Anoop Verma
Passing from college is like end of an era. The days of carefree learning and socialising with friends is now over. Like most of us, if you are not passing out from any high profile university, then you may not have suitable job options at hand. Despite having a degree, you have to go out and look for a suitable job. Picking up a new job is no easy decision to make. Your first job can set the stage for the kind of progress that you are going to make in your career.
If you are leaving college in 2013, the job prospects could be bleak. The economic downturn is making it difficult for many Indians to land up with new jobs. The findings of the 68th Round Survey of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation shows that unemployment rate in India has increased. Unemployment rate per 1,000 population is at 27, while it was 25 two years ago. As on January 1, 2010, the number of unemployed were 9.8 million. By January 1, 2012, it has increased to 10.8 million.
Of course, the actual rate of unemployment is much larger, as majority of Indians are eking out a living in the unorganised sector. It has been estimated that more than half the population (52 per cent) is self-employed, while 18 per cent work as regular wage/salaried employees and 30 per cent as casual labourers. So lets face it. Looking for a new job in these adverse economic and political circumstances is a huge task. Giving so many interviews is not only time consuming, it is also stressful. And every rejection that you get can be a blow to your self-esteem.
By taking certain steps, you might be able to have new job without having to pass through a really stressful period.
Expand your network
If you keep your job search totally quiet and under wraps, if you don’t get any feedback on your resume or strategy from friends or former colleagues, then your quest for a new job will obviously become more difficult. You have to stay on the top of the mind of all the contacts in your network, so that they are able to put your name forward as and when there is an opening that fits your skills.
Have an online presence
You definitely have to be on LinkedIn. Just being there is not enough; you have to ensure that you place all such information on your LinkedIn page that will be of interest to the recruitment managers in major companies. You can also blog to get a new job. Developing a significant online presence is not easy, but it is a good way of cultivating job offers and other opportunities. It is important to have a basic understanding of the four most common sites: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest. Not only are they helpful for research and networking, these sites can also build out your professional brand.
Broadcast your talents
You must not to talk about your qualification and your talents in a straight manner, as that might seem like bragging. Instead, you can talk about the value that a person of your qualification, your talents, can bring to an organisation. You should not shy from reaching out to respected contacts or colleagues for help or feedback. You can even consider emailing people you admire in your field or industry. The fear of not getting any response to your emails should not stop you from sending the mails in the first place.
Take a broad view of the industry you wish to join
When you are freshly out of college, you should not narrow down your job search to a particular position. You can join the industry of your choice at many different levels. A job might entail a move from your hometown; if the offer is good enough, then you can consider moving. You can also go in for educational, volunteer or internship opportunities for bolstering your educational credentials.
Don’t hide behind your computer
If you tend to hide behind your computer and look for jobs at companies where you don’t know anyone, then you might have to do a lot of waiting before you find a new job. You have to network and you have to do lot of follow up. Finding a new job is not as easy as sending the resume by email and then sitting back and waiting for calls to start pouring in. You have to take a more proactive attitude.
Go mobile
Everyone has a mobile these days, but you if you can afford one, you should go for a good smartphone. According to some researchers, a good smartphone can help you make a positive impression on recruiters. You can also save a copy of your resume in your mobile device, so that you can send it to potential recruiters quickly. The best thing is that a smartphone allows you to search job listings during a commute or other down time, so that you are not missing any good opportunities.
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