So, you don’t have a job yet
You graduated in May, and it is September, and you don’t have a job yet. Maybe you took the summer off or have been looking for a job but with no luck. What should you do?
You likely visited the career services center at your alma mater when you were enrolled in school. Perhaps you received assistance with your resume and techniques for your job search. I encourage you to reconnect with career services. Get a list of all alumni who live near you or in the city you would like to work in. Call and/or email everyone on the list regardless of who they work for. Follow up if you don’t get a response. Ask for 30 minutes of their time by phone or in person, if that makes sense. The purpose of these calls or meetings is to introduce yourself, learn a little about the alum, and ask if they can help you with your job search or if they know someone who can. Follow up with a note of thanks. Likewise, call and/or meet with your parents’ friends, or the parents of your friends. The strategy is the same as meeting with alumni. Making that call or sending the email can be daunting but trust me, all these people will want to help you. Just do it.
If you can afford to do it, and already planned to do so, enroll in graduate school. When my oldest graduated in 2012 with a degree in English, the job market was not good. While she worked part-time in various jobs, she completed her master’s degree in communications. The key is to study something that will benefit your future career. You can still search for a permanent position and transition to online or night classes once you are hired.
You might know what your dream job is or your dream city to live in and you should not give up on those dreams, but it might be time to think short and long-term. In the near term, you might need to take an entry-level job in an industry or with a company that will lead to your dream job. Once you have a foot in the door, embrace all aspects of the new job even if you are not using your hard-earned degree to its fullest. Look for opportunities to do new things and actively volunteer to do them. Be eager. Raise your hand.
Looking for a job is a job. Be organized in your approach with an action plan that includes specific activities with deadlines. If you need help, schedule a free session via my website! Good luck!