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Sometimes lengthy articles are a pain in the butt to get through when all you want is some quick advice. There?s a lot that goes into finding a job and ultimately creating a successful career: writing your resume and cover letter, finding opportunities, applying, interviewing and landing the job. So, we?ve decided to compile a list of 32 quick and dirty career facts and tips to help you find your way using three sentences or less:

Social media is becoming increasingly prevalent in the average individual?s life. Think about how often you check your phone throughout the day. It?s become mechanical, in a way. We check so much that we don?t even realize just how much time we spend with our mobile device in hand and our thumbs scrolling lazily through our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds. If you actually tracked just how much time you are on these platforms, I think you?d be surprised with your total time spent each day.

So, you know you need to work at least one learnership before diving into the deep end post-graduation, but have you ever thought about fulfilling one abroad? Many university students struggle to find a proper learnership, given how competitive it can be to get hired. They often get discouraged when they don?t get called in for a second interview, or even an invite for a first go-around. With options being limited, and with hundreds of peers vying for the same opportunities, you should broaden your search to learnerships overseas.

So, you just graduated from university ? or graduation is right around the corner ? and you are preparing yourself for your grand entrance into professional life. You?ve done your due diligence by working learnerships, involving yourself in extracurriculars, and getting good grades over the course of your undergraduate career, and you?ve either got a job lined up or are still on the hunt.

Interviews are challenging. How do you convince someone to hire you for a job? That you?re the best candidate they?ve got? How do you maintain your composure while presenting your best self? Well, hate to break it to you but, phone interviews are an entirely different beast. How do you convince someone of these things when you?re not even meeting in person?

Where should I apply? How do I find job openings? How do I make my resume stick out over the hundreds of others? What if I don?t get any offers? What if I don?t land the job of my dreams?

With so many hows and what ifs when it comes to applying for jobs after college, you?d think that we?d do everything within our power to set ourselves up for success. However, university students tend to make some big mistakes that make it pretty hard to kick off their careers.

There is no denying that job hunting is difficult. Steer clear of these mammoth career and job search mistakes and you?ll better your chances of getting hired after graduating:

1. Not Networking

Many students don?t bother building their network until after they?ve graduated, not realizing what a valuable tool it could have been for the job hunt. They search frantically and apply for jobs willy-nilly when they could have reached out to their contacts for help from the start. The truth is that students with a network are more likely to get hired than students who are without. That?s why you should take every opportunity to meet people within your industry of interest and keep their contact information on-hand for when you are ready to seek employment. Many jobs go unadvertised, as companies first put feelers out within their own network for recommendations before opening the door to random applications. Don?t forget that your network is not limited to industry professionals, but open to family and friends as well. Your great aunt?s best friend?s son may know of an opening that is perfect for you, so don?t be shy!

2. Not Using The University Career Center

Let me ask you something. If you are on the hunt for a post-graduation job, why WOULDN?T you use the resources available to you? The FREE resources, no less. The purpose of a university?s career center is quite literally to help students find and land jobs. Job searching can be really hard! Especially when you are trying to finish up your final semester at the same time. A career center can help you search for openings, teach you interview skills, mentor you, notify you of career fairs, revise your resume and cover letter and more. If you haven?t already, contact your school?s career center to see how they can help.

3. Waiting For The Dream Job

Hate to break it to you, but your first job will not be your dream job. Chances are your second and third jobs won?t be either. Millennials sometimes live in a fantasy world, thinking that they are entitled to hefty salaries, luxurious offices, and managerial roles straight out of university. Unfortunately for most, this is not realistic. New grads spend too much time looking for the perfect job. Setting the bar high for yourself and having big goals is great, but don?t let those dreams keep you from accepting a job that will teach you skills that you can?t learn in a classroom, and give you experience that will look great on your resume. Your first job will function as a vehicle toward your perfect job, and will likely come along much sooner than you think. Just remember, we all have to start somewhere!

4. Settling

While you shouldn?t wait around for your dream job, you also shouldn?t settle on a mediocre or bad job just because you?re anxious to be employed. We understand the need to make a living but you are allowed to be picky. Don?t take a job just for the paycheck, and don?t take a job that?s outside your field just because you?ve not received offers within? yet. The jobs you hold before you ?make it big? are the ones that are going to function as your stepping stones. You will do some dirty work, you will pick up new skills, and you will begin to understand the inner workings of your industry. Never settle. Hold out for the jobs that will get you where you want to be.

