One of the most challenging parts of being a college student is the realization that once college is over, you have two choices; continue into graduate school or start your hunt for a full-time job. Leaving the bubble of college is nerve-wracking, and applying and interviewing for positions can be even scarier. We understand how hard it can be, especially amidst a global pandemic. We want to help guide you in the right direction and get you one step closer to landing your dream job.
Don’t be afraid to do freelance
When you are in college, it is easy to fantasize about getting your dream job at your dream company where you work 40 hours a week as a full-time employee. The harsh reality is that freelance, contract, and temp-to-hire jobs are just as regularly filled as full-time jobs. Accepting a freelance position does not mean you do not have the qualifications to work full-time. Instead, they want to work with you for a short amount of time to navigate your skillset and see what you bring to the table.
Freelancing may not feel like the same level of commitment as a full-time job, but accepting a freelance/contract position gives you the mobility and freedom to work on different projects for different brands and companies. It may not be the job you imaged when leaving college, but freelance roles will give you more experience in a shorter amount of time.
It is common for digital designers, like visual, graphic, UX/UI, web, etc., and writers to dip their toes into freelance positions at some point in their careers. Freelance and contract roles have become more popular throughout the COVID-19 pandemic compared to full-time. Open your eyes to the amount of experience you will harness and take a leap of faith in freelance.
Do a bit of stalking
If you have your eyes set on your dream job at your dream company and you feel like there is no other option, the best thing you can do is stalk the people that currently work there. You’re probably thinking, why would I stalk them? Can’t they see when I look at their profiles on LinkedIn? That’s exactly the right idea.
Do some research and find the current employees of the company and see who would be in your department. Check to see if anyone went to the same school as you; that’s already a leg up. Look at their resume and their work experience and find a commonality. Then you want to request them as a connection and send them a friendly message, something along the lines of…
Hi,
I am an aspiring ___ and it’s my dream to work at (said company). I was wondering if you have a few minutes to chat or hop on a call to answer a few questions about your
experience working at (said company)?
Looking forward to hearing from you,
(name)
You should send a message to not only a couple but a large handful of individuals at the company. Once you can chat with them, your name and experience will be salient on their mind the next time there is an open position. Make sure over the next few weeks and months that you stay in touch with, this will allow you to harness a good relationship. Developing a connection will show loyalty, and they will be likely to reach out to you for any open positions.
Grow your network
Do everything in your power to grow your network in any which way you can on LinkedIn. Even if you want to request someone that doesn’t have a similar background or occupation as you, they may be an essential asset to your job in the future.
LinkedIn is the hub for thousands of different jobs and careers, and you never know who may be in a position to help you get a job. Along with networking, apply for as many jobs as possible. When you apply for a job at a company, request to network with individuals that work there. It will help keep your name on the tops of their minds when searching through applications and resumes.
Overall, you should open as many doors as possible in terms of cultivating and harnessing connections. We live in an astounding time where we can make connections virtually online, so take advantage of that. Best of luck on your job search, and don’t forget to connect with us on socials to learn about our open positions!
Clutch is a creative staffing partner. We connect digital, creative, and marketing professionals with companies looking for freelance, temp-to-hire or direct hire resources.
