So you’ve graduated, you’ve got your diploma and four long years under your belt and you’re really to jump head-long into the job market. But we’re in a recession, and you soon come to realize that there’s a hundred people more qualified than you. How can you compete? Here are five ways that you can?

There’s a popular belief among university students that once they receive their undergraduate degrees a slew of jobs will be waiting for them at their respective doorsteps.  The reality is, however, the job market out there is a vast, daunting landscape and without proper direction and guidance many graduates find themselves trailing behind before the rat race has even begun.  The fact is that for any job opening that appears, there will be a number of people who apply for it who are more experienced, older, and better qualified than you are.

So what are your options?  Is there anything undergraduates can do to ensure they’re ahead of the competition?  Thankfully, there are several things a student can do to make sure they’re ahead of the game, even while still attending university.

Portfolio Building

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In this day and age many jobs require a portfolio.  What is a portfolio?  A portfolio is a collection of sample works (i.e. articles, drawings, photographs) that showcase your individual talents in a prospective field.  Most jobs in advertising, fashion, graphics design, publishing, photography, and journalism require one to prove your academic proficiency and versatility.  Entrance into most post-graduate programs requires a portfolio as well. 

Social Networking

It’s incredibly nearsighted to assume that university is simply a means to receive an undergraduate degree.  In the larger scheme of things, it is an opportunity to make an entirely new social circle of friends, professors, and other faculty members.  Keep in mind that your classmates are the same undergraduates that will be entering the job market in a few years time.  Professors and tutorial assistants can provide appropriate cover letters and recommendations for future jobs and postgraduate programs. 

When a person hears of a job opening that isn’t advertised in newspapers or on the internet they are found in what’s called the ‘hidden job market’.  These jobs account for three quarters of the prospective job market so be sure to develop those business contacts early in your university career.

 

Freelancing

When you were presented with a list of careers by your guidance counselor in high school I bet they didn’t suggest wedding planner, in-house DJ, or freelance journalist as your possible career choice.  The fact of the matter is if you have a talent or specialize in something that is so rare employers will pay money for it, it’s likely you can make a career out of it.  I, for instance, have a great knowledge and affinity for science fiction literature.  If a publishing house that specifically deals with science fiction offered me a position, I would jump at the chance and take it.  I’ve met gambling consultants, freelance matchmakers, students who’ve paid their tuition through online poker as well as online gaming.  If you can dream it, you can believe it.

 

Preparing the Resume

It is important to update your resume every six months or so.  However, many students are unaware that different jobs require different resume formats.  For instance, the resume of a journalist will be significantly different from that of a civil engineer’s.  A writer’s resume will usually provide a list of articles published as well as a couple of submitted works (or clips) attached.  The engineer on the other hand could have anything from project portfolios, grant proposals, and scholarly journals in it.  Check for spelling and grammatical errors as well and don’t make the resume more than four pages long.

 

The Interview Process

One of the biggest oversights university graduates neglect to do prior to the interview process is to research a company’s mission statement and history.  This is a fundamental necessity.  Not only will a half-an-hour of research place you ahead of other likely candidates, but it will be one of the major make-or-break questions that will determine your future with a company.  Make sure your wardrobe reflects a sense of confidence as well as maturity in your employer’s eyes.  And be sure to answer your employer’s questions poignantly and precisely with little hesitation.

 
Like I stated in my introduction earlier, the job market can sometimes seem like a maze of thorns rather than a garden of opportunities.  And while these suggestions aren’t the most original, preparing early and adopting the knowledge needed to succeed will bring you one step closer to finding that dream job.