5. Sending Generic Resumes and Cover Letters

You should always have an up-to-date resume and cover letter but you should never submit them without tailoring them to the job you are applying to. No job is created equal and your applications should reflect that. Show the hiring manager that you read and understood the job description by incorporating the keywords and skills that they are looking for. Remove any bullet points that are not relevant to the position (courses you took, part-time jobs you worked, and any space-filler proficiencies) and think about what you have to offer that would be useful to the company. You are essentially marketing yourself, so sell it!

6. Not Following Up

Like we always say, you are one of many people looking for a job. Sending in your resume and cover letter is simply not enough. After submitting, FOLLOW UP. Don?t expect your application to magically land at the top of pile. Wait a respectable 72 hours and then call to confirm receipt and to re-express your interest in the job. You must also follow up after an interview, with a thank you note.

7. Putting Off The Learnerships

Too many students think they can just wait another semester before working a learnership; that they have plenty of time and that if worse comes to worse, their grades will matter more. This is perhaps the biggest mistake of them all, because learnerships mean everything. Yes, your grades are important to a hiring manager, but your experience and skills truly mean more because that?s what will help you get the job done. There is no such thing as starting too early. We?d advise that you start looking into learnerships as early as high school, and if not, the summer after your freshman year.

Taking the time to work learnerships will make the job hunt easier, your network bigger, and your chances of getting hired greater!

Not every learnership is created equal. Some students are fortunate enough to land a gig where they not only get to function as an active member of the team but walk away with a potential job opportunity. Others commit to a learnership that somehow ends up being a far cry from what they signed up for.

So, what do you do when your learnership is not all that it?s cracked up to be? What happens when you aren?t taught what you were promised, or when you end up being the errand runner rather than your superior?s right hand?

Here are 5 ways to make the best out of a poor learnership experience:

1. Review your job description

It?s not uncommon for learnerships to veer off track as supervisors and employees get wrapped up in their own to-do lists. Things are looking good until suddenly, you are left with projects that don?t even last you until your lunch break, or worse? nothing at all. In order to avoid being the go-to coffee girl, be aware of what your job description entails and don?t be afraid to remind your manager(s) what you were offered when you accepted the learnership. Or, if you don?t seem to be picking up all the skills that you expected, compare your daily task list to the job description and figure out where you need to focus more or less of your time. Remember, this is YOUR experience and your future on the line? not theirs.

2. Speak up

It can feel a little bit funny to say what?s on your mind, especially to a supervisor that you want to impress, but it?s a must if you?re going to make the most of your time on the job. Learnerships are often only a couple of months long, so it?s vital that you set the stage for what is sure to be a whirlwind experience. If you are not learning what you need to learn, if you?re feeling mistreated or underutilized, or if you are being told to do grunt work that you did not sign up for? speak up! Your boss is not a mind reader and likely just needs to be told that things are not going well.

You may consider treating the situation as if it were a real job. If you were working for this company full-time and didn?t have any desire to look for another job, what would you do? Just deal with it? No! You?d do what you could to make it better. After all, you have to go in every day for the foreseeable future, so you might as well fix what?s broken. Request a meeting and lay it all out there, while remaining positive and explaining how you?d like to help the company succeed. Stick up for yourself; you are your own best advocate.

3. Explore other options

Perhaps your supervisor is too tied up to think about how you may help beyond filing away boxes of old paperwork. Or maybe, you?ve spent more time twiddling your thumbs than doing anything productive. The only way you can get out of a situation like this is to ask for more. Start with your supervisor. First, find out if he or she may need your hands, and if not, suggest exploring another department until they?re ready to use you.

?I am all caught up with Project X. Do you have any other tasks that I can take on??

?I know you?re swamped with the annual report. Can I help you organize any of the data? I am pretty good with Microsoft Excel.?

?I noticed that Manager X was working on Project Y. If you don?t have anything else for me to do today, do you mind offering my assistance??

The company you work for is supposed to teach you as best they can, but there will be times when you have to take the reins and steer yourself toward your desired end goal. You will likely find that your supervisor was simply too occupied in their work that they didn?t realize how much of a help you could have been

4. Take the bad and think about how to make it better

Some of the best experience you can get is bad experience, because it teaches you how to and more importantly, how NOT to handle certain situations. From how to treat your fellow employees to how to handle difficult customers? it all boils down to proper experience! Also, tasks that seem negative may help you come up with ways that they can be performed more efficiently. Often, a fresh perspective is all a company needs to transform a not-so-effective method into a well-oiled machine.

