The Aftermath
If You Do Get The Job:
Congratulations! This doesn't mean to throw away your contacts, though. Make sure to maintain your network even though you got the job you wanted...you never know what kind of opportunities may come your way.
If You Don'T Get The Job:
Have patience. Keep a schedule and dedicate only a certain amount of time per week to your job searching. If you feel like you are getting nowhere with your existing contacts, dedicate more time to making new contacts. Finally, try, try, and try again...eventually you will succeed.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How long does a typical job search last?
A typical job search lasts 3 months or more. This timeframe includes preparing a resume, interviewing, and attaining a job. You should be able to start setting up interviews after a few months of job searching. If you aren't seeing any results, try revising your job search strategy or make an appointment with a career counselor.
Q: What if a job requires 2 years of experience and I have one year or less?
Don't be discouraged! What you may think you are lacking in experience may be made up by other things that you bring to the employer's table, such as your educational achievements and/or "soft skills" (see "soft skills" under The Interview section). The employer may be willing to train you even if you have no experience. Do not rule the job out.
Q: How many networks or contacts should I try to make?
Aside from your immediate friends and family, you should try to acquire anywhere from 20-100 contacts, or as many as you can maintain regular contact with.
Q: If the application asks for my salary history, what should I do?
If you have recently graduated, your salary history is irrelevant because you have just furthered your level of experience, so you do not need to give them your salary history. If your employer requires a salary expectation, write something similar to the following: " I expect my pay to be equivalent to someone with my qualifications in this position".
Q: What about salary negotiation?
If you can get your employer to throw out a figure, remember that employers usually have about 6% leeway with salary negotiators. Calculate a window of 6% and then with that knowledge in mind, you can attempt to negotiate with a figure the employer will probably approve.