A Word Of Advice For Graduating Students

It’s the third month of the year! For graduating students, that means taking the final exams, lining up to apply for graduation, looking for professors and asking them to sign clearance forms, and finally, walking up the stage and obtaining that diploma everyone has worked so hard for. But the third month of the year also signifies something more life-changing for you graduating students. It symbolizes your transformation, from your student life, to your uncharted professional life.

Have you given any thought of what you want to become? Do you have any target companies? How long will it take for you to reach management level? But before answering all those, you have to first consider how you will land your first job.

Getting your first job will be a bit tricky, given the circumstances: (a) you will be competing with almost every student graduating in every college in the country, (b) you don’t have any work experiences aside from your OJT experience, and (c) everything will be new to you.

Here are a few tips that will help you prepare for your first job:

1. Craft your résumé. Contrary to popular belief and practice, writing your résumé should not be done a night before submission. It takes time. An excellent résumé is one that has undergone a lot of revisions and prepared with utmost care. Learn how to properly write your résumé. Understand the difference between hard skills and soft skills. Design and format it properly so that it does not look rushed. If you want to go the extra mile, you can have other people look at your résumé and point out areas you need to revise or add.

2. Have extracurricular activities. You should have probably done this a long time ago, but it is not too late to top up on your credentials. Extra credentials, for hiring officers, are signs of the applicant’s initiative to work, and even lead and take responsibility. Volunteer for leadership roles in your school fund drives. Join in organizing activities for your barangay.

3. Gather connections. While everyone still has the luxury of time, gather all the contact details of your acquaintances. Get to know their professional plans. Take special note of those who plans to become entrepreneurs themselves. Your connections might come in handy when your boss is looking for a reliable supplier, and you have a trusted friend who fits the bill. Most of all, one of your connections might be someone who can point you to a high-paying and quality job! In your first few months in your professional life, you will learn that in order to succeed, you will need to utilize all available resources at your disposal. It is not shameful to use connections to gain an advantage. It is a reality that even seasoned professionals consider.

4. Start searching. Job hunting will be very tedious, especially when you just start doing it after your graduation and you find yourself short of funds. Check out wanted ads, and job postings online. Check out if your dream company is hiring, but don’t forget to look for other companies as well. Find out their minimum skill requirements and work experience they seek from applicants, and compare it to your existing credentials. Do yours fit? If yes, then all you have to do is add a few more lines in your résumé, and compete with the other applicants. If not, ask yourself if you have the time to obtain the other requirements you do not have before graduation. Perhaps you can attend a few seminars that can stand as your added qualification.

Again, the first few months of your professional life will be challenging. You will be met with a lot of rejection, and that is natural. You have to understand that in applying, you are competing with hundreds, if not thousands of people who have the same or even more credentials than you have. But do not be discouraged if you don’t land a job in your dream office. Not everyone gets in theirs anyway. Take every rejection as a stepping stone in learning, and don’t take them personally. Maybe the hiring officer decided not to hire you because your personality will not mix well with their employees, like mixing a bubbly personality to straight and formal desk people who likes to just keep silent. In some cases, you might be overqualified for the staff position you were applying. Just keep applying.

One last note: when you get in to your first job, try to stay for at least a year even if you want to jump over the balcony rather than face the next problem employee in your current job as a receptionist. Be aware that there are still many companies that frown on job hoppers. Also, who knows, given enough time you might eventually like the job. Consider your first job as a training ground for you to grow as a professional person.

*Originally published by the Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin, C-6, Sunday, March 13, 2016. Written by Ruben Anlacan, Jr. (President, BusinessCoach, Inc.) All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or copied without express written permission of the copyright holders.