Ultimate Guide to Finding Jobs Right After Business School Graduation

by Alex Morgan · April 17, 2023

Feature image ultimate guide for finding jobs after graduation - girl holding graduation hat

Introduction

Upon completing university or college, it is time to bid farewell to academia and embark upon a professional career. Although this transition may be bittersweet, it presents several opportunities and advantages.

Several recent grads are impatient to start their professional jobs. Regardless of the deadline, the job search process can be frightening, particularly if you have little work experience.

This article attempts to shed light on some of the top methods for new business school grads looking for employment. The sections below offer advice on:

Using job search engines and platforms
Growing your professional network by making use of networking opportunities
Using industry-specific job boards and resources
Taking advantage of career services and resources provided by universities
Get into government resources for job seekers
Developing your personal brand via career advancement, credentials, and social media presence

By utilizing these resources and tips, recent business school graduates can enhance their job search efforts and increase their chances of landing their desired role.

Job Search Engines and Platforms

In today’s digital age, job websites provide a convenient and efficient way to find available job opportunities. These websites provide additional tools like career coaching, resume customization, and useful advice in addition to their millions of postings.

The greatest job websites are listed here to help you organize your job hunt. Here are some of the best job websites to help streamline your job search.

Indeed

indeed logo

One of the most well-known job search websites, Indeed, gathers job ads from a variety of places, such as business career pages, staffing firms, and job boards. Job seekers may quickly search for possibilities based on keywords, geography, income range, and job type thanks to an intuitive interface.

To aid job searchers in streamlining their job search and making educated selections, Indeed also provides sophisticated services like resume publishing, job alerts, and company ratings. Employers can also post job openings and browse resumes of possible applicants. In general, Indeed is considered to be a reliable platform for both ends of the job search.

The Pros

Database: Indeed has thousands of ads from different companies for different jobs… nearly updated every day, if not by the second.
Simple to use: Indeed has a very intuitive interface, so no one feels lost.
Advanced options: You can apply filters to your job search. For example, if you want to stay within a certain location. You can also filter through a salary band. You can filter by on-site or remote work as well.
Reviews: On Indeed, current and ex-employees can post reviews about the company.
Mobile app: You can easily search and apply for jobs on the move with the Indeed mobile app, which is available for both Android and iOS smartphones.

The Cons

Strong competition: Because there are so many job searchers utilizing the site, there may be stiff competition for some openings.
Duplicate listings: Some job listings on Indeed may be duplicates, which can be frustrating for job seekers who are applying for multiple positions.
Spam job postings: Occasionally, there may be spam or fraudulent job postings on Indeed, which can be misleading for job seekers.
Minimal support: Users who require quick assistance may find it inconvenient as Indeed’s customer service is mostly email-based.

Monster

Monster logo

One of the top websites for searching for jobs online, Monster was established in 1994. Monster provides job seekers with the option to establish online profiles, search for employment possibilities, and get career guidance and salary tools. Monster has millions of job postings globally. Businesses can post job openings and search resumes of suitable applicants on the website. Reviewing resumes, receiving targeted job notifications, and connecting with other job seekers and career specialists are just a few of Monster’s advanced features. The website is made to accommodate job searchers from all levels and industries, making it a useful tool in the cutthroat job market of today.

The Pros

Database: A sizable database of available jobs that is always refreshing and renewing.
Advanced search options: Using your information, Monster may make personalized job recommendations and target job alerts for you.
Resume-writing resources: Monster has a number of resources to assist you in writing an effective resume, including a free resume assessment tool that offers advice on how to strengthen your application.

The Cons

User interface: Monster’s user interface can be cluttered and overwhelming, making it difficult to navigate and find relevant job listings.
Outdated job postings: Some job postings on Monster may be outdated or already filled, leading to frustration for job seekers.
Restricted free features: Compared to other job search engines, Monster provides a relatively small number of free options, and users may have to pay to access more sophisticated capabilities.

Glassdoor

Job searchers can find millions of job ads, company evaluations, and salary data on the job search and company review website Glassdoor. Glassdoor provides job seekers with a thorough view of possible companies by also providing interview questions and evaluations, corporate benefits, and CEO approval ratings. Glassdoor offers employees a place to anonymously share their experiences with and thoughts about their employers, which is one of its distinctive features. In order to better understand a company’s culture and working environment before accepting a job offer, job seekers can do this. Glassdoor is criticized by some users for allowing unhappy employees to post biased ratings, which can harm a company’s reputation.

The Pros

Company insights: Before applying for a job, job seekers may learn more about the business culture, salary, employee experiences, and other pertinent information thanks to Glassdoor’s exclusive feature of company reviews and ratings. Candidates can use this information to make well-informed selections about a future employer.
Personalized job alerts: Glassdoor enables job seekers to create customized job alerts based on their preferences, which informs them to new job postings that match their interests and skill set.
Pay estimates: Glassdoor offers compensation estimates for a range of job titles and employers, which job seekers may use to assess if they are being paid fairly.

The Cons

Restricted job listings: Glassdoor has fewer job postings than other job search engines like Indeed and Monster, so job seekers may need to use multiple job search engines to discover a suitable position.
Unverified reviews: Glassdoor reviews are posted by current or former employees, which is beneficial but it’s vital to keep in mind that these ratings are not always accurate because they are not verified.
Premium membership: Access to extra features, including job interview questions, business salary reports, and more job postings, is available with premium membership on Glassdoor. Yet doing so has a price, and not all job seekers may be willing to fork out the extra cash.

