Grad College Advice on Jumping into the Job Search in 5 Steps

You've revised your resume, attended a career fair, and spoken with a few potential employers. What next? Check out these 5 tips from the Graduate College Career Services Office for maintaining your job search momentum.

1. Cross career fair follow-up off your list! Send out thank you notes, connect with recruiters on LinkedIn, and take some time to consider which employers are the best fit for you.

2. Sign up for an I-Link account for access to hundreds of employers recruiting Illinois students for open positions.

3. Reach out to Illinois alumni at target employers for informational interviews. LinkedIn is a great resource for finding alumni! Alumni search (http://www.linkedin.com/college/alumni) allows you to search by where they live, where they work, and what they do. You can gain more specific information about the job application process, organizational culture, and potential opportunities by talking with Illinois alumni at your target employers.

4. Revisit our short video tutorial on the four principles of great applications. Using these principles, the information you've gathered from the career fair and conversations with alumni, to tailor your materials for each application.

5. Connect your relevant skills to examples and stories to make your cover letter stand out.

6. Convey enthusiasm for the position for which you are applying and explain how your particular experiences have provided you with the skills you need to be successful in the position.

The Graduate College Career Services Office can help. Come by during drop-in hours on Thursday from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., or schedule an appointment