Learn how to get the job you want post-graduating by elevating yourself as a candidate and effectively selecting the right opportunity.

Today’s market is complex, both for the employer and the employee. The average skilled candidate has a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to finding a new career. In the face of heightened competition for top talent, many employers have placed a greater focus on partnering with colleges and setting their sights on the recent college graduate.

As a recent college graduate, many might be telling you to consider yourself lucky to be coming into the job market at such a candidate-driven time. Yet, this sense of limitless opportunities can feel overwhelming and stressful.

But I’m here to help you. First, we’ll take a dive into how to best position yourself as a top candidate for your dream job.

Then, once we’ve established those ground rules and you’ve successfully landed some offers, we’ll talk through how to select the best employment fit for you and your future goals. No pressure at all; this is only one of the more important decisions you’ll make. It’ll be fun! Let’s jump in.

HOW TO GET THE JOB YOU WANT PART 1: POSITIONING YOURSELF AS A TOP CANDIDATE

Positioning yourself as a top candidate comes down to a few simple things. I’ll categorize it into three parts: Before, During, and After.

Prep

Many take the “apply to every position you come across with little to no prior research” approach. Law of numbers, and eventually, one of them will bite.

Personally, I advise against this method. Instead, sit down and write out what things you enjoy in life to pinpoint the type of role you would thrive in. Next, do a Google search of “best places to work” in your desired work location. Then put those two things together to find jobs you would actually enjoy with a company that aligns with your goals and values.

This will take a little extra time at first, but it’s worth it. In the law of numbers approach, you end up interviewing with any company that replies. Whereas here, you’ll spend more time dedicated to companies you are truly interested in.

Apply

Take a moment to tweak your resume to the job in question. Look for keywords in the job posting and find ways to add relevant ones to your skillsets and prior responsibilities.

I can’t stress this one enough, update any cover letter or objective so it aligns with the job you’re applying for! There’s nothing a recruiter dislikes more than opening a resume for a logistics sales position and reading that your goal is to land a medical billing job.

Ask for details

Ask for the details of your interview from whoever you initially speak with. Make sure you know who you’ll be meeting with, their title(s), the structure of the interview, and if there is anything you should bring with you.

Arrive early

Get there 5-10 minutes before the interview…not after.

Eye contact

Make lots of eye contact during the interview. Make it weird…but not too weird.

Be engaged

Show passion and excitement to be there and be considered for this position!

Follow-Up

Make sure to get emails from those who interview you. Shoot them a follow-up email later that day or the following to thank them for their time and consideration.

If you haven’t heard anything several days later, reach out once more to the most relevant point of contact, expressing your excitement about the opportunity and asking if there’s anything else they need from you.

If you receive a declination from a company, always handle it with grace. Thank them for the opportunity and express interest in being considered for future roles. This will leave the door open for something down the road versus burning any bridges by handling it poorly.

HOW TO GET THE JOB YOU WANT PART 2: SELECTING THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY

You’ve done it. The offers are rolling in, and now the ball is in your court. You have a couple of days to a week or two to make your decision. Here are some key factors you should use to select the best employment fit for you and your future goals.

Research

Look up company reviews through Indeed and Glassdoor. Any company will preach a positive culture but current and past employee reviews will give you a window into the real-life practice at that company. Most importantly, look for patterns. You’ll always have one or two who have a bone to pick but the patterns can show you if there is a real issue.

Stability

Now more than ever, people want stability in their careers. Research the company on current or past layoffs. This can provide insight. If a company has had some layoffs over the last several years, chances are they are quicker to go that route when the future is uncertain.

Culture

Take a look at the company’s mission statement and overall values. Ask questions during the interview process about promotion opportunities and ask those you interview with for their story.

This can provide insight into how the company views offering internal advancement opportunities. As someone going on 10 years with Trinity, having many lateral and vertical opportunities to promote to different positions and find my true passion in recruiting, it’s very easy to provide candidates with my stories and explain how attainable it can be for them as well.

Once you’ve gathered those stories and that information, use it in your decision-making process. Yes, the initial job and pay matter, but if your goal is long-term career growth, setting yourself up with a company that encourages and supports you will ensure you only have to read this blog once for a job hunt.

