Fresh job tips

You are out in this big bad world, fresh out of college and on the job hunt. Would you get a job or not? If you do, will you be able to survive? The wait for a job can be cruel and arduous. The very thought of these possibilities can bog you down. But take heart. The first flight has to be taken before you soar to the skies, right?

Before you take the plunge, you'll need the following things in place:

1. A power-packed resume.
2. Research the market, through information on newspapers, websites etc.
3. Get to know about your prospective employers beforehand.

4. Job packets offered in the market.
5. Hitlist of jobs/consultancies

Make yourself visible.
Armed with this, you are mid way through to getting your job. Your next move would be to make yourself visible. The job market needs to feel your presence. Place yourself online; the web is a mine for jobs besides easy accessibility. Scour the newspapers and send in your resumes to companies that might have scope for your kind of job. Drop in or mail your resumes to job consultants. When you are sending in your resume to consultants, it is best to give it in person, giving the consultant an idea of what you are looking for. The most effective way to get leads on job openings is by word of mouth. Keep your friends and acquaintances aware that you are on the lookout for a job. You'll be surprised at the amount of jobs that can come through by networking. Keep in constant touch with people; renew contacts. A social gathering, a party or alumni meeting etc would be ideal to know of job openings.

Keep yourself updated.
Given the job scenario today, skill requirements are highly competitive and are to a large extent reliant on technology. Keeping pace with changing technology would make you a lot more confident and give you that crucial edge over other candidates.

Don't lose touch with your skills.
Along with learning new technology and skills, it is essential for you to keep in touch with what you have learnt in the past. Brush up your knowledge base regularly, so that you don't have to redo your learning or cram in information in the last minute.

Don't lose sight of what you want.
Be focussed as to what you want out of a job. It helps you to prioritize your needs and narrow down your job hunt. It also provides a sense of direction to your search.

Don't lose faith in yourself.
It's very easy to get disillusioned when you are unemployed. This is a 'must avoid', as loss of self-confidence can only deter you from bagging a good job opportunity. Faith in your capabilities will strengthen you to face competition.

Don't be afraid of being rejected.
'Keep trying' is the mantra for you. Most often, what stops people from aggressively hunting for a job is the fear of rejection. Don't blame yourself and indulge in self-pity. Analyse what went wrong in the interview and try to mend the patches. Keep trying; Robert Bruce didn't become successful without this magic word - "TRY".

Treading on unknown waters.
And finally, you got to take the initiative. The unknown world of offices, corporate protocol, workplace wisdom… is undoubtedly intimidating for a fresher just out of campus. But you will improve with experience and that's what a job will empower you with. If you feel overpowered in a large organisation, lookout for openings in relatively smaller companies, where you will gain experience, though the pay might not be very attractive initially.

Go out on a positive note. As Helen Keller says, " Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows."