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As graduation approaches and as excitement builds to get out and find a job, it’s easy to make the very common mistake of being under prepared. First, decide on a few target jobs. Think about what would be the best fit for you based on your major, internship, clubs, associations, work experience, and interests. Research these targeted jobs and determine possible career paths. Think about where you want to be in five years, and create appropriate career goals.

Keep in mind that your targeted jobs and career path may change as you learn more about your industry, but having a set of targets and goals will bring your job search into focus.  The following will help you make the most of your search.

Do create an eye catching resume

Create a well formatted, eye-catching, professional resume and cover letter template. These templates should be tailored to your targeted jobs based on the information that you collected during your research. Note that these are templates because they will be modified and further tailored to specific positions for which you apply. Have a career counselor and a few other people proofread these templates. Need a template to start with? Try a Google search and you’ll find plenty to choose from.

Do know where to search for jobs

Start with your target companies. Go to their websites to see if they have a list of available positions. If this is not an option, you may want to contact the company’s human resources or recruiting department to inquire about opportunities. Create profiles, post your resume, and search for opportunities on the various online job boards including Monster and Career Builder. Check your industry’s association website for available opportunities there. Visit your school’s career center for additional resources and to learn about upcoming career fairs at your school and in the area. Staffing services can also be a great resource for finding jobs, this is especially true if you register at one that is specific to your industry (just remember don’t rely solely on the staffing service to find you a job. Look at the staffing service as just another job search resource). Even temporary or seasonal positions are valuable because they are opportunities to network with employers. Besides, you never know, a temporary position could become a temp-to-hire opportunity.

Do network

Remember that throughout your years at college you have created a very valuable network. First, talk to your professors and see if they know of any companies that are hiring for your target positions. Recruiters often contact professors in search of candidates. Professors can also provide you with some additional resources and provide you with a letter of recommendation or reference. Contacts at previous internships are also extremely valuable. Check back to see if they are hiring or if they can provide references. You have a great advantage with these companies, because you are familiar with their company culture, their challenges, and their needs. Use this knowledge to your advantage when you are speaking to them! If you joined associations or clubs that are specific to your major, you can use them as sources as well. Many associations place job advertisements on their websites and your club’s members may know of valuable contacts or open positions as well.

Do prepare for interviews

By the time you get an interview you should already be very familiar with the position and the company. This knowledge is extremely useful because it allows you to anticipate the types of questions you will be asked during the interview and it allows you to practice. Create a list of possible interview questions and practice your answers. This will help you get over your nervous jitters and make you more confident. Bring a few copies of your cover letter and resume (ones that you have tailored to the position and printed on resume paper), dress professionally, and use a firm handshake. Remember not to wear any lotions or perfumes with strong scents, turn off your cell phone, don’t be argumentative, and fill out all paper work carefully. After the interview, remember to send a thank you note to the recruiter or hiring manager. Follow up in a few days unless you’re told otherwise.   

Do not wait until after you graduate to start your job search

Depending on the industry, many students start their job searches as early as three months before they graduate. With so much competition in this economy, it’s important for you to get a head start. Prepare early. Get your resume and cover letter templates together, obtain references and letters of recommendation, start to research jobs in your industry as well as potential employers, and make a list of job search sources. Once you’ve made these preparations get out there and start your job search. Just remember to let hiring managers and recruiters know if you must wait to start the job after your graduate.

Do not forget about social media

These days it is essential that you use social media for your job search not just your personal life. Remember that part of your job search involves marketing yourself. First, protect your personal brand. Make sure to set your personal Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts to private, or delete any pictures, messages, and videos that you wouldn’t want a hiring manager to see. Google yourself to see if there are any results that might put your job search at risk. Next, create appropriate social media accounts for business and job search purposes. You can use Linked In, Facebook and Twitter to follow your target companies and learn more about them. You can also use these sites to find contacts from within these companies and connect with them. On Linked In, you can join associations and groups and network with other contacts in your industry. You can also find job postings on all of these sites. Recruiters are using social media more and more to find talent. You are missing out on many job and networking opportunities if you ignore these sites. 

