Graduation
Congrats! You’re graduating.
Looking for a job can be stressful and nerve-wracking, but you don’t have to do it alone.
We’re here to guide you through the process, offer advice and helpful tips, and connect you to a job that will kickstart your career.
Below is our five-step plan to score a job after graduation. We’ll walk you through how to translate your experience, build a killer resume, understand your priorities, find current job openings, and build a network. Let’s get started.
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Congrats! You’re graduating.
Translate your experience
As you begin the job search process, remember that everyone starts somewhere. Did you know that Harry Styles got his start working in a bakery? Let’s see how your experience translates into resume bullets to make you stand out.
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Volunteer
Volunteer
Sports team
Sports team
Theater or music
Theater or Music
Student government
Student government
Career-related internship
Career-related internship
Special interest club
Special interest club
Student paper
Student paper
Did you give your time, skills, and passion to an organization you care about? If so, chances are you can work this into your resume.
Initiative
You’re proactive and never wait to be asked to do something. You’re good at anticipating your team’s needs, and identifying and solving problems.
Integrity
You put a lot of heart into everything you do, and your work speaks for itself. You have a good track record and earned the trust and respect of your supervisor and fellow volunteers.
Adaptability
You’re always up for a challenge, whether that’s learning something new or changing course to get the job done.
Teamwork
You can work with diverse groups of people towards a common goal. You know how to lead, follow directions, and are a big believer that collaboration makes everyone better.
Dependability
You show up on time, ready to roll, and with a commitment to do right by your work and your teammates.
Discipline
Your motto has always been: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. You’re dedicated to working hard until the job gets done well.
Whether you’re the captain or a team player, what you put in on the field/court/rink etc. can also be put onto a resume.
Teamwork
You can work with diverse groups of people toward a common goal. You know how to lead, follow directions, and are a big believer that collaboration makes everyone better.
Creativity
You’re used to thinking outside the box to help people see your point of view or tell a story, and you’re constantly thinking of new ways to explain complex ideas.
Customer focus
You always think of how your actions, behavior, and work impact others, and you always aim to meet and exceed expectations.
Practice, perform, repeat. If that mantra gives you the feels, we think these bullets will take center stage on your resume.
Leadership
You’re confident and have a clear vision of how to tackle projects, get people on the same page, and inspire them to be their best.
Initiative
You’re proactive and never wait to be asked to do something. You’re good at anticipating your team’s needs, and identifying and solving problems.
Planning and organization
You’re always on the ball and are good at breaking big tasks into manageable steps. Nothing ever slips through the cracks when you’re around.
Running for office takes a lot of guts; winning and serving your team require a lot of dedication. Spin your experience into resume points that will win an employer’s vote.
Work ethic
You care about your work and show up on time and ready to engage with your tasks and your co-workers.
Professionalism
You’re orderly, composed, and take ownership of your work.
Subject expertise
People often come to you for guidance on a particular subject or trust you to confidently handle projects on your own.
Now that you have a taste of what’s to come, use your experience to show off how ready you are for the real deal.
Initiative
You’re proactive and never wait to be asked to do something. You’re good at anticipating your team’s needs, and identifying and solving problems.
Planning and organization
You’re always on the ball and are good at breaking big tasks into manageable steps. Nothing ever slips through the cracks when you’re around.
Critical thinking
You’re observant, introspective, and often think deeply about what’s at the root of a problem or behavior.
Have a thing for food, fashion, art, or debate? These hobbies are what make you you and will add color to your resume.
Communication
Beyond articulating yourself in person and on paper, communication is also about listening. You’re good at all of those things, which help you build strong relationships.
Creativity
You’re used to thinking outside the box to help people see your point of view or tell a story, and you’re constantly thinking of new ways to explain complex ideas.
Integrity
You put a lot of heart into everything you do and have earned the trust and respect of your supervisor and fellow volunteers.
If you’re a pro at inverted pyramids, uncover that story on your resume.
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Building your resume can be one of the most daunting parts of a job search but it doesn’t have to be torturous. Click below to get Monster resume advice specifically for first-time job seekers. Learn what to include on your first resume and how to write a killer cover letter. We’ve even included a resume checklist, so you don’t forget a thing.
Build your resume
2
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Let your resume set ‘em up and your cover letter knock ‘em down.
Your cover letter must include these 3 things
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And if you’re still not sure you’ve nailed it, get a free resume assessment from Monster’s experts.
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Now that you’ve gotten your resume built, you can start thinking about the types of jobs and employers that would be the right fit for you. Part of that process is determining what your work priorities are. Are you looking for remote work or do you prefer to work with a team onsite? How important is an employer’s DEI strategy? Are you looking for an employer that can offer growth opportunities?
Now’s the time set your priorities and figure out what you’re willing to compromise on and what’s a nonnegotiable.
Here’s some expert advice on how to align your values with your employer, online career assessment tools, and determining your work style. These tips will help you develop a priorities checklist, which will keep you focused on the jobs that fit your criteria and help eliminate those that aren’t the right fit.
Know your priorities
3
Use these checklists to determine which of these factors belong at the top of your list of job-search criteria.
