It’s that time of year again! Years of hard work have been celebrated as students donned their caps and gowns and completed their graduation. For most of those college graduates, now marks the beginning of the dreaded job search.
Job searching, as well as internship searching, can be stressful and overwhelming for most. You may not be sure where to start, and it seems like most opportunities are looking for more experience than you can offer. After all, entry-level positions are hard to come across these days, considering most are already filled or you’re swimming as fast as you can in a sea of applicants.
I’m here to let you know that in the field of PR and digital marketing, there is certainly a way to make this transition from college student-to recent grad-to gainfully employed, a much more promising experience.
There are many marketing job opportunities that are out there, so here’s my 5 steps to becoming gainfully employed.
1. Look at every circumstance as an opportunity to market yourself.
Whether it’s a night out with friends or a trip to the grocery store, we are constantly interacting with new people. These people may be someone working in the field you’re looking to pursue. Be open to conversations, introduce yourself, and don’t be afraid to listen and ask questions. If an opportunity comes of it, I can promise you’ll never regret striking up the initial conversation.
2. Carry Business Cards and/or Resumé.
Going back to marketing yourself, always, and I mean ALWAYS carry your business cards. If you meet someone on a Saturday night, they may forget your name by Monday morning. Take it a step further and give them something to take with them to the office. A resumé for a recent grad may be a bit more practical for showing any internship experience and previous employers. I can’t stress enough how important it is to always have an updated resumé on hand.
3. Use Available Resources.
Whether it’s a university newsletter, a job site, or a social media group, utilize free services! Just recently, I posted a marketing internship opportunity for lotus823 on Monmouth University’s Comm Internship Facebook Group, and received an email from the head of the department with an intern recommendation. Had this student not reached out, we may have not made this connection. I encourage you to do some research and find out what’s available.
4. Attend Networking Events.
According to Business Insider, “Networking events are full of like-minded individuals, and if you go to the right events, it’s full of people that you can work with or learn from in some way.” Attend career fairs, internship fairs, PRSA events, and anything and everything of that nature. You never know whom you will meet and potentially get an interview with. Bring an updated resumé, dress professionally, and ask questions. Even if you don’t make an instant connection, someone may remember you for a future opportunity, and you may even learn a few things in the process.
5. Look within your circles.
I landed my very first internship through one of my sorority sisters. As it turned out, her older sister had a friend whom owned a PR agency. She passed along my resumé, I reached out, had an interview, and voilà! Look within your circle of friends, colleagues, and even family members. Is there someone out there who you can ask for help or guidance? It never hurts to pass along your resumé.
Are you a recent grad looking for a marketing job? Let me know in the comments below, and I encourage you to browse our open positions and send us your resumé!