by McKenna McKay

Finding a job in today’s world can be daunting, especially if you’re just fresh out of university or college and have no real connections to the outside world. A lot of graduates end up working jobs that have absolutely no relationship to their degree, and this can be off-putting and even depressing for some.

Understandably, finding career opportunities can be difficult, but there are a couple of key things you can do in order to increase your chances of finding a good job.

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Thinking outside the box

A lot of people assume that the most steady path through life is to find a job, stick with it and see where to go from there. However, since most people think this, it’s actually incredibly competitive to try and get a job with a big-name company or brand. As a result, you might find yourself struggling to locate opportunities, and this can be rather depressing.

As a result, it’s a good idea to start thinking outside the box when it comes to career opportunities. For instance, there are endless entrepreneurial opportunities if you’re willing to adapt your skills and turn it into a self-employed venture or freelance gig. It’s a great way to build experience while also earning money from it, and it opens up countless networking opportunities too.

Networking whenever possible

Another key aspect of finding more career opportunities is to network as much as you can. Whether it’s at a trade show, public event or at your existing workplace, networking helps to open your eyes to more business opportunities. Whether it’s with clients that you could potentially work with or even a business partner, it’s a good idea to start networking whenever possible. Here are some tips to help you with that:

• Carry business cards if you attend events and with investors and entrepreneurs.

• Make an excellent LinkedIn profile that you can share with others to help with networking

• Keep a smile on and nurture your relationships instead of pushing for a job opportunity

• Try and learn as much information as you can from each person

Networking requires you to take the initiative, but it’s a fantastic way to open you up to more networking opportunities in the future.

Consider pitching to companies instead

A lot of modern companies like it when someone pitches their ideas and skills even if there’s no active job offer available. For instance, if you’re an accountant and want to look for freelance job opportunities, then you should consider pitching your services to startups around your local area or even online.

In most cases, creative professionals get the most benefit out of pitching their ideas. This could mean speaking to a company to suggest what you could do to change its brand or to offer website design services to a company with a poorly-designed site. There are plenty of opportunities for creatives, but this strategy can be adapted for virtually any skill as long as you describe the benefits to the person you’re pitching it to.