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Do you know the difference between a “mediator,” “defender,” or an ISTJ and how that can help you find the right job?
CAREER ASSESSMENTS
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Asking yourself these five bite-sized questions makes answering this question a breeze.
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Use these checklists to determine which of these factors belong at the top of your list of job-search criteria.
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Congrats. You’ve managed to get through a lot of the hard work already. You’ve figured out how to showcase your experience, built a resume that highlights your strengths, and determined your priorities in terms of job type and employers. Now your job search can start in earnest.
Below are five top industries hiring for entry-level roles. Click the one that matches your interest and then check out the links to the hottest jobs on Monster in those industries.
Check that out. We just took the hard work out of finding a job. You’re welcome.
Explore your options
4
Interpreter/Translator – Work with written information and text to translate in other languages (including sign language) that are accurate and capture the style and nuance of the original text.
Project Manager – Lead teams, manage budgets, and enforce schedules on projects with defined scope from start to finish. May manage contractors and communications with stakeholders.
Customer Service Representative – Communicate with customers to answer questions and solve problems.
-Budget Analyst – Evaluate budget proposals, monitor spending, and prepare information for government officials or company executives to inform funding decisions.
Human Resources Assistant – Provide administrative support to a human resources department. May manage employee records, advertise job postings, and organize job applications.
Insurance Sales Agent - Evaluate insurance needs for customers and propose packages and prices. May specialize (such as life insurance) and be the first point of contact for customers filing claims.
Loan Officer - Assist customers who apply for loans and solicits loan applications on behalf of a bank, mortgage broker, or other lender; guides the application and approval process.
Business Analyst – Advise on ways to improve operations, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and increase revenues; may recommend systems or organizational change.
Actuary – Calculate the financial costs of risk and uncertainty using statistical analysis and mathematical modeling for business and investment strategies.
Financial Analyst – Analyze data and the performance of investments to project company or personal financial earnings.
Junior Publicist - Write and edit for a company, monitor media coverage, and prepare material for press and media distribution.
Marketing Associate - Develop marketing plans and strategies for businesses. Research consumer demand and industry market data, provide specialized information on advertising and promotional resources.
Web Designer - Design for websites including layout, graphics and writing web design programs. Integrates applications or other content as needed for a site.
Copywriter - Produce concise writing for advertisements and other content used by businesses to inform and generate interest from customers.
SEO Specialist - Analyze data related to search query results and optimize websites to improve the rank of the website in search engine results.
Software Developer - Design or improve computer software, analyze customer or user needs, writes code, and tests design.
Mobile App Developer - Build, design, or improve mobile applications for smart phones and mobile tablets.
Cyber Security Engineer - Examine computer systems to identify weak points in security and develop and implement new systems and monitor and respond to security issues.
Database Administrator - Store and organizes data so that users can easily access the information they need.
Data Engineer - Develops the architecture that helps analyze and process data in the way the organization needs it.
Histotechnician - Work in a medical laboratory preparing tissue samples for examination under a microscope.
Patient Service Representative - Provide assistance to patients at a health care or long term care facility.
Clinical Case Manager - Work healthcare facility to help people get the best and most affordable care.
Physical Therapy Assistant - Help patients with disabling injuries or conditions learn exercises and use therapeutic equipment.
Phlebotomist - Collect blood samples from patients for medical tests and perform routine laboratory test on samples.
Finance & Insurance
Finance & Insurance
Communications
Communications
Information Technology
Information Technology
Healthcare
Healthcare
Professional services
Professional services
We’ll let you in on a secret. Recruiters say that the interview is the best way to determine if a candidate is the right fit. But that goes both ways—while someone will be evaluating you, you’re also evaluating them! Think of the interview as a chance to get a feel for a company, team, or boss. Do some research, prepare a list of questions, and make sure your tech is working if you’re interviewing remotely.
Deep breath, you’ve got this!
Ace the interview
5
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Get ready for the interviewer to see a lot more than just your resume.
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This year's Gen Z webinar gave us the chance to bring together influencers and recruitment experts to discuss what's working and what's not in job search today. Check out the recording!
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Here are the most commonly asked interview questions you can expect to be asked in your interview and advice on how you can craft effective responses.
Answer to 10 most common job interview questions
read more
Preparation is key to acing the interview Follow these pointers to make sure you’re ready for the big day.
Interview prep guide for new grads
read more
Asking yourself these five bite-sized questions makes answering this question a breeze.
Determine your work style with these 5 questions
read more
Use these checklists to determine which of these factors belong at the top of your list of job-search criteria.
Your work values can help you find the right job
read more
Still not sure what you want to do with your life? These resources can help you figure it out.
How to choose a career path in 3 easy steps
Thirty-one seconds—that’s how much time a recruiter will typically spend...
read more
The Monster Resume Critique Checklist
read more
Leveraging your internship experience in the right way on your resume can help...
How to Put an Internship on a Resume
read more
Let your resume set ‘em up and your cover letter knock ‘em down.
Your cover letter must include these 3 things
read more
What do you put on your resume when you’re still in school? This advice can help you make the grade—and get the job.
College student resume tips
