Fresh Graduates, Let's Get you Hired

"Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle"

- Napoleon Hill

I am here to share and discuss a few important things for fresh graduates that may help them in carving their way to their dream job, especially in Pakistan. I will try to cover all the major areas that fresh graduates must focus on, but most of the time I will be thinking as an engineer.

Be Grateful: The most important thing is to be grateful for what you have achieved - graduating from a reputable institution like FAST-NUCES after 16 years of education. Be grateful for the opportunities you had to fight for your rights, develop good communication skills, explore new dimensions of engineering, and for the memories of celebrating good times and sharing problems with teachers and classmates. Above all, be grateful for the "Quality Time" you spent in class and on campus!

Stay Positive and Be Strong: There are things in life that everybody goes through, and these situations don't change for most of us. We all face challenges and end up carving our own paths, but these paths don't always lead us to where we want to go. You will likely have job applications turned down, and people who are less capable than you may get the job instead. But don't let that discourage you. Don't let temporary setbacks damage your self-confidence or sabotage you permanently. Continuously hone your skills and strive to become a better version of yourself in every aspect of your life. And most importantly, be your own motivator

Create a Superhero Resume: A resume is the most important aspect of a job application as it is what will either get you noticed or ignored. Follow these easy steps to create your own Superhero Resume:

1. Use a simple and professional format for your resume (I prefer the Stanford University or Euro format)
2. Be honest and list what you know and have done in the past.
3. Be a good storyteller and make sure to cover all the required skills and qualifications listed in the job description that align with your experience.
4. Go the extra mile by updating your resume for every new job opportunity.
5. Focus on what you have learned from your past assignments/internships and how you can apply that to the new employer.
6. Use action verbs and choose your words wisely.

If you have limited experience, use your experiences in student organizations to show your skills in communication, team-playing attitude, and management. If you have no internship or work experience, seek out opportunities to gain experience by visiting construction sites, offices, and contractors. Ask if you can work for them for free in order to gain experience. Show commitment and hard work and you may be hired.

You can also improve your resume by learning new software, reading articles and writing papers, working on your communication skills, and getting certifications. Do whatever is possible to create a decent, good-looking resume that will catch the attention of the employer.

Below is a reasonable good example of resume.

Get your Cover Letter and Cover Email On Board: It is definitely a bonus if you have a good eye-catching cover letter and an engaging email. work on it and keep it with you. (Click Here for Help)

Get Connected and Use your Network: Stay connected with your Fellows and use personal links, Social Media, LinkedIn and References to get to know your Alumni, Contracting Firms, Consulting Firms and Job Opportunities. Stay Updated with latest job opportunities by checking out newspapers (Especially Sunday editions), Career Websites, LinkedIn, Friends and Teachers. 

Connect to your Alumni and ask them nicely to be your referee. Discuss with them your abilities, interests, experiences, and attributes, may be over a cup of coffee, and get them on board with you to get your dream job. 

Don't forget to Take Allah Almighty with you. Pray and share your worries with "Razik" and he will answer you prayers. 

I have tried to cover up all the basic things which a fresh graduate lack or look for while applying for the first job. I hope it helps you for your job hunting. I will share various companies in Lahore, Islamabad along with contacts so that you can go for the In-person drop as well. Good Luck and Stay Connected. 

Muhammad Asadullah

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