Benefits

Money matters, but make sure you find out about the full benefits package and take it all into consideration. For example, a higher base pay with significant out-of-pocket cost in benefits might come in under the slightly lower base offer of another company.

Ask to see the benefits package and ask about their 401K offering and company match. Ask about the company’s paid time off policy. These things might seem insignificant during the interview process, but trust me, they will become very important, very fast, once you start using them.

NOW YOU KNOW HOW TO GET THE JOB YOU WANT – GO GET IT!

Now that I’ve overwhelmed you with details let’s have a quick recap. Whenever this career search starts to feel like it’s too complicated, make it simpler. Go back to the basics.

It’s all about you thinking of the things you enjoy (and also the things you don’t enjoy) and coming up with jobs that would allow you to do those things. It’s about researching each company and remembering it’s the little things that will set you apart from your competition. People want communication. They want intentional action and passion for not only the job in question but your own personal goals and how you plan to achieve them.

At the end of the day, everyone involved in your interviewing process will be just that, people. So, shake off the nerves, update your resume objective, and go find your dream job. And, since you asked, yes, Trinity is hiring. 😊

Trinity Logistics is proud to share that it has received Comparably’s Best Company for Work-Life Balance and Best Company for Perks and Benefits Awards for Small/Medium sized companies for 2022.

“Trinity strives to create an environment where Team Members have the ability to focus on both work and  life,” said Jessica Wilson, Team Services Manager. “Company perks and benefits are one part of our company culture that supports flexibility and work-life integration.” 

Committed to being the best People-Centric freight solutions provider, that extends to Trinity’s Team Members who are the foundation to the services provided to shippers and carriers. Trinity’s culture is rooted on the principles of servant leadership and meeting the individual and diverse needs of Team Members.

Trinity offers the perks and benefits one would expect a company to, including medical, health and wellness programs, robust retirement savings plans, career advancement opportunities, tuition reimbursement and paid time off. Part of what makes Trinity different is additional paid time off for Team Members to serve their community, participation in the employee run non-profit, extended on-site education, mental health support, financial wellness programs, health benefits for four-legged pals through pet insurance and annual awards with the opportunity to win an all-expense paid trip each year. 

“Trinity’s leadership is focused on empowering our Team Members to be their best, unique selves and we are proud to be Different on Purpose,” said Megan Morgan, VP of People Operations. “It’s about living our purpose: Improving lives by constantly striving to be our best. We provide the tools for our Team Members to be their best and believe in having fun along the way.” 

0Comparably Awards are based solely on sentiment feedback provided by employees who anonymously rate their employer throughout the year. For both awards, the Top 100 highest-rated companies are recognized by Comparably. 

“According to our studies, having work-life balance and great perks and benefits are significant drivers of what employees want today in their workplaces,” said Comparably co-founder/CEO Jason Nazar. “Trinity Logistics’ award wins in these categories is a testament to the organization’s commitment to the needs of its people.”

Interested in working with an organization that is committed to you and your career growth?

About Trinity Logistics

Trinity Logistics is a Burris Logistics Company, offering People-Centric Freight Solutions®. Our mission is to deliver creative logistics solutions through a mix of human ingenuity and innovative technology, enriching the lives of those we serve. 

For the past 40 years, we’ve been arranging freight for businesses of all sizes in truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), warehousing, intermodal, drayage, expedited, international, and technology solutions.

We are currently recognized on Transport Topics’ Top 100 Freight Brokerage List, a Top 3PL and Cold Storage Provider by Food Logistics, and a Top Company for Women to Work for in Transportation by Women in Trucking.

About Comparably                                 

Comparably is a leading workplace culture and corporate brand reputation platform with over 15 million anonymous employee ratings on 70,000 companies. With the most comprehensive data on large and SMB organizations in nearly 20 different workplace categories – based on gender, ethnicity, age, experience, industry, location, education – it is one of the most used SaaS platforms for employer branding and a trusted third-party site for workplace culture and compensation. For more information on Comparably’s studies and annual Best Places to Work Awards, visit Comparably News.