6 Job Search Tips for New Grads

Nikki Hamidi ’25 is heading into graduation in just a few weeks without a full-time job in hand. But the University of Maryland communications major isn’t panicking.

She’s wrapping up a public relations internship at Profiles, a small Baltimore firm that counts the National Aquarium and the Preakness among its clients, and she’s confident about the many connections she’s made through her time in College Park Scholars, as a campus tour guide and networking with faculty members, coworkers and friends.

“I know that it is going to be a bit of a process,” said Hamidi, who recalls the many internship rejections she received before getting an offer. “Society puts so much pressure on young people to have a decision on where we want to be right now. The reality is we don’t know where we’re meant to be. So I’m just being comfortable with uncertainty right now and building myself and my journey.”

Her positivity is thanks in part to the support of the University Career Center, which sends out weekly internship opportunity emails, hosts a variety of career fairs, networking panels and workshops, and helps students like Hamidi spruce up their resumes and decide who to follow on LinkedIn.

“The beauty of the Career Center is that I was able to jump into it a little bit late into the game and still get a lot from it,” said Hamidi, who started pursuing her first internship early in her junior year. “And once a Terp, always a Terp, so I know I can keep using those resources after I graduate.”

As Hamidi and her fellow Class of 2025 students enter an uncertain job market, University Career Center Director Allynn Powell offers tips to improve their chances of landing a job.

Take a multipronged approach: ID organizations that you’re interested in, but don’t just wait for a job to open up. Reach out for a 15-minute informational interview. Attend a career fair targeted at that field. Take an e-learning course to gain new skills you’ll need. Then when an opportunity arises, your application will stand out.

Lean on your network: “So often the term ‘networking’ can be daunting or scary,” Powell said. But keeping in touch with former supervisors or even fellow interns can lead to opportunities. Reach out to fellow Terps using Terrapins Connect. “Alumni in this community all want to be supportive, but folks don’t know what you need unless you put yourself out there.”

Learn how to tell your story: It’s not just internships that employers value. “Maryland has so many opportunities for experiential learning, from community service to research to a part-time job,” Powell said. “What’s most important is your ability to make meaning of it.” Highlight your interpersonal skills and ability to work with a diverse group of people, your increasing levels of responsibility as you rose through the ranks in a club, and the technical expertise you gained in a lab and more.

Broaden your horizons: While about 70% of Terps traditionally stay local after graduation, this is a good time to consider being geographically flexible. “There are many industries that continue to hire,” she said. “Look at state and local government, or opportunities in health care.” Even if you’ve always had your heart set on working for a particular federal agency, for example, take a hard look at your skill set and see how it could translate to a nonprofit or a private company.

Create a robust online presence: Don’t just throw your resume on LinkedIn and call it a day. Connect with people from your internships and classes, ask for recommendations from colleagues and mentors, and post about your latest conference presentation or club event or publicly thank an alum for hosting your class at their office. If you’re in a field that requires a portfolio, make sure your samples are up to date and easy to navigate.

Consider unconventional opportunities: Perhaps you never thought about doing an internship after college, volunteering with your dream organization or even starting your own venture. “Experience, period, matters,” Powell said. “You may not get the job title you wanted initially, but you might get your foot in the door and work your way up.”

Apply selectively: Given how saturated the market is, employers are receiving more resumes than ever and are “cautioning against a shotgun approach,” she said. “Do the work of customizing and tailoring and being thoughtful” in applications.