5. Look at the bigger picture

?Finally, think BIG. No one goes through life with the perfect professional life. If it was perfect, then you wouldn?t have many opportunities to learn, right? Sometimes you just have to do the dirty work with the knowledge that you will eventually be the one calling the shots. Trivial, repetitive, boring tasks make the more challenging projects more exciting, and they make you appreciate those who work beneath you that much more? because you?ve been there. At the end of the day, it?s all a learning experience.

Learnerships are meant to help students discover where they belong. A negative experience may compel you to research other areas to find your best fit, or it may ignite a fire that pushes you to find a company that will offer you the experience you deserve. No matter what, it will help shape you as a person and as a professional in the long run.

If you are in the exploratory phase of your professional life, job shadowing can be a great way of figuring out which path to take. The beautiful thing about it is that it doesn?t force one to commit to an entire semester or summer of work, when he or she may simply be trying to decide whether they?d be interested in pursuing a learnership in that field. It?s a brief educational experience that may reap a lot of benefits, if you do your best to maximize your time.

What is job shadowing?

There is something to be said for getting hands-on experience, and job shadowing is an incredible way for young students to dip their toes in a potential role. Job shadowing involves following a professional around throughout their daily tasks to get an idea of what his or her role entails. From sitting in on meetings to assisting with tasks, a shadow can get the ?day in the life? experience. This can take place over the course of one day, or more, depending on what the student is hoping to get out of the experience and what kind of time a professional is willing and able to provide.

To understand the position at its height, a shadow may inquire as to what time of year their professional of choice is the busiest, or when he or she may have an interesting event or meeting going on; something that allows them to really observe key tasks and actions.

What can you get out of it?

1. You get to envision yourself in the role. As students, we dream of being doctors, veterinarians, artists, entrepreneurs, engineers? you name it. Many go through a rolodex of interests before they really find their calling, and job shadowing truly helps one figure out where they belong. To see someone you look up to literally do what you want to spend your professional life doing AND to be given the chance to contribute puts a shadow in a unique position that may really be the catalyst for their future. Or, observation may make one completely change their mind.
2. You get to network. Like a learnership, being a shadow gets your foot in the door and gives you the opportunity to create relationships with future references. Having someone that can vouch for you is essential when you are applying for jobs, whether you are seeking a role at a different company or you are trying to get hired for a position at the company for which you shadowed. This is particularly true when you?ve made a good impression on the person you are paired with. Remember, there are hundreds of other people looking to land the same job as you, so references can go a long way.
3. You?ll learn lessons. Many learn what?s right and wrong by observation and experiences; what to do and what not to do. Being in real life situations allows a shadow to see both the good and the bad of job, walking away with lessons learned. Whether they see mistakes in real-time or the team learns that certain practices are not as efficient as they could be? it?s all educational. The beauty? You?re just there to learn.
4. You get to understand the way things work. There is so much more to a position, a team and a company than meets the eye. You may see yourself as a corporate lawyer but not realize how the tier system works within the law office walls. Who reports to whom? How are tasks prioritized? How frequently do team members attend meetings? Are their cliques? What are the office rules? Is there room for growth? While you may not end up working at the company where you shadow, observing general office dynamic will help you prepare for situations at other locations. Being aware of what to watch for and how to act will put you at a great advantage when something arises at a future job.
5. You?ll learn what managers look for on resumes and applications. There?s nothing like being flat out told what someone wants or needs. Who wouldn?t want to know EXACTLY what a hiring manager is looking for as he or she sifts through hundreds of applications. You?ll learn the keywords that stick out, what skills are desired, what points are more important than others, and what makes one resume stick out more than another. In the end, you?ll be ready to write a resume and cover letter that sells!
6. You can get your questions answered. What about the position are you curious about? What does it take to advance one?s career to this point? You?re there to determine whether it?s something you can see yourself doing, right? You?re there to learn. Ask questions. All of the questions. This is not the time to be shy. This is the time to learn as much as you possibly can! Not only will you get the answers you need to decide what to do next, but you will leave a great impression. They are taking the time to teach you and will appreciate your interest. Be sure to ask insightful questions that will aid your efforts in the future.

