Once you’re out of college, all you want to do is step into the professional world and put all that you’ve learned during your academic years to good use. Good news is: that enthusiasm and motivation is going to help you a lot. But the bad news is: Things really aren’t that easy.

Give it a thought: you may have decided what you want to do, and may have planned everything around the career of your dreams, but the odds cannot always be in your favor. Given the current state of the job market, many young grads are struggling to choose a career or, if they have chosen one, the line of work they want to go into doesn’t choose them. The job market works in mysterious ways, but if you really use some handy tips to beat the odds, you can improve your chances of getting a job:

But first, decide:

First things first: if you are still unsure about what to choose as a career path, in which industry should you work, whether to find a job or to start your own small business… then figure that out, first. You need to know where you want to go before you start a journey. You need a clear direction before you start doing anything. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Based upon your studies, what kind of work would you really enjoy doing?
• Have you ever taken part in projects that were successfully executed by you? What were your responsibilities in that project?
• Do you think you can do something you want to do, even if it doesn’t pay you much, or pay you at all?
• What is it that you would never want to do?

Based upon these answers, start listing down the career choices you think meet the criteria you have set for yourself. Now you have a map for where to start looking.

Don’t be Careless with the Resume:

If you have decided that you want to find a particular job then you need to prepare your resume, portfolio, or cover letter according to that. Most fresh graduates, who are stepping into the professional world for the first time, don’t invest a good amount of time and thought in preparing their resume. This is one of the most important documents and it has to be perfect, and updated with all that you’ve studied, learned, skills you possess, volunteer work you’ve done, and with anything else that can add more value to your work credibility. Don’t think your resume will ever be complete, because you will always keep on updating it.

Be Active On Social Media:

Yes, the four (or more) years in college were really stressful, and all you want to do now is explore the world, relax, and just be happy about finally getting a degree. But once the liberation fades off, you’ll realize you desperately need a job no matter what it is, because there is so much money to pay and you don’t have that. In no time you’ll have to start repaying your student loans because the interest will start adding up. So whatever it is that you’ve planned as a career has to start now.

Fortunately, social media is a great tool to put the good word about you out there. You can socialize with professionals and talk to them about your career plans- they may suggest jobs or give you advice on how to initiate your ideas. LinkedIn is the network that is commonly used by jobseekers and recruiters, so brand yourself properly there with a profile that stands out and a presence that shows your skills.

Offline Presence:

While your online presence will be extremely helpful in launching your career, you also need to have an active offline presence. Look for relevant group meet-ups, find ways to volunteer, and stay connected with your professors, your friends who are already working, and your alumni. If at first you’re offered internships or unpaid volunteer projects, take them if you can, because they can work as your first step to getting a job. You can work as an intern or a volunteer now and get to learn how the industry works, first.

Prepare for an interview:

If you get a call for an interview from the job you’ve applied for, don’t just go there blank! Learn about the company, the work they do, and how you can put your efforts to good use in making the company grow. In short, know yourself and the company before you go for an interview and at the end of the interview, don’t be afraid to ask questions from the interviewer.

Despite the urgency to find a job right after college, it’s important that you don’t apply to everything that says “hiring!” Only apply for the jobs you’re really interested in, because these will help your job search gain momentum. And building your resume around jobs that you really want will help to shape that document as you go.

Positively Patient:

If you really want to be in the career of your choice, then patience is the key. It may take a little longer than you expected, but putting in all your efforts in the right manner will eventually lead you to where you want to be. Stay positive about this process because sooner or later, you will find the job you want.

Being a fresh graduate, you might experience difficulties in finding the right job or launching your own business because of lack of experience, but you have to start at the bottom to reach the top.