Last week, I had lunch with a student from Central Michigan University. She reached out to me a few weeks earlier to let me know she’d be in Chicago, was job searching and wanted to meet with me to find out more about the agency I work for and if I’d be willing to share any advice for her job search. More students should be doing this. During our conversation, we discussed a lot of things related to finding employment after graduation and I thought some of that information might be helpful to others.

A few things you can do that will undoubtedly help you find your first professional gig:

Decide what you want.
I’ve written before about how to approach a job search for the right position, not just any position. It’s so important to spend time during college exploring your industry and figuring out what you’re good at. Casting a wide net and applying for anything and everything you might be qualified for is the quickest way to burn out on job searching, become frustrated and end up disappointed in your ratio of applications to interviews. Make a decision about where you want to live, what you want to do and in what type of environment you want to do it. Start there. Widen your scope only if you can’t get what you’re really after.

Manage expectations.
It’s important to be realistic about the timeline you set for yourself. It’s also important to manage the expectations of those around you. It’s tough sometimes to explain your parents that you’re working on the process, but don’t have any offers though graduation is nearing. It’s tough to see friends slowly getting their post-college plans locked in and still have no clue what your future holds only months or weeks away. Just keep a level head and understand that you do have some control over how much pressure you feel to get your life figured out.

Get organized.
You’ll really do yourself a favor if you create a solid system from the very beginning to keep track of where you’ve applied, who you’ve spoken with from each company, where each company is located and what types of follow up have taken place or you’ve promised to do. Keep track of the particular cover letter, resume and correspondence you sent to each company or contact. Spreadsheets, email labels, binders, calendar reminders, whatever works for you is fine. Just be diligent about the method you choose. I promise it will make your life easier on the days you feel overwhelmed.

Be patient.
Ambition is great. It’s important to have the drive and motivation to go after what you want. But as graduation is looming and you don’t have a job offer in hand, your stress is going to build. Understand that it is a tough process and even though you feel a sense of urgency to get something locked in, the companies you’re applying to don’t feel that pressure. There are a lot of talented people in the job seeker pool and companies know they have the upper hand right now in terms of hiring. Don’t get too pushy because of your stress. Try to remind yourself to have patience and keep your focus on the bigger picture.

Be open to an internship.
Long gone are the days of entry-level positions awaiting college graduates. I’m a firm believer that internships are the new entry-level. You might be one of the lucky ones to find a company willing to hire a fresh grad, but in highly competitive industries, that’s definitely the exception, not the rule.

Connect with people.
Find ways to get in touch with people who work for companies you’re interested in, find mentors you can talk to about the industry you want to pursue, reach out to your network to let people know what you’re looking for, utilize your alumni network and get active in professional organizations or local events full of people you want to network with. It is so rare to end up getting a job you apply for blindly online. People do business with those they know, like and trust. That includes hiring and employee referrals. Your network is going to be your best asset for your entire life if you build it a nourish it correctly.

Ask for a meeting.
You can’t be afraid to just ask for an informational interview for phone call, the opportunity to job shadow, to have a cup of coffee with young professionals or alumni from your school or anyone else you think may help you along your path. The best way to learn about a company and its culture is to meet the people within it. It’s so important to be confident enough to reach out to someone you know could help you and just ask for some face time.

Practice your interview skills.
You know you’re going to have to do it, so practice. With anyone willing to mock interview you. Seek feedback from mentors and professors. Record yourself giving a one-minute introduction then watch it to see what you find out. Practice talking with people about who you are, what you’d like to be doing and what you can offer an organization. Most people will become more comfortable over time, once they realize interviews work both ways – you’re there to find out about them just like they want to find out about you.

Care about culture.
Don’t forget during your job search that company culture and the vibe among employees is incredibly important to determining whether you’ll be happy or successful in a position. Ask questions about culture during your interviews, try to get to know employees at different levels of the company and really understand what type of work environment in which you’ll really contribute versus the kind in which you won’t be able to work effectively. The working world isn’t like college – you don’t get to change professors and classmates every 15 weeks. Trust me, you’ll ultimately regret it if you don’t put the effort into finding the right fit.

Hope this helps.

Professionals – what would you add to help out this year’s grads? What advice do you wish you’d gotten as a senior in college?
Students – what other questions do you have? How can my network or I help you? If you’re in Chicago, I can easily be persuaded to meet up and chat with a cup of coffee or lunch. Just shoot me a note here.