Some questions to consider:

• What did you study in college? Are there any particular courses or training you would recommend?
• What was the first position you held in this field?
• How long did it take you to get to where you are now?
• What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
• What is the easiest part of your job?
• Do you have goals in sight? What do you hope to accomplish within this role and is it in reach? If so, how do you plan to get there?
• Do you know of any opportunities in this spectrum that I should explore?

The opportunities are endless! If you have the chance to shadow someone who is living your dream? do it!

So you?ve landed a learnership interview at the company of your dreams and the date is fast approaching. Apart from what you are going to say to sell yourself, have you thought about what you need to bring, other than yourself?

Here are the top 10 things you should bring to your interview:

1. Your Resume. Sure, your interviewer has already seen your resume (I mean, it?s why you landed the interview to begin with? right?), but you should still bring a hard copy on the big day. Bring enough copies for each person you will be meeting with, and an extra one for yourself to use as a point of reference if you need. Chances are you will be talking about your work experience for a large portion of the interview, so make a point to reference relevant line items and how they apply to the position you are trying to get. If you aren?t sure how many people you will meet, bring 3-5 copies? in color, if there is any.
2. Directions. If you haven?t physically been to the location, bring directions so you don?t run into any confusion along the way. Also, be sure to note what floor and suite you should go to, if applicable. Not knowing where you are going is not worth risking a late arrival!
3. A list of questions. As we?ve preached previously, it is incredibly important to ask questions during your interview. If you don?t have questions, you?ve not done enough research on your potential employer. Interviewers live for interviewees who have solid questions to ask. A proper interview isn?t just a drilldown of the candidate, but also a drilldown of the company! If the interview goes both ways, you will not only feel more comfortable, but you will also impress whomever has the pleasure of meeting with you. It shows interest, dedication and professionalism. Be sure to get specific and avoid only asking the basics such as ?When would the learnership start?? and ?Can I get university credit?? Have a diverse list of questions to show that you?ve done your research and know a thing or two about your future place of employment.
4. A notebook and pen. It?s easy to forget small bits of information during an interview, so take notes as you go. Not only will you have something to reference, should the company decide to pursue you further, but you will also look good. Interviewers like to know that you are paying attention and that you care enough to jot down major talking points. It shows that you are serious about the job and not just half-listening to what they are saying.
5. A list of references. Some companies don?t require that you provide a list of references, but it doesn?t hurt to have one on-hand in case they spring it on you at the end of the interview. This list should be comprised of 3-5 people that you?ve worked with in some professional capacity, who can speak for your work ethic and personality. This may be a former employer, a teacher, or someone senior to you that you have volunteered with. If you aren?t asked for a list of references, provide it anyway to show that you?ve come prepared.
6. Your portfolio. If you are interviewing for a more creative position, it would behoove you to bring samples of your work. This will help your interviewer(s) visualize your creative abilities to see if they match with the company?s brand and goals. Artwork, graphic design, spreadsheets, models, clips that have been published, websites you?ve designed, etc.
7. Notes. If you did your research on the company, you should have some notes on what you learned. Bring these with you so that you can study them while you are waiting to be seen (because you should be early enough that you have to wait to be called in!). It?s also OK to use these during your interview in conjunction with your list of questions. They don?t expect you to memorize the company objective but they do expect you to have an idea of what they are all about. Having your notes in front of you will only help make you look good ? and will keep you from stumbling over your words if you happen to forget what you were going to say!
8. Identification. Depending on where your interview is, you may be required to provide security with an ID in order to get a guest pass. This is typical at companies that are in a more corporate environment.
9. A briefcase or professional looking bag. You?re going to need to put all of these things somewhere, right? They might as well be kept in something business-like. This will make you look much more professional than you would if you simply carried all of your stuff in your arms. If you don?t have one, don?t hesitate to ask a close friend or family member to borrow one of theirs for your interview.
10. A good attitude. This is by far the most important thing you can bring to an interview. You may have all the bells and whistles on paper, but your attitude can make or break your chances of getting that second interview. Part of the reason companies ask candidates to meet in person is because anyone can have a beefed up resume and anyone can sound good in a cover letter or email. An interview is often meant to see how you would fit in with the rest of the team. Are you positive? Easy to communicate with? Do you take verbal constructive criticism well? How do you manage yourself under pressure? If you go in with a negative attitude and no confidence, how can you expect to sell yourself on the position? You can?t. Be positive, show real interest in the company, and be 100% confident in yourself and your abilities.

Best of luck!