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CREATIVITY and PERSISTENCE Pay Off for First-Time Job Seekers

Congratulations!

You survived law school! Now the hard part begins - the job hunt.

Graduates are up against a lot of competition to get an entry-level position. Hope has a tendency to fade - fast.

The good news?

There are available jobs for you. The key is to be creative with your job search. Don't rely on a single method, or you'll be at a major disadvantage.

Here are five things that will make a BIG DIFFERENCE in your post-grad job search.

1. Listen to yourself, not everyone else.

Take a good look at who you are and decide what you want to do, without having people influence you. Write down on a piece of paper your ideal job description and find jobs that match that.

Life is about being happy, not just taking a job for the sake of it.

2. Focus your job search.

Don’t apply to 1,000 jobs out of desperation. This is a waste of time!

Narrow your job search to your top three-to-five companies that you’d actually want to work for. Then, decide the type of job you’d want at those companies and find employees who work there. You can do that by searching through social networks like LinkedIn and Facebook. Connect to these employees in a genuine and honest way, asking for more information about what they do.

3. Start blogging.

Blogging is a great way to stand out, showcase your abilities and allow employers to get to know you better. It also helps increase your visibility in search engines and is a great networking tool that can help you meet people in the industry.

4. Beware of social network mistakes.

One bad post on your Facebook page could be a deal breaker!

Employers review social network profiles as part of the recruitment process, so be smart about the photos and information you currently have on there. It’s also important to note that your managers and coworkers will try and friend you on Facebook, so it’s best to set privacy controls.

Take the initiative to maintain a positive presence on your profiles.

5. Network! Network! Network!

Lawyer networking is the single best way for you to get the job you want.

Everyone in your world is in your network. This includes your parents, teachers, friends and all the acquaintances you meet throughout your life. It’s not just this first degree network, but it’s who they know, etc. You need to tap everyone in your network after you figure out what you want to do, so they can help you.

Attend networking events or connect with people online. And, don’t stop networking - even if you get a job.

Job hunting is never easy, even for top law school grads.

Stay POSITIVE. Keep your FOCUS. And, get CREATIVE!

Your dream job is right around the corner!

Adapted from article 5 Little Things That Will Make a Big Difference in Your Post-Grad Job Hunt by Dan Schwabel and published at Never Eat Alone blog.