How Does a College Graduate Seek Employment?

Answering Ads

College graduates often embrace their new role as job seekers and go full speed ahead into combing ads for jobs. They may spend a great deal of time looking through classified ads, as well as perusing the Internet for job listings appropriate to their new degree. Some colleges and universities offer pages on their websites listing local jobs for students and graduates, and educational institutions will sometimes maintain a billboard somewhere on campus for companies to post job opportunities. Attending a school that does not offer any form of job-placement assistance usually translates into graduates searching for jobs the old-fashioned way: searching through ads and sending out resumes.

Networking

College graduates may have formed numerous professional connections during their years as students; when it comes time to actually search for a job, these connections can prove quite valuable. Graduates who spent time volunteering at organizations within their field of study may be able to make a smooth transition from student volunteers to paid employees if positions are available, because they already have tangible experience, even if it was unpaid. Other networking "ins" that students can rely on when looking for a job upon graduation include sorority or fraternity ties, as well as relationships formed with instructors who may have jobs available outside of the school. For some graduates, finding a job is as simple as handing a resume to an already familiar person who is in a position to hire new employees.

Agency Assistance

Some colleges and universities offer job-placement assistance, meaning that graduates may complete their education with a job already lined up, or will at least receive assistance from the school when the time comes to apply for work. Employers may work directly with schools to place a graduate in a paid position based on the degree the student has earned, as well as that student's academic record.

Employment agencies are sometimes used by college graduates as well. For a fee, these agencies find the best available jobs for applicants and assist the graduates in getting the job. Agencies can also place graduates in temporary positions until a permanent position can be found.