Five Mistakes College Graduates Make Looking for their First Job

 1. Forgetting this is a marketing campaign.  Don’t think you’ll fill out a few applications, have a couple of interviews and soon enough you’ll get a job.  Nope, this is a long-term campaign to sell yourself that needs a strategy, a multi-tactical plan and a lot of patience and persistence.  You must think in terms of the traditional sales funnel, developing hundreds of leads that narrow down to legitimate job opportunities you can work, that narrow down to screening phone calls, then interviews, then second interviews, then job offers, with the final goal of getting an offer you’ll accept (don’t think you must accept the job if you get an offer).  Along the way, it is important to only think about moving on to the next step in the funnel and not the job offer.  So, when you’re on the phone, you are only trying to get an interview, not a job.

 2. Waiting to develop your presence on Linked In until you graduate.  In fact, starting any aspect of your job search when you graduate is too late.  But developing your Linked In profile, making connections, networking, and having an online presence is especially important while still in school.  One of the first things a potential employer will do is to check you out online, so a robust profile and network will go a long way.  Plus, you can use Linked In to identify and research potential employers; connect with alumni, groups and others who can help you; learn from thought leaders; and develop your brand by sharing your thoughts, expertise, and generosity.  Connecting with your internships, professors, fellow students and others you interact with is much easier during your college career than after you graduate.

 3. Applying for jobs you see posted.  Sure, you should monitor the jobs that are posted and apply for ones that fit, but that should not be your primary strategy.  Rather you should develop a targeted list of employers and let that drive your job search.  Connect and meet with managers at these companies, intern or volunteer, and get on their radar.  The truth is, most good jobs are in the hidden job market and are filled without being posted, or are listed purely as a formality.  So, the better strategy is to take charge and go after the company and job you want.  Surveys estimate that as many as 85% of jobs are filled through networking of some kind.  And you want to be doing what you want, where you want and not be dependent on the few jobs posted that may be vaguely of interest.

 4. Focusing all your efforts on earning high grades.  Certainly, your grades and academic honors are important, but more important are the things you do that differentiate you from the rest of graduating seniors and job seekers:  your internships, side projects, certifications, volunteer activities, sports, hobbies, or any activity that shows your passion for what you want to do.  It’s important to have a focus area within your field of study.  Don’t just be a general marketing major; have a focus in analytics, design, content or development.  Don’t say you studied history; explain what part of the world and what era you took an interest.  And then show the outside activities you did that reinforce this focus and passion.

 5. Not preparing for interviews.  You should spend hours, not minutes, preparing for each interview.  You clearly want to have your answers down pat for the most common interview questions you’ll be asked.  You should also have at least three case studies of scenarios you can use for several situational questions in which you describe a challenge you encountered, what specifically you did to overcome it, and what the result was, with statistical evidence if applicable.  However, the key preparation is to research the company, its people and its industry.  Find out everything you can about the people you’ll be meeting, about the job you’ll be doing, about the issues the company faces, its products, services, history and competitors.  The most important questions during your interview will be those you ask, not those the interviewer asks you.  They must show that you’ve done your research and not be about things like benefits.  This is a terrific opportunity to set yourself apart from your competition.