Class of 2021 job search tips

While the job market looks stronger than a year ago, college students and recent graduates face an utterly unique career landscape compared to graduates who preceded them. Last year, many graduates were forced to reexamine career goals due to the pandemic. Half said they would seek further education until the job market starts to level out, and 56.5% said they drastically altered their post-graduation plans for 2020 and 2021.

Now, with the job market on the rise, experienced candidates and 2020 graduates are back on the job hunt, leaving 2021 graduates competing against more people for the same spots – some of whom may be individuals who have been in the job market for one or two years.

To overcome these challenges, new graduates looking for their first full-time job this summer can utilize the tips below to set themselves apart in the job search process.

Evaluate today’s job market

After slowing or pausing hiring last year, companies in most industries are starting to post more jobs resulting in a massive, sudden inversion in the labor market. The market seemed to go from significantly more candidates than jobs coming out of 2020 to a trend reversal as we’ve progressed through 2021.

This high demand for workers is due to a variety of factors including the rebound of services sector positions as people emerge from lockdown eager to once again dine out, shop, and travel. Additionally, graduates’ news feeds are most likely filled with stories of companies struggling to fill open roles. Many companies are resorting to unusual measures (like signing bonuses and cash incentives for interviewing) just to get candidates through their hiring process. This is a good sign for recent graduates and should encourage them to be aggressive in their job search efforts. However, it would not be a wise strategy to choose to apply only to roles with sign-on bonuses or other incentives. At the end of the day, graduates need to make sure they would be happy in the position they are applying to, should they land the role. 

Assess avenues for finding work

Networking with connections can be one of the most effective ways to access this booming job market. Most recent graduates have more job opportunities and connections than they may realize. New graduates can potentially be underestimating the size of their professional networks, as alumni groups, fraternity and sorority connections, former professors and mentors, and previous internship colleagues are all a part of their extended network. 

For example, many employers have referral programs for existing employees. This is an important strategy for leveraging the extensive networks of an organization’s employees, and a win for job seekers looking for a foot in the door. Referral programs typically work by encouraging existing employees to leverage their networks to help find good candidates for open positions and then connect them with the recruiting team to start the application process. If a referral is hired, the employee receives an incentive, typically in the form of a cash bonus, if the employee remains on the job for a set amount of time (three months, six months, 1 year, etc.).

New graduates often turn to job boards to find open roles. According to the 2021 Job Seeker Nation Report, 60% of job seekers are using online job boards to search for or find out about job openings, compared to 72% in 2020. 

And even a graduate’s social media followers can be leveraged to find open roles—with 44% of candidates using social media such as LinkedIn or Facebook as part of their search, this is an extension of the aforementioned networks that should not be ignored. Other methods for finding out about these openings include job seekers learning more through friends (35%), directly from an employers’ career site (26%), and through professional connections (24%).

College students should make sure to attend as many networking events as possible, even if they are virtual. This will help build relationships with company contacts and help strengthen their networks. At the very least, this will provide practice for future interviews.

Additionally, if the pandemic made it difficult to land an internship, think about what other experiences that contributed to network growth. If a job seeker took on a leadership role at school or volunteered with a nonprofit, those skills and connections should be leveraged on their resume, LinkedIn, as well as during the interview process. 

Develop skills

Another way that college students and recent graduates can stand out and receive maximum attention in this busy job market is by taking additional certification courses that are targeted specifically to their field. 

These certifications on a resume highlight a sense of dedication in the field and help them stand out to a recruiter. It shows that they have a commitment to continue to develop their skills outside of the classroom or job. Graduates should seek out online learning and skill development opportunities, which can be inexpensive, or free, and show that they are self-motivated and interested in growing professionally.

For instance, if a student wants to pursue marketing, HubSpot.com offers numerous free online courses that will enhance their abilities in marketing technology and strategy. Or, if they want to become a recruiter, Jobvite Academy offers certifications to help talent acquisition professionals strengthen their abilities. These certifications are especially helpful if the recruiting team is leveraging an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) with Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities that may be scanning resumes and cover letters for certain keywords or skills.

Hiring is on the rise. Even as a student or graduate is developing their network, experience, and skills, they should apply themselves, remain optimistic, and keep their eyes on the career path they want.

—Kurt Jones is a Senior Manager of Product Marketing at Jobvite, a recruiting software company focused on helping organizations find and hire top talent today, faster. He has significant experience in the HR technology space, having held marketing and sales enablement roles for several HR technology providers including Jobvite. He has a passion for helping HR Leaders drive their organization’s talent acquisition strategies by maximizing the impact of their HR technology investments. Prior to moving into product marketing, Kurt was an HR practitioner as a recruiter with a focus on software development roles.