New Grad? Get Started on Your Career Search with Tips From our Recruiting Team

If you recently graduated or are graduating soon, congratulations! You persevered through a challenging year, and now a new challenge begins.

Our recruiting team understands looking for a job can be difficult and stressful. We’d like to make it a little easier and share four steps to a successful career search.

1. Network, network, network!

   Networking is a crucial part of job searching. To start, gather information about different roles, companies, and industries that interest you.

   Then, use a professional network like LinkedIn to connect with people you already know, such as family, friends, and professors. To continue building your network, connect with professionals in a field or organization that interests you and ask to have an informational interview. This can help you determine if you would be interested in working for their organization or working in a similar role.

   Utilize the resources below to help you as you expand your network:

    

   • Campus connections, such as alumni groups
   • Social networks such as LinkedIn
   • Family and friends

    

   "Be social! Have LinkedIn on your phone, follow your preferred employers, be present and make sure
   you are actually social—share, like, post, and comment." –Craig, Sr Recruiter at McGraw Hill

2. Build your resume.

   Tailor your resume to every job you apply for, based on the requirements of the role. We know—it can be time-consuming if you're applying to multiple roles! However, tailoring your resume and using keywords from the job description will increase your chances of a recruiter matching your skills and experience to the role.

   As you build out your resume, showcase your achievements by adding details like metrics, skills, and systems. Think through the many experiences that have shaped your professional experience, such as summer jobs and internships, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities.

3. Prepare for your interview.

   You landed an interview – nice job! Make sure to research the company beforehand by visiting their website and social media sites. You can also search for the company on websites like Glassdoor or Indeed and look through employee reviews to learn more about the culture and interview structure.

   Review the job posting again, and make sure you have a clear understanding of the role and its requirements.

   Practice your answers to common interview questions, such as:

    

   • Tell me about yourself.
   • Why do you want to work for us?
   • Why did you apply for this job?
   • And behavioral questions, like "Tell me about a time when you led a team."

    

   Prepare questions to ask your interviewer, such as questions about the culture, the day-to-day of the job, and the next steps in the process.

   "Remember: you're interviewing the company and the team just as much as they're interviewing you. This is the
   perfect time to inquire about work-life balance, company values, and how you'll fit into the team."
   -Rachel, Talent Acquisition Specialist at McGraw Hill

4. Follow up and follow through.

   Send a thank you message within 24 hours of the interview. Reiterate some of the key themes or skills you discussed during your interview.

   If you haven't heard back within the timeframe given at the end of the interview, follow up. Be persistent and express your interest in the role, but don't go overboard!

   We wish you success in your job search.