Do not get discouraged

There are hundreds of reasons that a company might have for not making you an offer. They may have had an internal transfer or promotion; they might have canceled the requisition or put it on hold. The point is that just because they didn’t make you an offer doesn’t mean you’re not qualified, so don’t take it personal. Instead, look at each opportunity to interview as practice. Each time, think about the things you did well and the areas in which you could improve. Like anything else, interviewing should become easier and more natural the more you do it.  The interview also gave you a chance to meet contacts at the organization that might come in handy in the future, so you can also look at it as an opportunity to network. Keep thinking positive, keep up your confidence, and continue your job search!

Remember to use every resource possible. The more places you look, the more you submit your resume, the higher the chances of being hired.

Originally published on Expert Beacon.

Let’s face it, most of us don’t like to negotiate, and not much in life surpasses the discomfort of confronting a future employer with a request for more money. But the fact remains that most companies start an offer low, fully anticipating that you’ll negotiate your job offer, and if you don’t play the game then you’re likely leaving money and other benefits on the table.

Do

Do be gracious
Receiving a job offer is a big deal. An offer tells you that of all the candidates a company has met with, you’re the one they want to join their team. Acknowledge the honor by thanking them for the offer.

Do pause after their offer
A quiet moment causes the future employer to wonder if you’re happy with the offer they’ve presented. Immediately, they brace for an impending negotiation session, and are likely thinking, “how much more money could I get approval for, so that I can get this candidate to join our company.”

Do be aware of small, low increases once on board
The best shot you have at increasing your salary is when you’re between jobs. Once on board at a company, the raises tend to be small cost of living increases (short of a promotion). To make big jumps in your pay you often have to leave a company, so take advantage of when you’re between jobs to make the most of the increase that you can.

Do be prepared to close the deal
When you’re ready, whether that’s a day, a week or even just a few hours after receiving an offer, follow some version of the following script: “Thank you for your offer. You offered $X. I was really hoping for something closer to $Y. Is there any way we can meet in the middle; if so, I’m prepared to sign today.” It’s the final line, combined with the graciousness that helps speed the deal in your favor.

Do have confidence
Your future employer has likely been interviewing for weeks, if not months, and very much wants to close the search and move on with their new hire. Have confidence in knowing that they’ve picked you, and the last thing they want is to have to start the search all over again. If you’re gracious and reasonable, the worst they’ll do is say no.

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Don’t

Do not accept an offer on the spot
Even if you aren’t comfortable negotiating, never accept an offer on the spot, no matter how wonderful it seems. Always give yourself a minimum of a few hours to think through the pay, to inquire about benefits and to consider the whole package. Ask yourself if you have all the details to make the best decision.

Do not be greedy
Companies will often negotiate, but if you ask for too large of a bump in pay, or unrealistic benefits, the company may begin to doubt your true interest in the opportunity. While it’s highly unlikely to rescind an offer once received, you don’t want to cause unnecessary doubt in the manager’s mind.

Do not forget about sign-on bonuses
Because bonuses aren’t tied to annual increases like base pay, it’s often easier to get a lump sum bonus than a higher salary. Keep in mind these often come with the caveat that you will need to repay the money if you leave before a year, and that they are also taxed.

Do not forget about benefits
Companies with tight budgets may not have much wiggle room on pay, but may be able to offer more paid time off or telecommuting options. Think about what will make your life easier; is it flex-time so that you can have time in the morning to get your kids off to school? Or is telecommuting for snow days and bad weather in your best interests?

Do not forget to get it in writing
If the company comes back with a new offer over the phone, ask for it in writing before accepting. You want a paper trail (email can work) to show the adjusted amounts, benefits levels and whatever else you’ve negotiated for. Sometimes companies will offer more time off, “off the record” in some cases, and you’ll just have to trust your new manager to honor your agreement, but make sure to get anything tied to money that payroll will be administering in writing.

Summary:

Negotiating is part of the job search process and really, a part of life. Confidence in negotiating is particularly lacking in women, a frustrating legacy of their former roles as “less than equal” in the workplace. Negotiating an offer shows a company that you’re strong and confident, and really, don’t we all want to be perceived that way?

Originally Published at Expert Beacon.