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Types of Employment for College Students and Graduates

Something to consider before you start your job search is the type of job you're after. There are many employment options for your first job, so determining what works best for you in advance may help narrow down the scope of your job hunt to only those positions that meet your needs.

While In College

If you're still attending college classes but you're considering finding a job to gain experience and earn some income, you'll need to weigh the pros and cons of working while in school. Fortunately, there are several possibilities that may allow you to successfully balance working and studying:

After Graduation

During your last semester in college, you'll probably want to launch a job search for an entry-level position in your field. Here again, there are multiple possibilities to consider:

The Job Search Process

Finding a new job is a process that involves preparation and effort. Once you've learned the process, you'll be able to repeat it each time you decide to change jobs.

Preparing for Your Job Search

Before you start applying for jobs, you may want to devote some time to three important preparatory steps: assessing the skills you have to offer employers, checking your social media presence, and compiling a world-class resume.

• Assess Your Skills

As your first step on your job-hunting journey, you'll want to evaluate the skills and qualifications you have to offer. You'll be promoting these abilities through your resume, during interviews, and in every other way possible, so you'll want to be able to list and describe your skills with ease and confidence. 

Take some time to reflect on everything you've done in college that may have helped you develop skills. Your degree program was specifically designed to teach you both technical skills and soft skills, so think through what you've learned. If you've completed an internship or any other type of job, consider what abilities you obtained through those experiences. Finally, consult with your mentor and others who know you well to round out your list of qualifications.

• Manage Your Social Media Presence

Another step in the process is to evaluate your social media presence and manage your reputation there. Hiring managers may review your LinkedIn profile and other online accounts, so be prepared to make a great impression. , founder and hiring manager at StartupGeek.com, explains why employers review social media: "The way [applicants] write about themselves can give us a snapshot of their mindset and what they would like to achieve in life, especially on LinkedIn. If it's detailed and well written, it's a good sign." If necessary, you may need to delete some of your older posts. Yehiel recommends eliminating any inappropriate or offensive content and focusing on making industry connections and sharing professional content. 

• Create a Solid Resume

Finally, you'll need to create an attention-getting resume that showcases your qualifications and accomplishments. It should be one page long; organized and easy to read; and free of any grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.  

While you should have a master resume for your own records, you'll also want to customize your resume — and cover letter — for each position on your list. This means reading the job description and identifying keywords that you can incorporate into your application materials. Be sure to duplicate those keywords and phrases exactly so the employer's applicant tracking system (ATS) understands that your resume is a match for their job opening.

Looking for Employment

Looking for jobs can be a time-consuming process, so you may want to carve out a routine to review job listings and submit applications every day or at least a couple of times a week. Fortunately, there are many places to look for jobs.

A great place to start is at your school's career services center, which has career advisors who can help you with many related activities. In addition to assistance with identifying skills, writing resumes and cover letters, and practicing for interviews, advisors can guide you to appropriate local and regional job openings. Your career development center may also set up career fairs or job fairs where you can meet and submit resumes to recruiters from many of the major employers in your area and beyond.

This is also the time to connect with your professional network to ask for help in finding a job. If your network is small, you may want to consider attending local networking events or tapping into your school's alumni association for suggestions.

Of course, the internet may be your best resource of all. There are numerous job listing websites you can use, many of which allow you to set filters that help identify the openings that are right for you. You can specify what type of work, the location of the job, and other parameters. Some of these are general job sites offering positions in every industry, such as and , as well as niche online job boards like for IT professionals and for all types of engineers. 

Employers are also advertising on social media platforms, like Facebook and TikTok, so you may notice job postings while you're scrolling through your favorite feeds. Additionally, if there are specific employers you'd like to work for, you can go directly to their company websites, search for the Careers or Jobs page, and look for openings that match your qualifications.

Landing A Job

Every time you come across a job listing you're qualified for that appeals to you, you'll want to submit a resume and cover letter. Quite often, you may be asked to answer a few screening questions in addition to attaching PDFs of your documents. Don't be surprised if you don't receive a response right away, and don't become discouraged if you don't hear back at all. Accept the fact that it may take dozens of applications to schedule several interviews and land that one perfect job.

