All job searches need to start somewhere. Looking for a position isn’t new to most job seekers, however. As the standards are stiffer and competition greater, completing an internship before you finish college is a necessity. An entry-level job search isn’t significantly different. Rather than a graduation requirement, it’s a standard for life and survival.

In the present, simply having the education and degree is not sufficient for an entry-level job search. Experience, achievements, and quality references are a combination to get you seen and to an interview. The resume for an entry-level job search should include a combination of these: your education and relevant courses and any experience from extracurricular activities, volunteering, internships, or jobs. As with any resume, however, one for an entry-level position must be job-relevant. If you’re applying for an entry-level accountant position, for example, those playwriting courses you took as a sophomore or that part-time job in the college’s cafeteria are tenuously related and should not be listed on your resume.

As you’re new to the job search, know that hiring managers and human resources representatives count every mistake, from a lack of interest to a typo in your cover letter, and see it as a means to remove you from the applicant pool. Near perfection from the start is the best approach to making a positive impression, and a resume and cover letter allow you to do this. Before you apply, proof both of these documents – and even have an additional set of eyes look at them – before you hit “send.”

Interviews have their own set of etiquette, and as an entry-level candidate, you might not be aware of the proper protocol. As a general rule, the interview isn’t all about you – it’s a two-sided conversation. Come prepared with several questions, including company-specific ones, and display your interest, even if the hiring manager appears bored, through body language and the statements you make. Additionally, be prepared with answers for generic questions, such as “Tell me about yourself,” “Why should we hire you?”, and “What interests you in this position?” Preparation, as well, includes arriving in business attire and with multiple copies of your resume.

An entry-level job search involves skills, education, and experience, but some moderate networking certainly doesn’t hurt. Expanding your connections of industry contacts – and people whom you can count on – needs to begin in college. From your professors to friends and family members, knowing someone already may speed up the path to an interview.

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