How can I get a job easily when I graduate college?

Question

I just started college and I am in interactive media. I really want to focus more so on web design and web developing, I want to be better. I transferred from a boring University to a community college which I like but it is only a 2 year thing and my credits won't transfer. I'm scared that an associates degree won't get me a job....most job offers i look up online ask for 2-3 year experience at least...

how can I have experience if I just graduated?

Answer 1

theres an exception to the bachelors degree and experience thing

and luckily design is one of the fields you can most easily pull it off

however in order to do this you must be really good at what you do

build a portfolio that will make an employer not be able to say no to you

if your work is more impressive then someone with a lil more education and experience then you, you can still get the job

if yer not really good yet, practice, work hard, and maybe you'll get there

check out dice.com for  tech jobs

(no i dont work for them its just a good site)

Answer 2

Networking.  Every highly desired job is obtained through a network of friends.  You need friends in high places.  Try to get an internship at the business in which you wish to work.  Put in as many hours as humanly possible.  The will see your dedication and skills during this time and will probably offer a job as soon as you graduate.

But you have to make friends.  Be nice to everyone and prove that you know what you know.

Answer 3

yeah I'm a graphic designer and i only have my associates degree...and ive applied for many jobs that required experience and a bachelors degree right out of college.  Surprisingly ive gotten calls and interviews from those companies.  So just send out your resume....when you go on an interview, if they like you, you'll get hired.

Answer 4

Try to get an internship before you graduate. That way you get experience & get your foot in the door

Answer 5

Internships, see if your school has a program where they find you internships for college credit or for pay. Try doing some freelance work to show off your skills as a web designer

Answer 6

I think i might know your answer. As i was just in the same boat or still am :)

I started college in 2002, and graduated in Graphics Design in 2006. It wasn't until 2007 1 year later after i graduated that I actually got a job within my degree at wegner media productions.  He knew i had the college degree but NO experience whatsoever. THough i was 1 out of 15 applicants who applied and others had more experience then i did for sure.

Now I have to say an Associates degree will hurt your chances a bit. But don't worry. When most job offers say 2-3 years experience they do not mean at college. They mean Real World Design experience like working at a company. Right now I have about 11 months of real world experience as a graphic designer, but currently working for a different company now, briscoe hall.

now to get to your question. What you need to do is start appying for internships at various business places. An internship might get you paid and might not. but they pay is not important its the experience that you want and need. You also as an intern might only work 7-15 hours a week.  I had applied for an intership when i was in college a half year in advance. Because they just cant hire u as an intern on the spot it takes about a half years planning. So if u want to intern somewhere start looking now and september and say you will be willing to start january 2009.

This will give them time to get things ready. Most of the jobs that you see (probably online) that require 2-3 years of experience you will probably not get. Look locally. I did. Look where it got me. :) im doing fine now.

Once you get at least half a years internship (more the better). when you graduate you will have a degree and about 1 years experience (from internships).

Internships definitely help i urge u to do some.

Answer 7

I have a few suggestions.

First, try and get an internship. Those look very nice on resumes for people fresh out of college.

Second, put in time to build up examples of your work. I am a programmer and looking for a job, one of the things I was asked a few times was if I had any examples of code/programs I had written. If you are looking into a career in web development, create your own website and make sure it works well (for all web browsers). It would be best do so with your own domain.... a myspace web page will not be impressive. Check prices for webhosting services... I don't believe they should cost too much. Also, put in time to learn extra web development tools and languages that are not taught in class. If a company uses a particular language or tool and you already know it, you will look better as a potential employee because they will not have to spend money training you.

Third, make sure people know you are looking for a job. Ask friends and family to keep an eye out for positions that meet your goals. Blanket the area with resumes/cover letters. Go to job fairs. Yo must take an active role in searching for a job.... they will not come to you. Also remember that just because you are looking for a job in web development, you do not necessarily have to work at a software or web development business. I work at an insurance/financial company and a couple of our developers only do web development work to give our clients the ability to access their information online. We are not in the technology industry, but we still use people for web development. The same will probably be true in your area.

Next, I am not sure if your school has anything like these, but my school had a few things that aided students in getting jobs. Students could give their resumes to the course advisers and they would place them in book they had. Frequently companies would go to the school and ask for copies of resumes from that book that met their requirements. My school had a website that aided students and alumni in their search for jobs. Many companies would post jobs on this site and students/alumni could send resumes and cover letters to them. My school also had an "E.P.I.C.S" (Engineering Projects In Community Service). For course credit, students of different disciplines were assigned to work for non-profit organizations (historic societies, learning centers/organizations, etc) to complete tasks (creating websites, creating publicity films, creating learning software, etc). See if your school has something like this. It gives you credit and real-world experience. Ask your school if it has anything to help students get jobs after graduation.

Make sure you have someone review your resumes and cover letters before posting it out.  As far as cover letters go, I had one generic one and then slightly customized it to apply to that particular company and position. Also make sure they are on good quality, white paper. If the resume does not look professional, or it has errors, or any obvious problems, most employers will just throw it out. If you are just out of school put your GPA on the resume (assuming it is decent). If you are just getting out of school and you do not have your GPA on it, employers are going to assume it was low.

Get used to speaking and explaining yourself clearly in interviews and prepare yourself for them. The first couple interviews I had went very poorly because I was nervous and not well prepared. I moved beyond the 'nervous' part of the problem by experience. I became better prepared by looking online and seeing what typical questions are asked during interviews for my field and making sure I had good answers for them.

Finally, for your first job, you want to get experience. While you want it to be a good job that meets your desires and helps you on your long term career path, do not expect your first job to be perfect. As someone with little experience, fresh out of school, you can't expect a job with the pay and benefits of a senior/head web developer for your company. In other words, be realistic in what you are willing to accept, especially with our poor economy, and use it for experience and preparing your career path. Most people don't stay at their first job for more than a couple years before moving on to another one after they get experience.

Oh, one other thing, even if the jobs ask for a couple years experience,  it won't hurt to submit your resume. Let the employer decide if you meet their requirements after reading your resume/cover letter. The job description for my first job said they wanted someone with a couple years experience.... but I still got the job because I had a quality education and knew what I was doing.

Answer 8

First, vote in people who care about this country and its workers.  If you vote in neocons, your job will be shipped overseas, or your income will go down every year.  I am serious about this.  Vote in progressives.  Enough of the neocon destruction of the US economy!

Answer 9

Start from the bottom, take small jobs that give you experience in the field you want to work, stay there for just a couple months, so you have something to put on a resume, and managers that are willing to speak up on your behalf.

Upgrade, and do it all again, while your first few jobs may not be great, they'll give you experience that you'll be able to use to actually get a good job.

Or you can always take the shortcut route, and find someone who already works in the buisiness and have them speak up on your behalf. Both work great