With the semester over for most students and graduation season in full swing, the hunt for full-time employment is at a high for many graduates.
Reports reveal that college graduates are on track to land better jobs than graduates of recent years, but studies show that 8.5% of 2014 graduates between the ages of 21 and 24 faced unemployment. To help this year’s graduating class increase their odds for employment, here are three tips millennials should put into practice.
Talk openly to your mentors.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to the people who’ve had a major influence on your professional development throughout college to tell them that you’re looking for a job. In addition to them reaching out to their network to inquire about entry level positions, you never know if they have a colleague who works at a company you are eyeing for your first job. Openly telling people that you’re looking for employment can also present job options that you may not have thought of on your own.
Attend professional development conferences.
Organizations such as the National Association of Black Journalists, Color Comm, National Association of Black Accountants, and more host their annual conventions over the summer. Look up the dates and locations of these events, any discount codes they offer, and clear your calendar to attend one of them. Big events like these not only allow you to network with like-minded professionals from across the country but they also put you in the same room as HR professionals and organizations who are looking for new talent. Of course, be sure to have your resume and business card on hand.
Go on informational interviews.
Reach out to a professional in your industry and see if they are open for a quick meet-up. Ask them questions about your career field, workplace culture and industry outlook for jobs. Not only will this meeting allow you to gain more insight into the  professional field you’re interested in, it will also allow the person meeting with you to get a feel for your professional potential and see if you’re a good fit for any possible job openings at their company or a colleague’s company.