Ask The Job Search Guru: I'm a new grad and can't get a job, help!

Hi Leslie, I recently graduated from college with dual bachelor degrees and have been applying to jobs for a while, but it's clearly not working. I can't even get an interview.

Entry level positions want years of experience. How am I supposed to have that? I didn't work while I was in college or get any internships either. 

And when I apply for higher-level jobs I think I could do, I don't if I'm overqualified or underqualified. All I know is that I can't get a response.

I've even applied to jobs a high school kid could get, but no luck there, either.

Can you help?

New Grad Losing Hope

Hi, New Grad,

First, congratulations on earning two degrees at the same time!

Dual degrees are a major accomplishment and your determination and energy are a good predictor of success for your career.

And getting your first job is always a challenge, but don't lose hope!

You are just dealing with making the transition from college student into the work world, and it's a crowded market, and there are some challenges that may require some mindset shifts and strategic thinking that they didn't teach you in college. 

Here are a few things to know. 

There is a lot of competition for good entry-level jobs. 

Entry-level jobs with high-profile companies are very competitive, often decided long before graduation.

If they are taking applications, you'll probably be competing with people who, in addition to their degree, also completed serious career-related internships and part-time jobs during college.

That's a significant advantage that's hard to beat. And it's frustrating.

If you missed out on internships or other work experience, and it's too late for campus recruiting, then the most expedient solution is to consider a more entry level job... maybe in a less-prominent company... which should be easier to get as long as you are aiming at the level where you are going to be the most competitive. 

The secret is to make sure that you are looking for an entry into the kind of company you want to work for, so your good work in that job will position you for what's next when you're ready.

Your mission for your first job is to get a foot in the right door. 

Your first job can impact your career long-term in a lot of ways. 

It's where you begin building your skills and knowledge of how a business operates... and it's  also where you grow your network and positive reputation that you will help you grow your career. 

So worry less about the job itself and more about the environment, people and culture.  

Look for a company that supports its people's growth, a place you'd feel comfortable.

Be strategic about which entry job sat those companies can put you into a learning situation so you can build skills you need .  

Other things to consider for what could be at play are... 

• Do you have any work experience you aren't sharing? Volunteer experience?  School leadership?
  
  Sometimes people downplay or forget to include other activities or jobs, thinking they don't matter, but showing how you spent time in school can help them feel more confident in you being able to move into a job. 
  
  
• Are your degrees aligned with the jobs you're applying for?
  
  If your degrees are in Quantum Physics and Fine Arts, that might be interesting but confusing if you're applying for an entry-level job in a hospital. Could there be a mismatch with the jobs you are going after?
  
  
• Do you have a career vision in mind?
  
  What's your focus? And have you gotten the skills to prepare for that? The clearer you are about what you want, the better your chances at that kind of job. Without a specific vision of a job or company or environment you want to find, you'll struggle to find the right position.
  
  
• Is your resume really strong?
  
  You might be missing chances to show you know what you're looking for, the skils you have and what you've done that will help you in that role.
  
  And it needs to look professional and modern, not like the old-school templates most colleges tell people to use. Your resume represents you and it has to do that well.
  
  
• Are you taking time to tailor your applications or just applying to a bunch of stuff?
  
  It's important that every application you send is tailored to the job's requirements. If it's worth applying for, it's worth doing right.
  
  The chances of aligning with what a job is looking for without tailoring your resume are small. Take the time to show how you match their requirements if you want to be noticed. 
  
  
• Consider your online presence, too.
  
  Could something be working against you if employers look you up? You now have a public professional persona as you enter the work world, and it's easy for people to check you out, so make sure nothing is there that isn't representing you well.

And stop applying for jobs that a high schooler could do. 

You earned two degrees, which took work and determination, right? Hang onto that a little longer as you focus on this first job search, which can become a foundation of your career.

Don't sabotage yourself by delaying getting a job you want.

Regroup, give yourself a fresh start and try again, this time with new focus.

This is your life. Be picky about what you want. 

 
The launch of your career is an incredible opportunity to choose the direction you want to go. This is in your power. Use it to your advantage. 

(And, in the nicest way possible, I want you to know that a recent grad with two degrees and no work experience is probably not overqualified, so not to worry.)

The work world is different from college, so get ready for some adjustments. 

Be prepared that a new job will have a different pace and less variety than you're used to as a student, with specific processes that you have to follow , all kinds of new software you'll need to learn,  different rules of behavior and communicating in corporate environments, and different measurements of success, as well high levels of accountability and, if you're lucky, valuable ongoing feedback.

And in an entry level job, you'll likely have a fixed schedule and limited flexibility in time off.

And you could find yourself walking into corporate politics or dysfunctional environments, or a situation with little onboarding where you are expected to figure things out. 

And managers won't treat you like professors do. Their performance is being measured by their team, so they may push you to perform and developing a thicker skin is helpful as you learn the ropes. 

Don't underestimate the learning curves in a new job.

A new job means new people, new environments, new systems, new schedules, new deadlines and new goals.

You have to learn new hard skills, soft skills, expectations, and adapt to limitations, interpersonal communications, company politics, organizational structures, processes and so much more.

You'll have big knowledge gaps and will need to face them head on, which is easier if you aren't feeling under performance pressure trying to get up to speed in a higher level role.

"Hitting the ground running" is hard  to handle in an early job, but warming up through a more entry-level job works great.

Give yourself a little time to get up to speed.  

To make it easier on yourself, look for a totally manageable entry-level job in a company that you could see yourself happily working for a few years from now, a company where there is a structure to teach you the basics.

And once you're there, you'll be learning  about the job, the company and the people, and building a foundation, and then you can begin to sharpen your focus for the next step to be ready when it's time. 

Make a commitment to grow your knowledge, connections and reputation. 

The more you learn about how things work, the more smoothly things will go, and the better you will do in your job. 

And when you discover gaps in your hard skills that you can learn, go ahead and do that now.

The more you learn, the more valuable you can be.

And always focus on quality applications.

The best way for you to stand out is with a tailored approach for your resume and communications, accompanied with a human recommendation or referral. (I know, not always doable, but it's what makes a difference in job searches today.)

Take time with your applications and be picky about companies you go after, so you can make yourself more competitive for a foot in the door. 

What a great point in life to be at and so much possible
ahead of you, New Grad.  You can do it!