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Right after graduation, or even before, students are often on the lookout for new jobs in order to get a foot in the door and start working. However, there are a few more steps that stand between college and a job, such as searching for a job, getting and nailing an interview, negotiating your salary and being prepared for day one.

This might be intimidating at first, but by taking this process one step at a time, it can help relieve any stress and make for a more enjoyable interview and job search experience. Starting with the job search process, there are many do’s and don’ts. Hailey Schilling, a talent attraction specialist who is part of the hiring process for Telligen here in Des Moines, had useful tips of her own. 

“LinkedIn is your best friend, and yes, we do look over cover letters,” she said. 

As far as do’s and don’ts go, Schilling has some good tips and reminders to keep in mind.

The first is to make sure your resume speaks to the job you are applying to. For example, pull buzz words from the posting, and sprinkle them throughout your resume. At this point in the process, companies put resumes through a database to screen out those that don’t have buzzwords. You want to make sure the recruiter or hiring team that is reviewing your application knows right away that you are qualified.

The next advice Schilling gives is to research the company and team you are interviewing with. Check out the company website and anything Google may bring up (articles about the organization, for example). Also, research who you are interviewing with. Using the buzzwords you found and the research you did, write a cover letter. 

“I promise we review those,” Schilling said about cover letters. 

This is your opportunity to stand out from other candidates. The interviewees may often ask … ‘What makes you a good fit for the position? Why should we hire you over the others who have applied?’ Take the time to be build a thoughtful cover letter that answers these questions.

According to Schilling, it’s also important to be responsive. Be sure to check your emails and voicemail daily so you can respond within 24 hours to an interview request. Also, make sure you are as flexible as possible with times you’re available to interview.

Before an interview, it’s a good idea to prepare questions for the company. Ask about the position, company, culture, etc. Thoughtful questions can help you stand out among the rest. And, of course, don’t be afraid to ask questions throughout the interview as they come up.

If you are to get an interview, send a thank-you follow-up letter. Thank whoever scheduled the interview and whomever you met with. Reiterate your excitement for the position and why you are the right person for the job.

Another common question is based around the resume. Should you or should you not bring a resume? According to Charity Noe, HR business partner of Windstream, the answer is yes, you should bring one.

“It shows you are prepared,” Noe said. “Some companies do panel or pair interviews to get multiple perspectives on candidates.” 

Schilling said the first thing to avoid is being late to an interview — show up 10 minutes early, and scope out the location ahead of time so you know where you’re going. First impressions are everything. If you’re late, the employer may think you will always be late, and your chances of getting the job will be much lower than someone who shows up early to the interview.

If you make it to the interview, do not overshare during it. Hiring teams don’t need to know anything too personal about you in initial conversations. Also, make sure to be positive throughout the interview. If you have something negative to say about a past employer, for example, do not take a bashing approach. There is an eloquent way to speak about bad experiences. 

The next thing to keep in mind is to not get disappointed or upset if you are turned down for a position. Instead, ask for honest feedback, and learn from it. It is important to understand that you will not get everything you apply or interview for, so it’s all about making each job search a learning experience.

Once you are offered a position, the topic of salary will most likely come up. Just know that it is normal and OK to negotiate if you don’t feel like the offer was high enough for your potential or qualifications. 

This is something that should be done in the most professional way possible. There are just a few things to keep in mind. It is important to allow the employer to bring this subject up first in conversation. When this conversation does arise, remember to think through a response if salary history is brought up, as this could affect how much you will be offered for the new position. 

The first step to negotiating is inquiring about the salary range for the position. 

“To negotiate a higher salary, point out the skills, knowledge and experience you bring to the company and the position, and don’t be afraid to ask for the salary you are targeting,” Noe said. 

You should expect the company to bounce back with a lower offer. Often, they will bring up all of the benefits and compensation included in the job such as commission, 401k plans and more. 

“Be prepared to justify your salary request and counter with your reasons why you are worth what you are asking,”  Noe said. “Remember, if you don’t ask, the answer is always no.”

This is a good point to remember; you don’t know unless you ask. Sometimes this can be nerve wracking at first, but it’s always a good idea to try. Know your worth and what you’re capable of because in the end, it may pay off. 

From this point, say the company you’re interested in offers you a position; there are helpful tips for the first day on the job. 

Noe suggests, “Be flexible. A good company will have an orientation checklist and plan for their new employees, but snags like systems access delayed, unexpected absences of employees planned to conduct job shadowing, etc. can throw you off,” Noe said. “Offer solutions or ask is there anything you can help with when there is downtime. Employers value a strong work ethic, energy and enthusiasm.”

By keeping these helpful tips in your back pocket, this could help you with that interview or even first day working at the job of your dreams. Looking over and practicing some of these tips can help out a lot, too. A lot of the time, we hear how nervous people are about interviews because they want everything to go perfect and, of course, to get the job, but remember if things don’t work out the first time, stay positive and learn from the experience. Be yourself, and think about what you hope the outcome will be. 

Experience is the true key to success here. In a world where the population is high and a college education is becoming increasingly common in the job market, each person should find something that sets them apart from the rest of the applicants. In some cases, the thing that sets one person apart from another is their connection to the job and who they know that already works there; it never hurts to have connections. But for the most part, it comes down to their presentation, flexibility, interview skills and experience in the field in order to be the No. 1 person for the job.