Has it been hard for you to land a career in your desired field? Well, don’t worry, it’s actually super easy! With this guide, you’ll be hired within the week.

I wish I could tell you it was that easy, but the reality is: it’s not. Many of us have the qualifications, the degrees, and the passion for a career. Still, with the hundreds of applications we put in, and the dozens of replies saying, “We have decided to move forward with another candidate,” it’s easy to question if you’re really good enough. The answer is: Yes, you are. 

Being in your early 20s and transitioning into a career from school is nearly impossible in today’s job market. Artificial intelligence, ghost jobs, and job outsourcing have touched almost every industry like a plague, making entry-level positions almost obsolete. No matter how much you fine-tune your resume or how many words you’ve written for cover letters, there’s a point where it becomes less of a YOU problem and more of a job market problem. Luck has become the game, but I’m going to teach you how to play it a little bit better:

1. Optimize your Resume and Cover Letters

This one seems obvious, but there are some key tricks to make your application stand out a little bit more. First, make sure to submit cover letters whenever a job asks for one, even if it’s considered optional–it’s where you can write your case and market yourself beyond a resume. Second, make sure both your resume and your cover letter are unique for each position and company. This seems like a lot of work, but you can work smarter by having a basic template to follow. Cover letters typically contain an introduction, a section on why you want to work for that company, your job experience, and then a short conclusion. By keeping the introduction, job experience, and conclusion fairly consistent, with minimal fine-tuning per position, you’ll only need to rewrite the reason you want to work for that company. It’s best to keep that section specific, making it clear you’ve done real research into the company and its values. 

For both a cover letter and your resume, match keywords to what’s on the position’s job listing. If the listing asks for someone with strong attention to detail, and your resume has “strong focus on precision and accuracy,” go ahead and switch it to “strong attention to detail” to match. Changing keywords like this may seem tedious, but it’ll help get your resume through ATS (Applicant Tracking System) checkers. 

2. Do Your Research

Beyond researching for your cover letter, it’s important to know the field you want to enter. Not only does this give you more confidence that, yes, this is the field you want to pursue, but it will also teach you what you need to improve on and build your knowledge for applying and interviewing for jobs. What technical and soft skills are recommended for the field? Do you have these? If not, how can you gain these? This includes researching well-known companies in the field, as well as other applicants who have recently made a job. What made them stand out? Research outside roles that you might have experience or skills for, regardless of your degree. You only miss the shots you don’t take, so put yourself out there. 

3. Outside Experience 

Outside experience can make or break your resume, which can be hard to achieve. But a job is not the only way to gain professional experience, and it’s crucial to avoid being stagnant. Here are a few ways to add to your resume:

• Relative part-time positions: If possible, find a job that’s relative to your field. Looking for a job in editorial publishing? Work for a bookstore. Looking for a marketing or sales job? Work in retail. Regardless of any job you hold, always highlight your transferable skills first and foremost—this can transcend a job from basic and boring to relevant and desirable. 

• Internships: Apply for as many as you can, even if you’re no longer attending school. These are one of the most key, desirable forms of early professional experience, and will give you opportunities to network and develop skills needed for the workforce. They can determine your prospects, so there’s no limit to stressing how crucial internships can be. 

• Extracurriculars: Join relevant clubs or organizations in your school and try to obtain leadership positions. This can form lifelong connections with those also hoping to enter your field. Not in school? Then find relevant volunteering positions within your local community, or tutor subjects within your field. 

• Certifications: These can be great if you’re out of school and having trouble finding official opportunities to grow your skillset. Not only are these great for learning technical skills, but they also act as proof of your dedication and effort towards a career. 

• Be Self-Led: Unable to find any of the opportunity experiences on this list? That’s okay, just make one yourself. Develop projects related to your chosen field: begin an online blog, learn a new coding language, or use a homelab for IT learning. Show that you’re not only keeping your skills fresh, but you’re also engaged and enthusiastic about your field—that’ll be the difference between your resume and another’s. 

4. Build your soft skillsets

While outside experience will help you to build your hard skills (job-specific, educated skills), it’s also important to build your soft skills. These include your skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, and more, and are desirable, and often transferable skills, that can be easily practiced in your everyday life. Not only do these come in handy for your resume or cover letter, but letting your personality shine through in a professional, friendly way will help you market yourself during interviews. 

5. Meet People (Networking)

Perhaps an introvert's worst nightmare, being told that networking is the only way to land a job nowadays can be intimidating. However, it is very helpful for getting into an entry-level position, and can improve your skills or applications. Reframing networking as making friends and getting to know others who work in a relevant or parallel position within your desired field can make it a little bit easier. Start with your family, friends, peers, or professors. Most people want to see you succeed, and are willing to lend a hand or,  if they can’t, tell you someone who can—it’s never a lost cause. 

6. Know the best ways to apply

While online job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed can be good for discovering jobs, it’s always better to apply directly to a company’s website. Most companies prioritize those applications, just like they prioritize early applicants, so applying within two days of the listing’s publication is always a good rule to follow. Additionally, research all the different ways your desired job titles can be rewritten, as companies have different ways they’ll brand positions. This will give you a wide range of search capabilities for your job hunt.

Lastly, know that it’s going to take time. Never stop working hard towards your goals, but make sure to give yourself some grace, no matter what others say or judge you for. With the market as it is, it’s difficult for everyone to find a career, no matter how academically or personally successful–it’s not just you. It’s okay to feel discouraged, but failure only comes if you become stagnant in a state of inertia—the time will pass anyway, so keep going. There’s only up from here.