Finding a job can be scary stuff, but there are plenty of ways to stand out from the crowd, here’s what I’ve learned so far.

1. Complete your Linked-In profile – Whenever you meet someone new, the first thing you should do is look them up on Linked-In and add them to your network. Bonus Points: Start following companies you are interested in to keep up with their new hires, job opportunities, etc.

2. Start a blog – This one may seem daunting and you might feel like you do not have anything new to offer to the blogosphere – that’s OK. Starting a blog will sharpen your writing skills and help you stay in the know. Bonus Points: Try to post twice a week.

3. Get business cards – Sure you can link up with people on LinkedIn, but having personal business cards before you graduate really helps to show you are serious about this job hunt thing. Google Visitaprint coupons and the cost will be next to nothing. If you are looking to design on your own, there are plenty of great creative ideas out there.

4. Attend Networking Events – Join  PRSSA, sign up for things like PRofessional Connection, but remember Atlanta has a thriving interactive marketing community. Tweetups, conferences and organizations like AiMA are always busy.

5. Learn how to build a PowerPoint – This may be a pet peeve of my own, but take the time to learn how to build an effective presentation. If you’re stuck on how to do this, start with SlideShare. Here are a few of my favorites.

6. Make your Twitter account active – Tweet as often as possible to show you’re active in the changing landscape of digital. Be sure to keep it public.. Bonus Points: Join in on weekly chats like #jobhuntchat or #prstudchat and meet new people.

7.  Build a digital portfolio – This may seem lofty, but put your work samples, resumes, elevator pitch, etc. in one place. You don’t have to be a professional coder to learn how to do this. Simple solutions like flavors.me, wix.com or a great WordPress site will do the trick. If you need inspiration, check out my friend Beth’s website, it  served as the inspiration for my own site.

8.  Internships aren’t everything – Sure, you’ll need a few under your belt, but landing that first one can be tough. Seek out campus involvement opportunities. I can honestly say I learned more about running a business and communicating with adults through UGA HEROs than any of my internships. (Insert shameless Join HERO plug here)

This post is the second in a series of posts following the  six-months out of college milestone. It’s a tough world out there, but that doesn’t mean your dream job doesn’t exist, it’s just a matter of finding the right fit. If you have any suggestions or advice for those beginning a search, please share via the comments or email me at kdennihy[at]gmail.com