How to Secure a Job After Earning a Master's Degree

It took me 7 months post graduation to land a full-time role at Red Hat! Here are 5 things that helped me tackle the current job market and could help you too- 🦋 Tailor your resume- Instead of using the same resume for multiple job applications, tailor it to match the specific job description. Adding keywords from the job description into your resume gives you more chances of getting your resume selected. Focus on applying for 10-15 jobs with a referral and a tailored resume instead of a hundred cold applications. 🦋 Ask for referrals- Reach out to people in the company you are interested in with a friendly message including a small introduction, what you are looking for, your resume and the job link you want to apply for. Be extremely humble with your words since this person is doing you a favor if they decide to refer you. 🦋 Connect with people currently working in the similar role- Once you start getting interviews, reach out to people who already work in similar roles at the company. Ask about their experience working at the company and what was the interview process like for them. This will help you prepare better for your interviews. 🦋 Build a portfolio website- Even if you're not looking specifically for Software Developer roles, building a portfolio website where you can showcase your projects and the work you've done is a great way to stand out. It makes it easier for interviewers to see what you can do. 🦋 Showcase enthusiasm about the role- Interviewers love to see that you're genuinely excited about the opportunity. Speak about how you envision yourself making a meaningful impact. Share specific examples of projects or initiatives that showcase your eagerness to contribute. These simple steps made a big difference for me, and I hope they help you too! Your dream job might be closer than you think! 🚀 #JobSearchTips #CareerAdvice #RedHat #SoftwareEngineer #NewGrad 🎉

Dear May 2025 Grads especially international students, Graduated now.. Excited? Nervous? Wondering how to land a job in the U.S. as visa deadlines loom? Yeah, we’ve all been there. Let’s talk real job search strategy. Here are some out-of-the-box networking + time management tips that worked for me and many others because the "just apply online" route? It’s not enough anymore. Networking tip #1: Become a connector, not a collector Don’t just collect LinkedIn connections. Engage. After every virtual or in-person event, send a thoughtful message: “Hey [Name], I loved your take on [topic]. Would love to stay in touch and learn from your journey.” Then follow their content, leave a meaningful comment weekly. Not just "Great post"—say why it resonated. Real Example? I did this with a speaker from a conference. A week later, they referred me to a role I didn’t know existed. Networking tip #2: DM like a human Cold messaging can work if it’s warm in tone. No one likes “Hi, can you refer me?”. Try this: “Hi [Name], I’m a May 2025 grad, exploring roles in [your field]. Your path at [Company] is inspiring! What advice would you give someone starting out?” You’re not asking for a job— You’re building trust. Jobs often follow. Networking tip #3: Start your own thing No industry events? Create one. Host a 20-minute Zoom chat with peers and invite 1 professional. Call it “Something Creative.” Record it, post snippets on LinkedIn. Now you’re no longer chasing people— They come to you. Time Tip #1: Pick 3 buckets daily Job search feels endless—so make it finite. Every day, pick only 3 things: 10 application 10 follow-up 1-2 learning or networking action Then rest. Your brain needs consistent progress, not burnout. Time Tip #2: Theme your week Mon: Research companies Tue: Tailor resume + apply Wed: Networking messages Thu: Interview prep Fri: Personal branding Sat: Review progress Sun: Rest or reflect Theme = clarity. Clarity = momentum. Bonus Tip: Show your work in public Share your job search journey online. Post about projects, learnings, even rejections. One classmate posted his weekly job goals + learnings. He got a DM from a hiring manager who was watching silently. You never know who’s watching. International students—this road is hard, but it’s not impossible. You just need to play it smart, support each other, and show up consistently. If you’re on this journey, You’ve got this. #May2025Grads #InternationalStudents #JobSearchTips #Networking #TimeManagement #F1VisaJobs #OPT #CPT #CareerGrowth #LevelUp

As I am heading towards the end of my Masters here at UC San Diego, all that I hear from my peers is that they need to work on creating state of the art technical projects, get a Tableau certification to ‘showcase visualization skills’ or perhaps solve a 100 SQL questions yet the topic of securing interviews often goes overlooked. Here’s a summary of what might really help from my recent experience: 1. Do not just scroll on LinkedIn optimize it: Ensure your profile has a professional photo, incorporate relevant keywords in the About and Skills sections, and highlight your top achievements. Keep your profile current and actively engage by sending direct messages and posting updates about your projects or experiences. 2. Effective Cold Emailing: To begin with, that’s how I got a lot of my interviews in today’s market. Directly reaching out to a Hiring Manager / Startup Founder, etc. helps in bypassing the usual pool you enter in via direct applications. 3. Perseverance, Lowering Inhibitions, Ego Dump and Consistency: Job hunting can be discouraging, especially when responses are few and far between. It's a numbers game where persistence pays off. Remember, you only need one successful offer. Continuously apply for positions, engage with recruiters, and refine your skills. 4. Additional LinkedIn Tip from my Journey: A savvy approach on LinkedIn is to reach out to users who frequently interact with content but aren't overwhelmed by a deluge of messages i.e. Recruiters, Content Creators with numerous followers, they have way too many messages to address and your efforts to hear back will be futile. Secondly, shy away from posts that asks or has a lot of "I am interested" comments, they don’t work. Anything that seems too easy i.e. ‘Easy Apply’ on LinkedIn or commenting ‘I am interested’ is probably a waste of time. These are my two cents to improve your job search. :) #interviews #jobs #jobhelp #jobsearch #linkedin #networking #cs #university #datascience