
40+ Best Resources for Student Job Search [2020 Edition]
Last updated: August 2020
Student job search is a challenge. Before you can land your ideal post-college job, it would be great to get some practice, right? Job sites are many, but it’s still tiring, emotional, and time-consuming to find the best job for students.
Don’t fret! We can help.
Here are your best tips for student job search:
- Read top blogs in the niche.
- Join LinkedIn and its discussion groups.
- Get the most out of your Facebook and Twitter.
- Write an effective resume.
- Check job listings and get beyond.
- Ask your college career center.
- Try an internship.
- Network, network, network!
- Visit career fairs.
- Become your own boss (try freelancing or launch a startup).
For more details and particular job search resources, keep on reading. Here is your all-inclusive job search guide. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about the process.
Best Blogs for College Students Looking for a Job
No need to wait for your last day in college to start looking for job search resources. The more you learn, the more you understand that a learning process never ends: you need tips and suggestions on college job search from people who have been-there and done-that.
These ones can come in handy, even if you are still in a high school student job search:
- Lindsey Pollak – A millennial workplace expert, Lindsey is an author, corporate consultant, keynote speaker, and career expert. She also writes about Gen Z and shares professional tips on how they can succeed in today’s work environment.
- Fast Company – One of the top aspects of the interview process is to show you are knowledgeable and well-versed on a variety of topics. Fast Company will educate you on everything, from economics and business innovations to technology and design.
- College Info Geek’s Career Skills – Created by Thomas Frank, this blog is a true wealth of knowledge on everything related to study hacks and tactics, loans and finance management as a student, and promoting yourself to impress all recruiters and get every job you want.
- Dorm Room Biz – This one started in 2005 by Chris Pund, who wanted to share business-related posts for students willing to start own business while in college. Here you’ll find tips and professional advice on career, leadership, marketing, business ideas, and more.
- Office Politics – Once you land the job, you’ll need to know how to play nicely with your co-workers. Learn from the mistakes of others and avoid office drama!
- Intern Queen – Created by Lauren Berger, this blog is full of actionable content on how to get an internship and prepare yourself to it. Here you’ll also find internship opportunities and can apply to them.
- Job Market Blog at the New York Times – Not only does it help you hunt for jobs but also offers valuable tips, tricks, and office-place insight. Read up!
- Student Hacks Work&Jobs – This blog will give you ideas on all the aspects related to a student job search. Learn how to write resumes, find a part-time job, impress recruiters on job interviews, and more.
- College Recruiter – Here you can register and apply for internships, as well as read tons of useful information on a job search process. Learn what recruiters want from candidates today and do your best to prepare for entering a job market.
Using Social Media as a Job Search Tool
Social media goes beyond funny memes, news, and connections with family and friends. Today, it’s a powerful tool for job search and networking. Your online job for students may be hiding there, so make sure to optimize profiles on LinkedIn and Facebook.
But first, heed a word of warning. Don’t lose your first job for students even before you get it! There are tons of cases when people were fired for their posts on social media, so watch your mouth when writing a joke or your strong feelings online.
Now, let’s break it down into specific social networks and resources you can use for student job search:
- Jordan Friedman, a student at Emory University, shared tips from his personal experience with Huff Post. Read his thoughts here: Job Networking Through Social Media: The Advantages of LinkedIn for College Students. Take no notice of its publishing date: tips and advice there are evergreen!
- The LinkedIn blog also shared exciting news back in 2011: Introducing LinkedIn Student Job Portal: Helping recent graduates find jobs easily. It successfully works today, as well. So create your LinkedIn profile, if you still don’t have any, and start searching for a student job there.
- Facebook is about more than sharing pictures from last night’s frat party. This resource also has great tools for networking and career advancement. Try Jobs on Facebook to get the most out it.
- If you want even more tips on using Facebook for job searching, check out this article: How to Use Facebook to Get a Job from Business Insider.
