Job Search and Interviewing

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Overview

No matter when you graduate from college, the job market will be competitive. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that, at the best of times, you will be joining 6 million people looking for jobs in the United States. At the worst, you’ll be one of 15 to 20 million job seekers.

Data 1. Total Unemployed Looking for Full-Time Work

Although your college education gives you a huge competitive edge, your credentials on their own will not be enough. How you present yourself and communicate throughout the job search process will undoubtedly influence whether you are invited for an interview and ultimately receive a job offer.

The sections below will help you hone the communication skills you need for your job search and beyond.

  • Creating a professional presence: Before employers even meet you, they will be looking at your résumé, your LinkedIn profile, and the email you sent along with your application. They may also search for you on the web, a practice sometimes called “cybervetting.” This first section will help you get your professional presence in order.
  • Applying for a job: Applying for a job involves more than just submitting a résumé. You will need to accompany it with a cover letter or email. If you don’t hear back, you will want to follow up with an email or phone call that is clear and polite. Following up is one way to keep your name in front of the recruiter or hiring manager.
  • Interviewing for a job: Whether your interview is on campus, on site, or virtual, you will need to prepare and perform well. This section offers advice about how to research an organization to understand what value you will offer, think through answers to the most commonly asked questions, and perform well in an interview.
  • Following up: Communication does not end with the interview. As a smart job seeker, you will also want to follow up effectively with a thank you note. If you are fortunate enough to be offered a job, the next round of communication is critical. You will have the opportunity not just to accept the job but also to negotiate the job offer. Even if you decide to decline the job offer, the way you do it will affect your reputation in the business world.
  • Beginning a new job: The workplace you join will have its own communication culture, including expectations for communication. Learning how to uncover those expectations will help you be a strong contributor right from the start.

Your communication during the job search will help you get full value from your college education. It may mean the difference between the job you have been working toward and the job you will have to settle for.

Consult the Experts

To gain more self-awareness about how your expectations in a job search may affect your communication, check out this article: Smith, S. A. (2017). Job-searching expectations, expectancy violations, and communication strategies of recent college graduates. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly, 80(3), 296–320.

One key takeaway is this: when job search communication does not go exactly as expected—for example, when an employer does not get back in touch after an interview—successful job searchers readjust their expectations and their communication strategy.

Further Reading

Bernstein, B. (2020). How to write a killer LinkedIn profile. [
Kindle edition
]. Self-published.
Bolles, R.N. (2020). What color is your parachute? 2021. Ten Speed Press.
Burnett, B., & Evans, D. (2016). Designing your life. Knopf.
Clay, D. (2018). How to write the perfect resume. [Kindle edition]. Self-published. Danclay.com
Dalton, S. (2012). The 2-hour job search: Using technology to get the right job faster. Ten Speed Press.
Krznaric, R. (2012). How to find fulfilling work. Picador.
Pollak, L. (2012). Getting from college to career. Harper Business.
Yate, M. (2017). Knock ‘em dead: The ultimate job search guide. Adams Media.