The Post-Grad Journey: The Job Hunt!

June 22, 2010 2:00 pm     Posted in Reality  Charlsie Niemiec g+ page


By Charlsie Niemiec

With a full week in California under my belt, I’ve officially moved in. This move-in was a lot different than any dorm room move-in I’ve done throughout college. Instead of signing for my dorm key, I signed a lease. A real “I’m an adult, I must abide by this contract or I’m legally responsible” lease. In fact, everything I’ve done this past week had a stamp of “Adult” on it, making post-grad a lot different than any undergrad experience.

So, now that I traded my student checking for an everyday bank account, I think it’s time to put some money in there. Maybe it’s my drive to be successful, even when my life is in limbo, or all the California wealth around me, but I have been looking for some kind of job to occupy my time. However, job hunting is a full time job, and it seems like the job market has turned its back on us post-grads.

Nearly every job listing requires three to five years of experience. Uh … I’ve been in college classrooms for the last four years, does that count? It’s kind of scary to think that I spent all this time getting my B.A. degree, only to be told that I need experience to match my degree – full time experience. It seems like entry level positions, which used to require a degree and interest (not a few years of experience), don’t exist anymore. I want to use my skills, so I can build up experience – but I can’t gain experience when I can’t get hired. Some listings I’ve seen even say that if resume don’t show three to five years of job experience in the field, they will be tossed. Yikes!

Like a lot of college students, I have equated experience as being something I’ve gained during my internships. I was told over and over again “internships offer invaluable experiences” and that they were necessary to obtaining any post-grad jobs. It sure doesn’t seem like it now. I’ve had some great internships – but those aren’t going to count as prior experience in any field, and while I think they say “Hey look at what I’ve done and where I was hired as an intern at,” they aren’t offering much of anything else.

While looking for jobs, I have also been on the prowl for internships. When applying to law school in the fall, I feel like it’s really important to have an internship experience during my time off to show that I’m dedicated to hands-on learning. However, the outlook on the internship search is not so good. Maybe it’s just California, but every single internship listing requires that the intern must get “college credit.” Now that I’m not enrolled in school, it seems like all these opportunities are closed off to me. I don’t want monetary compensation for an internship and I don’t need college credit – I just want to learn.

I haven’t given up on the job and internship search yet. In fact, all the little detours that have come my way so far have encouraged me to keep looking for the job that will offer me what I want. If anything, college taught me to be determined in everything I do (whether it’s finishing off a bottle of wine or getting the internship that I want).

And hey, it’s not completely bleak…I have an interview for a part-time babysitting position today – and the mom is taking me out for frozen yogurt with her kids. Free frozen yogurt and a possible reoccurring babysitting job that won’t tax my cash money? At least it’s a place to start!

12 Comments on "The Post-Grad Journey: The Job Hunt!"

  1. caitlin says:
    Tue, 22nd Jun 20109:14 am 

    Good luck with your interview! I have one today too- it's nice to finally get some hope in the employment field.

  2. mara says:
    Tue, 22nd Jun 201011:50 am 

    Good Luck!!! I'm sure you'll do just fine!!!

  3. Megan says:
    Tue, 22nd Jun 201012:01 pm 

    I'm feeling the same way. I opted to wait on graduate school and work for awhile in order to gain some experience. But I'm finding in my job search that employers want at least one year of experience (and some have even said 5 years experience!). How does a person gain experience when they can't even get hired?

  4. Jess says:
    Tue, 22nd Jun 201012:49 pm 

    Frozen yogurt! Sounds like the best job interview ever!

  5. Debbie says:
    Wed, 23rd Jun 20109:12 am 

    OMG!! I read your article and felt as though you have been reading my mind. I am a year out of college and although I have a job, through a family member, I hate it and have been looking for a real job in what I want to do for the past year. I have come across EVERYTHING you just said, from entry level jobs that require 3 plus years experience, internships that require college credit, to grad schools that also require work experience to be accepted. It is a frustrating uphill battle and it sucks.. extremely! All of my friends have great jobs or are in grad school, and I HATE that I have not been able to find a job, especially now that I will be the last of my friends not living in NYC. Ughh!

  6. Meagan says:
    Wed, 23rd Jun 20107:00 pm 

    I am not going to grad school or law school in the fall, but I am in the same boat besides that. HOWEVER, here is some amazing advice I have recently received (some came from a staffing agency for recent grads and some came from a bank president that is a family friend [and no, he can't get me a job :) ]).

    *If a listing says that you have to have a degree and experience, take it with a grain of salt. Obviously if the experience is something out there like 9 years, give up hope on that. If it mentions a few years, though, apply anyway. Sometimes things like that are overlooked because a lot of what they are looking for, you learned in college, it just isn’t mentioned. Sure, you may hear nothing back, but how will you know unless you try?

    *Constantly update your resume and exhaust your school’s resources. If you helped train someone at the fast food joint you used to work at, explain it in a way that shows your drive. An example would be, “Trained a new hire with preparing the dishes and working the cash register.” That obviously isn’t great, but it gives you an idea. Also, don’t use words like I or me in your resume; they already know it’s about you. Use action words.

    *ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS attach a cover letter, and personalize it for the company. I have one that I always go in and change things around on. Be sure to mention the company name, the position, your skills, show that you have drive and initiative, and address it to the head of Human Resources (scour their website for this information). If you absolutely cannot find their name, use “Dear Sir or Madam:” instead.

    *If you land an interview, e-mail or hand write a thank you note to all of those involved in getting you to that interview. What I mean is if you talked with one person in HR, but two DIFFERENT people interviewed you, each one deserves a short, but kind thank-you note. Be sure to send it within 24 hours, too, or you can come off as lazy.

    *Never be scared to wear a suit and even nylons (with closed-toe shoes). It can make a huge difference. Come prepared with extra resumes (I was told 3), examples of your work (which can take the place of real experience), and an unofficial transcript. They may not ask for any of these, but always be prepared. Also, don’t forget to use their name a lot and ask for a business card. It shows that you are actively engaged and interested.

    *Oh, and since you are a graduate, high school experiences don’t exactly count anymore. I was told a lot of students think it does, but unless it is relevant to your current status, leave it out and only mention it if asked. And don’t be afraid to sell yourself on your skills. You’ll either get the job for being so amazing or never hear from them again; what can it hurt to show them your best?

    *I almost forgot this. Come prepared with questions. Three is a good number, but two is okay, too. Aim them toward the position and the company. DO NOT MENTION SALARY, unless they ask you (and you should have done your research on this before going in). Possible questions could be, “What type of personality are you looking for in the ideal candidate?” and “What types of challenges do you foresee someone in the position facing on a daily basis?”

    Good luck, and hopefully all of us will be acquiring positions soon. I’ve had four interviews this summer, but nothing has come of them yet (still waiting to hear back on two).

Tell us what you're thinking...