How to Get Your First Job Out of College ?

Getting your first job as a fresher just out of college can be really tough. There is a chicken and egg problem here. Many companies will ask you for work experience before even shortlisting you for an interview. Once you have got your first job, you can use that experience to switch to a better role, but getting that first work experience itself is the hardest. This is particularly the case if you are from tier 2 or tier 3 college, or someone from a non CS background who is looking for a software job.

There are few things that you can do to increase your chances for getting a job as a fresher. They are also applicable for someone who is looking for a job switch from the existing role.

Job Posts on Linkedin

Social media platforms like Linkedin are super useful for someone looking for a new job. Lots of recruiters and hiring managers post for open positions. It is much better to apply via Linkedin job posting than the careers page of the company. On Linkedin, you have a chance to interact with the hiring team which can increase your chance to get shortlisted for the interview. You should not just apply for the position but proactively send a message to the hiring person to introduce yourself and your skill sets and how you can be a good prospect for the open job position. This will increase the chances of your resume being seen by the hiring team, which will not be possible from the careers page of the company.

Job Referrals

Connect with your seniors from college who are already working in the role you are interested in. Politely introduce yourself and request for a job referral. If possible, get on a call with them to understand the hiring process and the preparation required. Getting a job referral from someone within the company greatly increases your chances to get shortlisted for the interview. Even the person referring you has an incentive, as many companies offer a referral bonus if the referred candidate gets selected.

Early Stage Startups

Early stage startups are easier to get in as compared to established companies. Use platforms like Crunchbase and Linkedin to look for startups which have recently got funding. These startups will be on a hiring spree. Since these are small companies, there is a higher chance of connecting directly with the founding team and getting a reply back.

Getting your first job is usually the hardest and can be discouraging at times. When markets are good, it is easier to get a reply back from the recruiters, but during times like recessions, job searching can be tough. The trick is to not get demoralised, keep up skilling yourself and keep applying for as many job positions as you can. 

If you are looking to make your profile stand out in this saturated job market, do read this next post below.