Chimuka AddedSunday, October 15, 2017 at 5:26 AM Any tips, advice and recommendations for a entry level Chemical Engineering job search? I am having a really hard time finding a first job. Hi, I graduated with a bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering in May and have been job hunting without any success. I did really well in school and have co-op experience with good references. I apply to several jobs a day but keep getting rejection emails one after the other, even after revising my resume several times. The job search is getting a bit demoralizing as most of my classmates that didn't do well academically or didn't have good work ethics got jobs fairly quickly. I spend at least 6 hours every day applying for jobs in every state and networking on LinkedIn to no avail. I am starting to lose sleep over this as the six month mark since I graduated approaches and everyone else's Linkedin current job tiltles get updated on a weekly basis. I am curious if anyone has any advice on any methods, resources that would help me with my job search or know of any open positions within their companies. Related to Chemical, Internships & Jobs, Opportunities/Challenges for Women, Self Doubt, Unique Challenges Reset Sort By Default Heather Hunt , University of Missouri Answered Wednesday, January 31, 2018 at 4:07 PM Congratulations on earning your B.S. in Chemical Engineering! That's a great start to a great career. I know the job search can be frustrating and difficult, and it sounds like you've been working hard on it for a while. I have a few tips - some of which you may have already done: 1. Apply to the companies at which you did co-ops and internships. If you've already done this, keep reviewing their HR site for openings and apply to those, even if they are tangentially related to what you've done with them previously. 2. Reach out to your contacts at those companies to see if they can help route you to an appropriate opening. If you've already done this, periodically check in with them. 3. Very carefully look over the job advertisement. Often, the first evaluation of your resume is done by a computer, not a person. The program that evaluates the applicant is looking for key phrases that show the applicant has "matched" the criteria. So, if you have the skills and background requested, state that in your cover letter and resume - and MATCH the phrasing. You are more likely to make it to an interview if you exactly match the phrasing used in the job application. 4. Some companies only hire engineers who are already in the area; this is another thing that evaluation programs do - they weed out everyone who doesn't have a certain zip code or city address. Just be aware that this happens. 5. Remember to keep your search broad - both regionally and in terms of field. While some companies restrict hiring locally, many do not. You probably already have a list of companies across the nation that you would be interested in - look everywhere, not just locally, and apply to every job that comes up on their HR sites that you have the minimum qualifications for. Apply to jobs that you may consider outside of your field. 6. Go back to your career fairs and your university's Career Services for help. It is in their interest to help you. Good luck!