At this time of year, college students are returning to campus, buying books and selecting classes. It is also the time when Indian students should start thinking seriously about getting a job in May. Afterall most of the students have to think of education loan repayment once they get their degree.

By starting your job search from February 2018 itself, you can be sure that you’ll get a job that will help you kick start your career and earn you degree.

Here are five things that students should do now, to give them a chance to embark on a new adventure in May.

Update your resume

When you start a new job search in USA, the first step should always be to update your resume. Indian students should add the most recent and relevant information, including subject matter and research projects. You must make sure your resume is up to date. This does not mean to include only internships, they must also incorporate class work, and other relevant projects or experiences of the semester. Experiences such as professional follow-up with a teacher or working on campus can be excellent conversation points to demonstrate your strengths, especially if you don’t have years of professional experience.

Make contacts

This is the ideal time to start making contacts. Start by contacting your classmates who graduated last year or the year before.

Once you’ve established that contact with your closest acquaintances, be sure to take advantage of the college’s vocational counseling services. Career centers often have extensive information about alumni, conduct mock job interviews, and can help you in polishing your resume. Especially Indian students should use their service. This is because the language style in USA is different than in India.

Ask them for a list of alumni who work in the company or industry that interests you. Also take advantage of this opportunity to sign up for a mock job interview, because while you’re making contacts, it’s also important to perfect your skills. Mock interviews also help in evaluating your English speaking skills, which is undoubtedly the most important thing employer will look for, after your job specific skills set.

Job alerts

One of the most underestimated tricks when looking for a job is setting up alerts to notify you about the opportunities that may interest you. Monster, LinkedIn and Google offer services that will send you e-mails or notifications to let you know that a job opening has been opened.

Once you receive notice of a job, submit your application without any delay.

When the alerts arrive in your inbox, post immediately, don’t wait. If you see a job, you should apply that same day. Never assume that the job advert will be available too long. There are thousands of applicants for one job post. So be first to apply.

Go after your ideal company

If you have searched the jobs page of the company you would like to work for, but there are no vacancies, you should not to be discouraged.

If the company doesn’t have vacancies available, contact them anyway, because you never know when a vacancy will open and your application remains in their mind.

By contacting the company at the beginning of the semester, you make sure your name is the first thing that comes to mind when a new job is opened.

Post your social skills

Strengthening your social skills will help you prepare for a job in May and it can also be fun. Students can “refine these skills by moving away from their comfort zone. It’s about making small talk, introducing yourself.

This is an entertaining way for young people to have face-to-face conversations with people outside their usual social circles. In the course graduating all students are digitalexperts, and it is more important than ever that they are able to interact in real time and be able to hold a conversation.

Meeting new people and trying new things is also a great way to spend your last few months as a student.