What Does it Take for a Fresher to Get a Job?

Welcome to the world of job hunting! While you might still be getting used to being addressed as a graduate, the time clock has already started ticking for you to cash in on the fresher tag before it gets late.

However, landing a lucrative job immediately after graduating is not as easy as job portals make it to be. It’s essential to approach your career with a fresh and relaxed mind. Since new graduates spend months preparing for examinations, it’s wise to take out time to clear your mind and focus on what you want to do next. Once you’ve aligned your career goals with your interests, you can begin your job hunt.

As freshers, you should be aware of certain vital points that will help you get an edge over your competitors.

Here are the top 10 things that freshers should keep in mind to land a job of their choice.

10 Things that Freshers Should Keep in Mind

1. Calm your Mind

First of all, congratulate yourself for gaining the title of a graduate after having put yourself through immense stress to meet deadlines. Move at your own pace in making any decisions regarding your career, and then get going. It is crucial to soothe your nerves before job hunting.

2. Jot down your Credibilities

The first and foremost aspect of job hunting is knowing your strengths and credibilities. A list of your academic skills coupled with your attributes will be very handy. You can also go for certificate courses to learn software technologies that are in demand. The list need not have flamboyant records.

Things as simple as your ability to be a team player, a good orator, or even a writer will do. This area will draw the attention of your employers as they are very conducive to enhancing team efficiency. For software engineers, communication skills and problem-solving skills are a must-have. If you begin your career as software testers, you would also need to showcase effective writing skills, which is a prerequisite for documentation and error reports.

In this manner, try to highlight your special strengths so that your resume stands out from the crowd.

Read: Highest Paying Jobs in India for Freshers

3. Approach Professionals/Industry Experts

While many can be masters of words, not every writer is aware of the nuances of writing a resume. A resume is not a combination of words but a flashcard of your academic and personal achievements. It can be quite beneficial for you if you delegate the job of penning down your resume to an experienced professional. They know what exactly to mention and how to highlight them to make your resume stand out amongst your competitors.

Or, if you plan to pursue a skill development course before applying for a job, you can simply make sure you join a platform where resume-building guidance and support is offered as part of the program. For instance, if you choose upGrad, you will receive one-on-one mentorship from industry experts as part of all their programs.

4. Job Booster aka Cover Letter

Cover letters are something that is overlooked in the mandate list of how to get a job. They are an additional booster that highlights your exceptional skills, proficiencies, and academic achievements. You can take the help of a professional to draft an attractive cover letter for yourself.

5. Consider Job Portals

Platforms such as these not only let you search for a suitable job but also put you in touch with experts to write your resume. There are many sites like Naukri, Indeed, Glassdoor, etc., that post about openings at software companies on a daily basis. Register yourself on online job sites and look for jobs based on your area of interest, location, and other aspects important to you. These sites also help you mould yourself according to the needs of your chosen industry or designation.

You can find reviews, ratings, scores, salary ranges — data volunteered by countless current or ex jobholders on each company. You can also take helpful tips and suggestions from experienced people or recruiters. They also give you an insight into how the industry works and what is expected of you once you start working.

6. Explore the Power of Connections

We live in the modern era of the internet, where a social presence is indispensable. Social sites are not just limited to making friends and hanging out – you can also use them for creating valuable professional connections. Once you choose the industry you want to work in, start looking for people working in that industry to build a connection or maybe land a referral.

Most companies prefer job seekers who are referred by their employees or hiring managers. They boost your credibility, increasing your chances of getting hired.

However, there is a lot more to be gained from professional connections. You can rely on their insights to shape yourself to pursue your future role in the industry. It also uncovers lucrative career progression opportunities.

7. Know your Company

This is very important when you are attending an interview. In addition to your academic performance, your employers want to if you are willing to go the extra mile to contribute meaningfully to their company. While this might sound very basic, employers prefer candidates who have done their homework and made efforts to know about their employers. It is certainly not an easy job especially when you apply for multiple companies. Always make sure to research a company’s vision, vision, values so that you can showcase yourself as a perfect fit.

8. Stay Updated

This is particularly important in today’s world with the ever-changing models and infrastructures in every industry, more so in the software industry, where updations happen pretty often. Thus, it is mandatory to keep yourself updated with the latest trends and technologies to deepen your foothold in the industry.

This can be done by attending crash courses, joining diploma courses, or attending online seminars conducted by registered organisations or experienced professionals. These courses not only improve your soft skills, such as interpersonal skills and collaborative skills but also help you build a robust role-related knowledge base.

This way, it is easier to make your way into your desired industry and face your interview with confidence. Online courses also help you build your network by putting you in touch with powerful people in the industry.

9. Prepare for your D-Day

This is extremely vital since every skill you have learnt so far and every piece of knowledge you’ve acquired should be showcased efficiently and impressively.

While preparing yourself for a job, don’t just think about “how can I get a job?” but make sure to prepare extensively for the most important day of your life so far — the day of the interview.

Just keep in mind, preparing yourself for your interview is more important than developing your technical skills and earning certificates. The employer doesn’t hire you based on just your academic records – they also consider your ability to communicate and convince other people of your ideas.

These traits are essential to work in any organisation regardless of the industry. Work on your body language and communication. It is pivotal to keep yourself crisp and clear to create a positive impact on your interviewer.

10. Over-confidence vs Skilful Negotiation

It is unlikely that you’ll have much success negotiating your salary package as a fresher. Most software companies have a fixed CTC for entry-level positions.

In the unlikely scenario that such a case arises, demanding an exorbitant package will do more harm than good since freshers are yet to find a footing in the industry.

Therefore, make efforts to learn the industry standards and the basic packages offered to graduates to know where you stand. You can leverage your experience and skills to uplevel at a later point in your career.

Upskill Yourself and Succeed

Though job hunting is not a one-size-fits-all thing, we can assure you that following the above protocols in your job hunting venture will equip you in the best possible way to face the challenges and land your dream job at a quick pace. We would like to sign off with our best wishes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What should a recent graduate do to land a job?

A fresher's resume and cover letter should be tailored to the job role. If they do not already have a social and professional network, they should start one. They should look for the company's career pages and some job referrals. Freshers must also attend career-related events so that they can build connections and get advice about it. To actually get a job, you must ace the interview. Preparing solutions to interview questions will boost your confidence. Finding out how to get a job entails something you're already familiar with: Research. Even if you don't have a job yet, you should keep understanding what's going on in your profession.

2. How to crack an interview?

Let's talk about how a newcomer can land an interview. Market yourself honestly and confidently so that the interviewer understands your strengths and areas of expertise as clearly as possible. Listen and think before answering the question to give the interviewer the impression of someone who takes the time to analyse the information. Be informative while also attempting to turn the interview into a conversation. The interviewer should feel included in the conversation, so explain your responses to them as often as possible.

3. What do companies look for in a new hire?

Proactive candidates, good team players, and willing to accept challenges and learn quickly are preferred by companies in all roles alike. Other skills that will help you stand out include time management, problem-solving, and presentation abilities. After all, in the corporate world, theory must be put into practice. To emphasise on your practical knowhow, try to become fluent in all concepts covered by your projects. Most companies also look for extracurriculars like sports, creative arts, or writing practices. Such additions to your degree can set you apart from your peers in the market. Try to develop these skills in yourself so that companies will hire you.

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