Best advice on securing a job- From a recent graduate experience

 So you have graduated! Congratulations on achieving this milestone in your life. 

    What now?   

After years of mental struggles, being forced to work with some incompetent teammates, and self learning most of your material from one of the most prestigious universities in the world, you are finally ecstatic about landing your first job!  

 For the past couple of months, I have been struggling through dozens of cover letters, altering cv and filling god knows how many job forms.    

Well guess what? Unsurprisingly, I received refusal after refusal, regardless of how good my application was, how perfect my GPA is or how suited I am for the job.    

After a few weeks of self-doubt, I knew I had to change my strategy. I am happy to announce that through the following steps, I landed my first official offer this morning  :D !!!   

1. Write a half decent CV 
2. Take a really nice photo of yourself and create a Linked-in account
3. Send invites to connect to EVERYONE you know or you’ve once met 
4.  Go through online job sites, and look into which companies are hiring
5. Search these companies on linked in and see if you have any first degree or second degree contacts who works for X company   
6. First degree contact found? Shoot them a nice message explaining how you have been browsing job offers and you came across X company and ask them if they can talk about their experience, if they have a any advice to give regarding the application, and/or if they can recommend you for said position. 

          * for second degree contact, ask your mutual connection to introduce you two.      

What I have realised is that hiring managers, on top of looking for talented individuals, are looking for individuals who works well in a team. What a better way to know a person than having a mutual contact who has already experienced your presence!   They will, most often than not, prioritise a recommended candidate than a pool of online applications. 

 So let go of that shyness, reach out to your contact, and make each first impression count.    

Good luck job hunting =)