7 Pieces of Job Advice You Might Not Have Heard Before

An excited graduate of Syracuse University stands up during the university commencement on May 11, 2014.
IMAGE: HEATHER AINSWORTH/ASSOCIATED PRESS

It’s no secret that the current job market for recent graduates is — how can we put this lightly — not the best.

The process of looking for a job is exhausting, and a lot of guidance, particularly from the very universities we’ve graduated from, can be summed up with the frustratingly simple recommendation to “join LinkedIn.”

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While setting up a LinkedIn account is, of course, a great start to your job search and networking with professionals, there are plenty of other simple tips that can give you a leg up on the competition.

Follow these seven tips to help you nail down that full-time position.

1. Reach out to people you admire.

Think of those people whom you look up to in your field. Now search for their contact info and send them an email. If you can’t find their email addresses, tweet at them. Send them your work, ask them for advice and even tell them why you admire them — you’ll be surprised by how many people will respond positively. Starting a dialogue could lead to a potential mentorship and could even be a great resource for your job search.

Equally important is returning emails to any and all potential employers. Just acknowledging someone’s email can go a long way in establishing his or her impression of you. Especially for college grads applying for jobs, even if you get rejected or turned down, it’s appropriate to reply and thank your contact for his or her consideration.

If you aren’t the right fit for the current position, this tactic can encourage companies to keep you in mind for future openings.

2. Consider cleaning up your social footprint.

As you look for a job, you’ll probably want to make your social accounts a little more professional across the board. While you obviously shouldn’t erase your entire personality from your online presence, make your best judgment when considering which tweets to delete, which profile pictures to change and which privacy settings are best for you.

There are plenty of services that can help you through your cleanse with minimal grunt work, such as FireMe! for Twitter.

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Source: Mashable | MAX KNOBLAUCH