Kick-starting your job search after spring break

Kick-starting your job search after spring break Share Share via TwitterShare via FacebookShare via Google PlusShare via LinkedInShare via E-mail Youre back from living your best life while on spring break and taking a vacation from all your studies. But now youre back and the reality of what the end of another school year might mean for you has probably hit.In the next six weeks, youre not only grinding to complete your coursework, but also trying to figure out what to do this summer. Perhaps youre graduating and need to find a job? Or an internship to get some experience on your resume? Here are a few tips to help you plan your job search attack Utilize Handshake and other job boards to search for opportunitiesThere are more than 6,000 jobs and 2,500 internships currently available on Handshake for CU Boulder students. If youve completed your profile, you will see all of the postings that you qualify for and with the click of a button, you can apply. Weve also compiled lis ts of other great jobs boards filtered by industry for you utilize on the Career Bulletin. Develop a running list of your job applicationsOne of the easiest things you can do to streamline your job search is creating a spreadsheet that lists all of your applications, due dates, and points of contact. Organizing this information in one place can keep you from missing a deadline or becoming lost in a sea of applications. After developing the list, you should set a realistic goal for how many applications you plan to complete per week, to hold yourself accountable. Choose the jobs you apply for wiselyThere are tons of job boards that will allow you to apply for dozens of jobs all at once with one click. The downside to this is that if you end up getting an interview with one of those companies, then you havent conducted the research to ensure this is a job youd be interested in. You could end up wasting yours and the employers time.Read through job descriptions and company profiles to make sure you can see yourself in that position. Once you find a company and position that you think would be a strong fit, research competitor companies and apply to similar positions there, to increase your chances of getting hired for that kind of job. Leverage your contactsA personal connection greatly increases your chance of advancing in an application process. Reach out to a friend in the industry, connect with a CU Boulder alum on LinkedIn, or follow up with someone you met at a career fair. You never know who might help you connect with a recruiter at a company that interests you. Make it a goal to reach out to at least three people every week who might be able to help you with your career. Be prepared for interviewsYou never know when youll get that fateful email stating youve been selected for an interview. So, preparing and practicing your answers in advance can help you feel more confident and increase your chances of getting hired. Gather a list of interview questions and practice answering them with a family member or friend. Have them throw in random questions youre not prepared for to help you think on your feet. You can also utilize InterviewStream to record yourself answering questions and see how well you do.CategoriesCareer AdviceTagsFeature Article