10 Job Search Tools For Recent Grads

The Class of 2013 is the most recent group to face the reality of today's job market. As they venture into the working world, these graduates are learning that unless they chose the perfect combination of majors or know precisely the right people, landing a job is tough.

Fortunately for them (and everyone struggling with unemployment), we are long past the days of paper resumes and mandatory in-person interviews. Applicants can use social media and virtual job boards to research positions, network with professionals and effectively market themselves. Employers customize digital applications, screen resumes for job-related keywords and interview candidates using phones and webcams.

Mobile technology plays a big role. From finding local professionals to preparing for interviews, apps can help with every stage of the hiring process. The competition for jobs is fierce, but those who know which tools to use can get ahead faster.

AfterCollege is a website designed to help recent college graduates find job openings based on their majors. It's particularly useful to those who chose their fields of study based on personal interest, without a particular career path in mind. "The problem that a lot of students have is they don't know what to search for," explained Roberto Angulo, CEO of AfterCollege, of the post-graduate job hunt.

Angulo was inspired to create the website 13 years ago as a Stanford undergraduate going through the job application process. He wanted to create a singular place where students could go to find job openings that were relevant to them based on their selected major/s.

Users of the site don't have to worry about entering particular keywords or skills, which other job boards require. They simply enter their university, major, and graduation year to receive a customized list of jobs that are relevant to them based on their field of study. "It's like Pandora for jobs," Angulo said, comparing it to the popular Internet radio website. Users will certainly find similarities between the two. Like Pandora, AfterCollege allows users to rate their job listings based on whether or not they liked the results.

It wasn't until 2011 that AfterCollege began to offer its current model. It features jobs from over 20,000 companies and partners with 16,000 academic programs nationwide to create a comprehensive selection of employment opportunities for job-seeking college students.

Whether you're looking for your first job or thinking about switching careers, many mobile tools will aid your search. These useful websites and apps will guide you.