5 steps to get your first corporate job after college

Today’s corporate job market presents serious challenges for recent college grads. In part, that’s because the job market is difficult for everyone. But it’s also because entry-level job seekers don’t have as much experience and must work harder to show why their skill set and background makes them a good fit for a role.

I recently reached out to Katie Smith, who offers career guidance for young professionals on her site Get a Corporate Job. She encourages students to take the following steps to land their first full-time position—and others to come.

1. UNDERSTAND THE JOBS LISTED

First, begin with a deep dive into the jobs that interest you. You may have a major in English or Psychology, but of course “these subject areas do not correlate with job descriptions like ‘customer success manager’ or ‘product manager,’” says Smith.

The key, Smith says, “is to understand what the job is before applying for it.” To do this, you’ll need to talk to people who can tell you about the role—ideally people in your network who may be in that industry or may have held that specific job title. After all, you can’t sell yourself into a role you don’t understand.

Unless you fully understand what that position requires, you won’t be able to customize your résumé or prepare for an interview. Once you know the nature of the job, you can think about how it links with your education and experience.

2. FOCUS ON A FEW APPS

Second, be selective. Though it’s tempting to send out your résumé far and wide, Smith suggests that you apply for no more than three jobs at any one time.

“Recent grads often think they should apply for everything in sight,” she says. “So, they send the same résumé to everyone and then wonder why they are not getting the job.” 

Her advice is to take a more focused approach. By limiting the number of jobs you apply for, you can spend more time on each application, and make clear why you have what it takes to succeed in the role.

3. CUSTOMIZE EACH RÉSUMÉ

It’s important to customize every résumé you send out, says Smith.

So, if you have chosen to respond to three postings with three different job titles,  craft three separate résumés. “A ‘digital marketing specialist’ and a ‘brand marketing specialist’ might sound similar, but they are not the same job,” says Smith.

Each résumé should show how well-suited you are for the role you are applying for. (For more on crafting job-specific résumés, check out my latest book, The Job Seeker’s Script, which has a chapter on constructing “A Winning Résumé.”)

4. STRUCTURE YOUR RÉSUMÉ EFFECTIVELY

Before sending off your customized résumé, give some thought to its format. Put your contact information at the very top. Then comes the Summary Statement describing your fit for the job. It might read: “With my two summer internships and a broad array of courses in data management, I have the experience and education that will enable me to succeed in this new role.” The important thing is to align this statement with the job you are applying for.

Instead of creating a Work History section, have an “Experience” section. Smith says to include both paying and nonpaying work that is relevant for the job. If you’ve set up a database for a local basketball league, that’s relevant for a job in data management. Serving as a lifeguard for two summers is probably beside the point, however. Put your most recent work first.

Then comes the “Education” section where you include your degrees and certifications and relevant academic accomplishments. Highlight courses important to the job you are applying for. Your résumé should be one page.

5. DON’T BE AFRAID TO GET CREATIVE

As a recent grad you’ll want to position yourself in a way that makes you stand out. “When submitting your application or showing up for the interview, do a little more than others do,” says Smith.

This could take the form of a PowerPoint presentation or a video that demonstrates your special qualities. For example, if you are applying for a sales job, the video could illustrate how you would pitch a product to a client. Or it might introduce you to the hiring staff.

“I even created a website for every job I applied for,” says Smith. “I titled these websites with the name of the company: company@hireskatie.com. These websites showed that I would go the extra distance for them. I got job offers as a result.”

As a graduating student, you may not have the track record of someone who has been building a career for decades. But these strategies will help you land that first entry-level job and put you on the road to career success.

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