- This article, 20 Twitter Resources for Job Hunters, is vintage yet jam-packed with useful tips. It includes links to organizations publicizing job postings, people offering career advice, influencers and advisers, and more.
- Need anything more updated? The article from Jessica Murray on How to use Twitter to find a job in 2019 is your must-check then.
Best Websites to Find a Job or Internships
That’s all well and good, but what about particular job searching resources? What job sites to check for career opportunities when in college?
Boards are many, and you may get lost in there when start looking for a job. Some of the most popular include:
If you think freelancing is the way to go, you can check these 71 Job Boards for Freelancers. If you study well and write college papers by yourself (surprise, surprise!), you have the opportunity to try yourself as a researcher or a writer/editor for a college paper writing service.
If you are still in college, looking for a part-time job, you’ll want to check out Snag a Job. This site is also good for finding a temporary job for the summer to hold you over until something “better” comes along.
In addition to the major job boards, you’ll definitely need to check out the sites specifically designed with the college student in mind. These job boards feature opportunities that are perfect for entry-level positions.
Best Resources on Resume Writing for Students
To succeed with a college student job search, it stands to reason that you need a resume. Start working on it as soon as you can, even if you have a little career experience. You can list a school, degree, and any other honors of yours. We bet you have some achievements to share in a resume: volunteer programs, some freelance projects, part-time jobs, or any other activities that come in place when searching the best job for students.
Here are some articles that will help your resume shine.
- How to Write a Resume When You’re Just Out of College
- Recent College Graduate Resume: Sample & Full Guide [20+ Examples]
If those aren’t helpful enough, here is something quite unique: The Damn Good Resume Guide. This fill-in-the-blank guide is a resume workbook for college students and recent grads. It includes ten easy steps for writing a G-R-R-REAT resume (their words, not ours!).
Still not sure or just don’t like reading a lot? Then watch this video guide from Venngage on how to design your resume.
Resources to Help You Prepare for Job Interviews
Once you’ve gone through all the trouble of job search for students, you’ll want to be extra certain the interview process goes as smoothly as possible. Here are some resources for navigating your first post-college job interview.
- First, you’ll need to prepare yourself for the process. Here’s how: 12 Different Ways to Calm Your Interview Nerves (Because You’ve Got This).
- This one will come in handy, too: Ten Ways To Get Over Your Fear Of Interviews.
- Andy Chan, Vice President for Personal & Career Development at Wake Forest University, shares his tips in Top 10 Interview Tips for New College Graduates at Huff Post.
- You might also want to know what you shouldn’t do during a job interview: read 10 College Interview Mistakes.
- Don’t worry, we won’t leave you hanging. If you do commit one of those blunders, there are ways to save face. Read this article: 9 Incredibly Common Ways People Screw up an Interview and do your best to avoid such mistakes.
Your look is as important as what you say during the interview process. Here are some great articles that will help to ensure your appearance is as impressive as your resume:
- Dressing for Interviews, tips from Michigan State University
- The Best Outfits for Job Interviews, from The Balance Careers
- The Best And Worst Colors To Wear To A Job Interview, from Business insider
The Final Step
Ultimately, the job search process leads up to one thing – a job! Here are some end-of-the-road things to consider.
Sometimes, a job search for college student starts before graduation. If you are one who is looking for a job while classes are still in session, here are 12 Things You Can Do in College to Boost Your Resume to consider. Not only will these look good on your resume, but they are also usually pretty flexible with scheduling.
When it is all said and done, you’ll want to follow the steps outlined in this article: 4 Things You Must Do After A Job Interview. Landing the ideal employment opportunity might seem like a job in and of itself! Hopefully, these resources will make the process more bearable – and fruitful!
Do you have any resources we left off the list? Let us know!
Hello, guys!
Thanks for your post. I am so grateful knowing some websites like yours are concern about job boards, This will help many jobless people.
Thank you for providing this knowledge I was searching for this information.
Please provide some more information regarding jobs.