As you are starting your new semester at A&M, you will likely come across the question of when and how to apply for your future career at some point. In the midst of all the classes, project work and campus activities make sure to invest some time into the post-graduation job search. This job search timeline will help you figure out what to do and when during your senior year to secure a career that’s perfect for you.
 

Fall Semester

The fall semester is the most important season for career searching, as the vast majority of employers begin to recruit and attend career fairs during this time.
 

Research: Summer - Mid August

• Do research into careers and companies that align with your major, your strengths and your values. Pay attention to the job descriptions you come across  and identify which ones you align with most based on your skills and qualities.
• Use tools such as HireAggies, LinkedIn Alumni page and the Career Fairs to identify employers who recruit at Texas A&M. 
• Don’t forget to take into account which location you would most like to work in. Do you prefer a big city or a small town? Do you want to be near family or leave the state entirely? Figure out where you’d thrive and focus your search there. 
• Identify the careers that fit with the salary you need for your desired lifestyle. Resources like Texas Reality Check and the JumpStart Reality Check can help find your number based on your housing, food, transportation, and purchasing preferences. Look into jobs in the range that you find.
• Figure out your work style and desired work-life balance and/or company culture. Visit the websites of the companies you’re interested in and read up on them. Use Glassdoor to see how employees past and present feel about the company and the culture they keep. In addition, if you’re more extroverted, you may want a work environment that allows you to socialize frequently as part of the job, versus one in which you stay mostly in your own space or work from home.
• Based on the requirements and desired skills in the job descriptions you come across, sharpen your skills. Take classes or certifications that will make you a competitive candidate in the vast pool of applicants. You want to be able to show that you’re just who they’re looking for.

Network and Apply: Late August - Mid September

• Attend career fairs, which kick off in September, and other networking events to make connections with the companies you’ve had your eye on.
• After researching companies and careers, create and continue to update a list or spreadsheet of companies you’d like to work for, complete with information about the position they have that you’d like to apply for. Add job application dates and deadlines, notes to self about why you’re interested, the skills required and how you plan to be ready to interview for that job, so that when the time comes to start applying and you look back at your list, you’ll be ready.
• Network with friends, family, the Aggie Network, and professionals on LinkedIn. Stay in touch with your connections throughout your job search process. Make sure that you’re building relationships, not asking for jobs. When it comes time to apply, they may be able to recommend a job or open doors for you that may not have been available otherwise. Attend more career fairs and networking events.
• Utilize the resources available to you. On HireAggies, attend informational interviews to learn more about the industry you’ll be working in and practice talking about yourself and your skills in an interview setting. At the end of each informational interview, ask if there’s anyone else you should meet. During this time, your goal is to make connections and use your resources wisely.
• Perfect your resume and cover letters. Update your resume with your most recent experience and tailor it to the keywords of your desired job. Also, make sure your resume is organized and in a simple format that online softwares can read. 
• Ask for letters of recommendations from employers and professors that know you and can speak of you highly.’
• Now that you’ve done your research and prepared, it’s application time. There’s no limit to how many jobs you can apply for. The more applications, the higher likelihood of an interview and a job offer, but make sure that you’re keeping track of them for when some of those jobs call you in for an interview

Interview and Get Hired: Late September - October

• Prepare for the interview process with a friend using the most common interview questions. This way, you’ll have a response to the questions that employers are very likely to ask you. You can find a number of these questions online. 
• Make sure that you have or purchase professional outfits that fit the dress code of the company you’ll be interviewing for, whether that’s business professional or more business casual..
• Next, it’s time to interview. Make sure you know why you want to work for each specific company so that if they ask, you’re prepared. Go into each interview confident in your skills and ready to answer each question. After the interview, send a thank you email and a handwritten note as a gesture of genuine gratitude and interest.
• Contrary to popular belief, you can negotiate an entry-level salary. If you feel that your experience and skills truly warrant a higher salary, don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary up.
• Nothing verbal is considered final until you’ve handed in your signed offer letter. You can expect to fill out paperwork as well.
• Hiring is completed by most employers by Thanksgiving.

Spring Semester

If you weren’t able to secure a job in the fall, don’t fret. In the spring, take every opportunity to be the best applicant you can be to ensure you have a job lined up by graduation.
 

Regroup: Winter Break to early January

• There’s still time for you to apply and secure a job during your spring semester. While the majority recruit during the fall semester, there are still positions that will be open in the spring semester.
• Make an appointment with the Career Center and use resources such as VMock’s instant resume review to make sure your resume is perfect.
• Utilize the resources available to you. On HireAggies, attend informational interviews to learn more about the industry you’ll be working in, identify employers from your list that are still recruiting, and apply for their open positions.
• Update your resume with your most recent experience and tailor it to the keywords of your desired job. Also, make sure your resume is organized and in a simple format that online softwares can read. Make an appointment with the Career Center and use resources such as VMock’s instant resume review to make sure your resume is perfect

Apply, Interview, and Get Hired: Mid January - May

• Now that you’ve regrouped and prepared, it’s application time. There’s no limit to how many jobs you can apply for. The more applications, the higher likelihood of an interview and a job offer, but make sure that you’re keeping track of them for when some of those jobs call you in for an interview
• Prepare for the interview process with a friend using the most common interview questions. This way, you’ll have a response to the questions that employers are very likely to ask you. You can find a number of these questions online. 
• Make sure that you have or purchase professional outfits that fit the dress code of the company you’ll be interviewing for, whether that’s business professional or more business casual.
• Next, it’s time to interview. Make sure you know why you want to work for each specific company so that if they ask, you’re prepared. Go into each interview confident in your skills and ready to answer each question. After the interview, send a thank you email and a handwritten note as a gesture of genuine gratitude and interest.

Celebrate: May - June

Celebrate your success! All your hard work paid off and your career is about to take off! Walk across the stage and get that diploma with confidence about your future.

Use the Career Center’s resources for networking, applying, and interviewing, and log onto HireAggies to find a job before you graduate!

 

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Written by Analise Narine, Digital Marketing Intern, Career Center