There are many should-do’s when starting a job search, but these five actions are really must-do’s to get started right.
1) Add your summer job to your resume, Handshake and LinkedIn.
We offer quick expert feedback on each of these. While a great resume is needed to apply for jobs, a great Handshake and LinkedIn profile helps recruiters find you.
2) Update your Handshake account to reflect your career interests.
This makes Handshake work better for you, suggesting jobs and employer events that are relevant to you. You can customize your career interests based on job roles, industries and locations.
Unsure about your career interests? Talk with your career advisor or check out some of our online resources.
3) Use LinkedIn. Seriously, use it!
Invite people you worked with this summer to join your network. Also invite your faculty, classmates, childhood friends, extended family, and hometown neighbors. You never know who might be able to help you launch your career.
Follow companies and organizations that you’re interested in. Follow us (UMass Lowell Career & Co-op Center) as we share jobs and internships from our broad professional network. Join the UMass Lowell Alumni group, which is open to graduating seniors.
Post periodically about experiences and accomplishments you’re proud of. If you did a summer internship, now is a great time to post about completing it. Consider thanking your supervisor and others you worked closely with. By @ mentioning them, your post (and profile) goes to a wider audience.
Use the Open to Work feature to signal to your network and recruiters that you are seeking new opportunities.
Consider asking people in your network for a career conversation, where you get an insider’s perspective on a job, on a company or on a hiring process.
4) Set job alerts on Handshake.
We’ve been hearing from many employers that they’ll be prioritizing applications received in the first 30 days. Setting job alerts in Handshake is a great way to make sure you’re not missing opportunities.
5) Consider following the job to new parts of the country.
You may prefer to live in one region, but this year upcoming college grads, like you, might need to be more flexible and move to where the job is. There’s a lot of uncertainty in the job market for the Class of 2026. Being flexible in your job search, including with location, can help you find enough opportunities to succeed.
