oriented, and decisive.

You’d be a fit for jobs in:

Polish Your Resume

The way you present yourself to the professional world matters. That’s why crafting a resume that truly reflects your potential is key in how to get a job after college. Keep in mind the following tips when writing your graduate resume.

  • Spotlight your education. As a recent graduate, your education is the foundation stone of your resume. Start with a strong education section outlining your degree, university, graduation date and any academic honors.
  • Elevate internships and projects. Since you’re trying to enter the workforce, you’re probably light on traditional work experience. So, leverage your internships, course projects, and volunteer work. Detail how these experiences equipped you with tangible skills and knowledge.
  • Quantify achievements. Numbers speak volumes. Whether it’s boosting efficiency during an internship or achieving outstanding results in a team project, quantify your accomplishments with metrics. This demonstrates that you’re result-driven and helps recruiters understand your contributions.
  • Tailor to perfection: One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to resumes. Customize each application by emphasizing experiences and skills that directly align with the job’s requirements. You’ll prove you’ve taken the time to understand what the role entails, and you’ll be better set up to pass applicant tracking system (ATS) filters.
  • Focus on transferrable skills. Your academic journey and extracurricular activities have given you invaluable skills. Highlight the competencies you build in academic clubs, sports, or creative hobbies such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability. The more they resonate across industries the better.
  • Strive for precision and clarity. Keep it concise, aiming for a one-page resume. Remember that hiring managers are sifting through many applications. Remember to proofread to ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors.

Build a Strong Online Presence

There could be one thing missing from your job hunt prep resulting in questioning “why can’t I get a job after college?” The answer could lie in your commitment to your personal brand.

To be successful in the modern job-hunting era, having a professional online presence is no longer optional in many industries. It’s one of the crucial pieces of that puzzle called “how to get a job after college”. Consider a personal website, a professional social media page or both. They’ll become an extension of your resume and show your skills and personality beyond the limits of a one-page document.

To stand out, make sure to:

  • Choose a professional photo. Use a clear, high-quality headshot where you appear alone, approachable, and appropriately dressed for your field.
  • Craft a compelling bio. Summarize your professional journey and aspirations in a short yet engaging bio. Highlight your strengths and areas of expertise as well.
  • Share content often. Keep your website and accounts active with new relevant content. This will help you establish yourself as an expert in your field and increase your chances of being noticed by recruiters.

Also, make sure to privatize or remove from personal social media profiles any activity or content that could make you appear unprofessional and jeopardize your job search.

Network Like a Pro

Ready to learn one of the best secrets about how to get a job after college? Yes, we’re talking about the art of networking. At the start of your career especially, focus on the following channels to build connections that could yield employment opportunities:

  • Alumni networks. Your alma mater is a treasure trove of connections. Engage with alumni platforms, attend alumni events, and seek out a career mentor who can help you navigate the job market and even recommend you for job opportunities.
  • Career fairs. Attend career fairs, no matter if in person or virtual. They are goldmines for opportunities. Make sure to dress sharp, make meaningful conversation, and follow up.
  • Networking events. Go to industry-specific gatherings and workshops. You’ll find like-minded professionals in your target field. Pro tip: prepare a short elevator pitch to showcase your strengths and ambitions.
  • Online professional platforms: Explore niche forums, groups, and other professional platforms. Engaging with your peers online can lead to valuable real-world connections.

Monster is Your Answer to How to Get a Job After College

Set up a free Monster account and upload your resume. Apply to any job with a couple of clicks. Plus, we’ll send you all the latest job openings that match your profile and interests, so you’ll never miss a new opportunity.