After devoting countless hours of studying, working and spending a lot of money, college students should get their dream jobs immediately following graduation, right?

While this might be true for a select few students, many students will receive a reality check when they realize what actually awaits them after graduation.

The first thing students need to learn is they may have unrealistic expectations about their first real job.

“Often times, students go into the job market thinking they will step into their dream job,” said Mark Peterson, director of graduate business career services.

Peterson said there is a bit of a reality check for some students, and most students will start at an entry-level position.

“The entry-level positions are usually not the most glamorous,” Peterson said.

Students may also have a misconception regarding the pay scale they are expecting immediately following graduation.

“Not all students do, but some may have high expectations for salaries,” said Tammy Stegman, assistant director at Raisbeck Career Services Center.

Because many students will be working in an entry-level position following graduation, their pay will reflect that level. If students expect higher pay, they must do the work needed to earn a promotion.

“Sometimes, students believe their job search begins right before or at graduation,” said Meredith Williams, recruiting coordinator at Business Career Services.

Stegman said finding a job can be a job in and of itself, and many students underestimate the time and effort it takes to be successful.

Students can improve their chances of getting a job following graduation by using opportunities available while they are students.

“Students who use the resources available to them while they are students both have a higher rate of employment and report higher satisfaction with the jobs they accepted,” Peterson said.

Students must realize there are several steps they will need to take to get a job, Stegman said.

At Iowa State, one of those tools is CyHire.

“There are thousands of companies that use the system [CyHire] because they want to hire Iowa State grads,” Peterson said.

Stegman said students should log in often to improve their chances of finding the job they are looking for. If students rarely log in, opportunities can be missed.

Williams said some students begin searching for jobs too late, and it is better to begin that search early.

Stegman and Williams work with students when they are ready to begin their search, but said the earlier a student begins, the better.

“Most universities have a centralized career services office,” Peterson said.

Instead of a university-wide career services office, each college at Iowa State boasts its own unique office.

Peterson said this is beneficial because students can speak to advisers who are experts in the field they are directing.

Career services can be used to help students perfect their resume and help develop networking and interviewing skills. 

“The bottom line is you get jobs by talking to people,” Peterson said.

A student applying for a job should reach out to contacts they may know at the specific company. If they do not know anybody at the company they are applying for, students should use tools available to help find connections.

Stegman said LinkedIn can help students connect to people and alumni in their desired industry to give them a leg up on the competition.

A higher percentage of job searchers obtain employment from networking rather than just applying for jobs blindly over the Internet, Peterson said.

“If you know somebody in the company, you can do a follow-up, or you could use those connections as a starting point,” Stegman said.

Students also can struggle to decide if a graduate degree is the right career move. For some majors and career areas, those higher degrees are necessary for a specific job. However, students should think twice before jumping into graduate school.

“Most hiring authorities would prefer that you graduate and get some experience first,” Peterson said.

While a graduate degree may help obtain a higher position, it is more beneficial to get real job experience first. Right out of college, most employers are looking for experience and not necessarily very highly educated students with no experience, Stegman said.

Getting a job following graduation is not as scary as most students think, as long as they follow important steps to be successful.

Even if an internship is not required for your major, you should still use the opportunity to improve your marketability to future employers.

“Having an internship can also help students figure out what they are looking for,” Williams said.

Stegman said employers will be looking for grades, involvement in the university and work experience, all of which can be attained while still in school.

“Getting involved is going to open doors for you,” Stegman said.

ISU students who earned a bachelor’s degree during the 2012-13 academic year had a 94.9 percent placement rate within six months of graduating. Students who take the time to get involved and put their effort into the job search have a great chance to land a job.

“The key thing for students is to have a realistic set of expectations at graduation,” Peterson said.