5 Main Problems Every Graduate Meets While Looking for a Job
So now that you’ve graduated from the university, passed all the exams, written every test and obtained a diploma, it’s time to actually start entering the world of grown-ups and find a proper job. You’ve thought about how it will go following graduation and now the moment has come. The thing is, it’s not that easy as it seemed to be!
You may not even want to admit the amount of times you’ve sent your resume and got no answer or how many employers rejected your application form. Trust us, we have been there too. Job hunting for college graduates can be very tedious. It takes time, but if you take some extra steps to create a resume and cover letter that stand out, brush up on your interview skills, grow your professional network and be proactive in your job search, you are sure to succeed!
Oh, and you’ll want to steer clear of these common problems graduates face while looking for a job after college:
1. Living a pipe dream
There are a lot of challenges to face when transitioning from a student into the work world, but the major issue lies in the fact that college education doesn’t prepare an individual for real life. Sure, you have the knowledge under your belt from school, but getting and holding a job in the field requires an entirely different set of skills.
In college, you can make mistakes, speak with a teacher and retake the test, prepare additional assignments and that’s it! In real life you will be making hundreds of mistakes and you’ll have no possibility to fix them without consequences. Professors are there to help you succeed, so they are more likely to put up with more than an employer, who has hired you to do a job that meets their professional needs.
2. Acting like a child
Lack of maturity is a major downfall for new graduates. Students who haven’t had a taste of the working world may not have a sense of what real responsibility means. This means fresh college grads may not be able to deal with the daily demands of a job, being told what to do and being expected to do it.
What’s more, when the pressure mounts, they may resort to acting like a child when they don’t get there way. Why? Likely because they haven’t had to deal with authority figures besides their parents and profs, who don’t put the same demands on you as an employer might. This may also cause fresh grads to give up on their job search when things don’t go their way.
Act your age and understand that while things may have been lined up for you during your years of study, in the real world everything isn’t always going to go as planned and there will be times when you face adversary. Handle it like the adult you are!
3. Bad self-promotion
Poor self-image is a widespread problem for graduates looking for a job after college. Most students haven’t figured out how to represent themselves in the best way, both on and offline, highlighting their strengths and masking weaknesses.
It’s common for potential employers and recruiters to Google candidates to suss out their social media presence, so if you want to look professional, you may want to remove those photos of you doing a keg stand at the last frat party. Sure, most employers will understand that workers have a social life outside of work, but they want to ensure they hire the best people possible to represent their company. Google yourself and clean up your social media accounts before you start applying!
4. Inflated expectations
Down-to-earth thinking can be an issue for new graduates, as they may believe that they are entitled to their dream job just because they’ve gone to school for years for it. However, this is not the case at all and it’s a hard reality to face if you’ve got inflated expectations.
Realizing that there are many other factors that go into the hiring process that exceed further than your college credentials will have bring you back down to earth, so you can focus on the rest of the package.
5. No work experience
Last, but not least is a lack of professional experience. When students finish their studies, it’s unlikely that they’ve had had enough time to gain experience in the field – meaning it’s less likely for them to get the desired job compared to a person that is more qualified.
It can be truly challenging, but the best way to find a job after college education is to be open for new experience and be hard-working and motivated enough to make your own decisions. A great way to gain experience is to complete an internship, as it will increase your chances to be hired for a full-time position.
Getting your first job after university is a huge move into a life of adults – where you’re responsible for your own actions, have to count on yourself and take risks. It’s a hell of a task to live through all the job interviews, meet the expectations of choosy bosses and high job requirements. So you’ve got to be stress-resistant, flexible and attentive to details. Remember, that first job is the first step on your professional ladder, so plant your foot firmly.
As job market offers more and more opportunities each day you are to be aware about all the options, trends and demands in the field you wish to be working. Browse the web, practice your presentation speech, research companies of interest, keep in touch with people who may know more than a job ad shows and, of course, always keep positive mood. If you need help with your student resume, there are plenty of services out there where you can pay to have one professionally done.
To sum it up, it’s appropriate to say that finding your first job after post-secondary education is a really complex task, but it’s up to you! It’s you who defines your future path in life and it’s you who is able to challenge yourself every day and make yourself stronger, smarter and, most importantly, happier! Remember, that it’s not the job you live for, it’s life you work for!
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About the Author Alice Berg
Alice Berg is a blogger from Bath, UK, who received master’s degree in Social Work and Applied Social Studies. Now she helps people to find their own way in life, gives career advice and guidance, helps young people to prepare for their careers. You can find Alice on Twitter and Facebook.