LinkedIn Logo

LinkedIn is a social media site created primarily for job searching and professional networking. Employers frequently use it to post job openings and look for possible employees. It has over 750 million members. Users can create a profile highlighting their skills, education, and work experience, and connect with other professionals in their industry or desired field. LinkedIn also offers features such as job search alerts, resume builders, and career advice articles. It is a useful resource for job seekers trying to grow their professional networks and uncover openings in their industry.

The Pros

E-resume: A professional profile that functions as a digital resume and highlights abilities and expertise is possible.
Networking: There are several opportunities for networking, enabling users to get in touch with colleagues, business professionals, and possible employers.
Social media: The ability to follow businesses and get notifications about job vacancies and business news.
Training resources: Users may expand their knowledge and abilities thanks to LinkedIn Learning’s access to thousands of online courses and training materials.
Search filters: A thorough job search option that enables users to narrow down results by area, industry, level of experience, and other criteria.

The Cons

Premium users: By restricting the number of chances available to free users, some job ads are only visible to premium customers.
High applicant volume: LinkedIn job posts frequently face intense competition from a big number of candidates for each opportunity.
Profile visibility: With the millions of LinkedIn users and job seekers, it might be difficult to stand out and get noticed by companies.
Network management: Although LinkedIn provides a wealth of networking opportunities, keeping track of relationships and messages can be difficult.
Spam: The platform has come under fire for having a large volume of spam communications and job offers coming from phony or dubious sources.

Networking Opportunities

Finding a job after graduating from business school requires networking. You might be able to discover employment openings that aren’t posted on job search engines and platforms by growing your professional network.

You can increase your professional network in a variety of ways. Attending employment fairs and business gatherings is a typical tactic. These gatherings offer chances to network with other professionals in your sector and meet possible employers as well as learn about fresh job possibilities.

By joining alumni associations and professional organizations, you can further your network. These organizations frequently host networking events and job portals that can be helpful tools in your job search.

Here’s a list of networking events you can search for in your area:

Conferences and trade shows
Meetup groups
Professional associations
Charity events
Business networking groups
Alumni events
Volunteering opportunities
Industry-specific events
Social events

To maximize your networking efforts, consider preparing an elevator pitch that highlights your skills and career goals. You should also follow up with contacts after networking events to maintain your connections.

Career Resources for Specific Industries and Roles

There may be specific job boards and resources for various industries and job roles that can be helpful to you in your hunt for employment. For instance, if accounting interests you, you might look at the best career in accounting with the highest income, which lists accounting-specific careers.

Here are a few tips on how you can look for your dream job by narrowing your search to industry-specific parameters:

1. Use Industry-Specific Job Boards

The platforms mentioned above in this article are great for broad spectrum searching. However, if you’re trying to make your search more targeted, you might want to look at job boards that cater specifically to your industry.

2. Join Professional Associations

Professional associations are organizations that are dedicated to specific industries or professions. Joining an association in your field can provide you with valuable networking opportunities, access to job postings, and professional development resources. For example, the American Marketing Association is particularly for those in the marketing field. Here are some more:

3. Attend Networking Events

Conferences, meetups, and social mixers of specific industries; try networking here. Not only will you make valuable connections, you’ll also learn how to industry works. You’ll see what’s trending, what different companies are working on, and what’s emerging. Here are some to get you started:

4. Leverage Social Media

Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter can be powerful tools for finding job opportunities and connecting with professionals in your industry. Follow companies and industry leaders on these platforms, and engage with their content to establish yourself as a thought leader and build relationships.

5. Research Industry-Specific Resources

For the healthcare industry, there exist platforms like National Healthcare Career Network or the HealthcareSource Job Board. So, narrow down the industry you want to work in and then research to see if there are such boards available.

Another thing you can do is try the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). This is a pretty comprehensive resource where you’ll find plenty of jobs. You’ll also find statistics on the job market, such as median salaries, average requirement for degrees and the like. It is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and should help you gain some insights about the job you want!

Utilizing University Resources

Colleges and universities offer many resources to help students find jobs after graduation. These resources may include career counseling, resume and cover letter reviews, and job search assistance. Some examples include:

University at Buffalo School of Management Student Career Center

American University, Washington D.C.

Oregon State University Career Development Center

Penn State Career Resource Center

To access these resources, reach out to your school’s career services department. They can provide guidance on how to tailor your resume and cover letter for specific job openings, as well as connect you with alumni who may be able to provide job leads.

Additional Resources

There are other other resources available to job seekers in addition to the ones already mentioned. For instance, government initiatives like job training and unemployment compensation can offer cash assistance as well as possibilities for skill development. The National Archives are worth looking into for this.

In your job search, professional development is also crucial. By enrolling in classes, obtaining certificates, and going to conferences, you may show employers that you are dedicated to your area and elevate your candidature. By establishing a credible online identity across social media and personal websites, you may also highlight your own personal brand.

Conclusion

The market is quite cluttered—there is no denying that. Once you graduate from business school, you have hundreds, maybe thousands of other grads to compete with. However, this really is a matter of persistence. You’ll have to keep trying, but through a broad spectrum of search; really increase your chances by spreading your word out there. This can be through several online job portals. It can also be through in person networking opportunities. You can also join industry specific forums. Stick to your university’s career services till you find something. Otherwise, the government will also provide a few sources!

Be proactive and persistent in your employment search, and never give up. Expand your professional network, and create the best CV and cover letter out there for any job position you apply to. With dedication and hard work, you can find a job that is both fulfilling and financially rewarding.