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By Julie Bauke

It can be daunting to find your first job in any market, but this economic reality can make the challenge seem insurmountable.

But this isn’t the first “less than ideal” job market, and it won’t be the last. The sooner you learn how to find a job, regardless of the economy, the better off you will be – today and throughout your career.

The job search process is the same in any market – good or bad. There is no magic formula and it is hard work that you cannot outsource to your mom, or to a job board. In a tight market, you will probably have to be more flexible. But as a recent grad, you also have advantages – you typically have lower salary expectations, are more flexible, and can travel and relocate. And yes, your search may take longer.

Job search skills are life skills that you must learn in order to reach your career goals. Fortunately or unfortunately, this is typically a self-study proposition. High schools, colleges and employers don’t teach you how to find a job. Your college placement office brings potential employers to you. This will never happen again.

The real question is: if you get a job, and in six months, you are laid off, or you decide that you hate it, do you know what steps to take next? (If your answer was “spend my days looking online,” the real answer to that last question is “no.”)

Learning how to find a job is a set of skills that will serve you very well throughout your career. I can’t count the number of professionals I have met who stayed in jobs they hated simply because they had no idea how to find another, better opportunity. I’ll touch on the two most important pieces: knowing yourself and person-to-person networking.

Yes, it starts with you

What makes you happy? Don’t know? Don’t wait around for it to hit you – it won’t. You have to go find it. It starts with what you like – or you think you like. You don’t have all the info about yourself today and you never will. And the perfect job is a myth. You will change so will your definition of the perfect job – so don’t stress out about finding perfection.

Start with what you like to do and are good at. Think about past jobs, activities, and classes. What were the parts of each that you liked the best? What kinds of assignments were you the first to volunteer to take on? The last? What do people come to you for? What do you want to do more of? Less of? Never again?

Pay attention to what you really like and are really good at and track it. Love working with data, or hate it? Like to write? Like to work with the general public? No? Make your own list and refer back to it as you consider opportunities.

Don’t be afraid to say” I like this” or “I want to do this.” Don’t think you have to be all things to all people, and know that you are NOT good at everything. No one is. The more you try to force yourself to be someone you are not, the more miserable you will be. Promise. Getting in touch with your professional strengths, likes, dislikes, values and interests is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. And it will keep on giving throughout your career.

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