Congratulations! You have earned your degree and are looking to put your education to use. Here are some tips motivated graduates can use to increase their chances of finding a job and starting their career.

Gain some relevant experience through internships and volunteering. Many businesses look to recent graduates to fill their internships. They have the book knowledge and internships offer a chance to put what they learned to use and gain hands-on work experience. Internships or volunteering at a company in your field can give your resume experience clout and are a great ways to start making professional contacts and build your network.

Establish an online presence. Creating a profile on the professional networking site LinkedIn can help recent grads get noticed by prospective employers. Your profile should include education history, interests, achievements or awards earned while in school and a brief summary of career goals.

Join a professional organization. This is a great opportunity to network and establish industry contacts.

Use career services. The career services office at the university is an invaluable resource that is plugged into the local community. They can connect you with fellow alumni, many of whom want to help fellow graduates establish careers. This office can also help graduates fine tune their resume and cover letter.

Network, network, network. It’s never too early to start building your network. Maintain contact with professors and internship coordinators. They may learn of job opportunities through their colleagues. Networking is a necessary skill throughout your career, so build and expand your network as you work various jobs along your career path.

The number one way to get work after you graduate is to never stop looking for jobs. Job hunting should be your full-time job. You should be looking for work every single day. Play to your strengths and demonstrate how all your experiences, be it work, college, extracurricular or life in general can relate back to the job you are applying for. Good luck in your job search!

For resume tools, links to best practices and sample resumes, visit www.illinoisworknet.com. To search for work, visit www.illinoisjoblink.com.