As you're going through this phase, take time to populate your LinkedIn and other social media profiles with the right kinds of posts. For example, you can share links to useful resources related to your profession or industry. You can also state that you're job hunting and use posts to show your hope and enthusiasm for finding the right job. 

, CEO of Crossman Career Builders, adds that it's important for student job seekers to remain active on social media. He recommends posting things like links to informative articles about your future profession or industry, photos of any lectures and career-related events you may attend, and informative quotes from industry leaders. "The key is to be intentional and positive," he notes. "If you are posting positive posts that are encouraging, you are helping your career. We need more students to take risks and be defined by what they are for instead of what they are against."

At least some of your applications will result in interviews, and the best way to build up your confidence is to prepare. , co-founder and personnel supervisor at imgkits, has interviewed dozens of students. She notes, "One thing that interests hiring managers is when applicants have done their research. When you sit for an interview, we expect you to know about the company and what we do. We don't expect you to know our history. We want to know why you want to join our company and hear you answer as sincerely as possible."

Royle offers these additional job-hunting tips for fresh graduates: "College students must remember that because they lack experience, they should make up for it by preparing to discuss their skills, seminars attended, and even part-time jobs that they have done. You may think that a part-time job is irrelevant, but you can still use your experience and relate it to the job you are applying for."

Accepting an Offer

If all goes well, the hiring manager or HR manager will contact you with a job offer within a couple of weeks of your interview. You don't have to accept right away — it's customary to ask for two or three days to consider before informing the employer of your decision. If you want the job but feel the overall offer isn't sufficient, you can also make a counteroffer, perhaps by asking for a slightly higher salary or additional benefits.

Research is equally important at this stage. For example, you'll want to investigate an appropriate salary range for the jobs you're applying for. This information will help you avoid pricing yourself too high or, conversely, accepting a low-ball offer. To determine a reasonable salary range for entry-level positions in your field, you can consult websites like and . These sites provide average salaries for nearly every occupation, sometimes broken down by years of experience and location. If there is a professional organization for your occupation, its website may also be able to give you current salary ranges. 

Of course, salary is just one component of an employment offer. Employers typically provide additional benefits, such as vacation time and sick pay, health insurance, a 401k retirement savings plan, and more. The value of perks like flexible time schedules, wellness programs, bonus pay, and tuition reimbursement may also influence how you view the job offer. Be sure to check online resources designed to guide you through before you agree to anything. 

, president of Mangrum Career Solutions, cautions students to be on the lookout for employers that might take advantage of their limited experience. "You'll likely come across prospective employers who aren't worth your time. Know how to spot them," she says. "Offers with ridiculously low pay and promises of a raise after some time usually never work out in your favor. Any hesitation or resistance on the part of your interviewer to share information about the criteria for raises and promotions should also raise red flags. Entry-level employees often settle for peanuts instead of the actual entry-level pay. Every professional with a degree should determine their market value and strive to achieve the compensation they deserve."

Job Hunting Tips

Focus on your transferable skills. Where employers once placed a greater emphasis on previous work experience, they're now focusing on finding job candidates who have transferable skills that can be applied to multiple types of jobs. Transferable skills include problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, and financial literacy. Experts add that hiring managers are going to be looking for strong communication skills, a willingness to learn, and an ability to adapt to a new environment and company culture. You can help hiring managers see your skills by listing them on your resume and preparing examples to share during your interview.

Match your personal values to potential employers' brands. Employers know that employees whose values don't align with the company's values are likely to move on fairly quickly. To retain employees, recruiters are now evaluating job candidates' values to ensure they connect with the organization's brands. As you approach each interview, research the organization on its "About Us" website page and be prepared to discuss one or two specific examples of how your priorities support the organization. For example, if fighting climate change is important to you, you could talk about the organization's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.

Tap into your network to identify job opportunities. Many employers are now taking a more collaborative approach to hiring by asking — or even incentivizing — current employees to help recruit talented, skilled job candidates. Make sure everyone in your professional network knows you're looking for work, and be specific about the roles you're after.

FAQs About Job Hunting