Graduating senior feeling hopeless

NovaLynnx
Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:21:18 +0000

I can’t speak for your qualifications and resume since I do not know anything about them. However - did you know that most jobs are filled before they are ever even posted? Networking effectively and building lasting professional relationships is crucial, but also difficult to do fresh out of college when you don’t have a lot of professional experience.

Take the advice listed above and also join LinkedIn. You may want to consider contacting someone in a position you’re interested in and seeing if they’ll have lunch or coffee with you one day to talk about current hiring trends in the field, and other information you might find useful for an interview or to further educate yourself on the type of work.

Despite qualifications, likability also has quite a bit of influence on decisions. There may be several equally qualified candidates, but the hiring manager may also be looking for someone they personally get along with to ensure smooth interactions and workflow. They will be looking for the right personality for the company’s culture.

Make sure to do your homework on the companies you interview for. Make sure you are friendly and likeable, not just good at responding to interview questions. Getting feedback from recruiters is great, but networking and having referrals could overcome fewer qualifications. Maybe seek out more internships that are directly related to the work you’re trying to find. Some places offer internships to recent grads, not just current students, although they are more difficult to find and don’t pay as well as a “real” job in the field.

I agree with the above post about being picky with your first job. Chances are, you’re only applying to places you’re interested in - but if you get desperate, do not continue lowering your standards until you are applying anywhere that’s hiring. You will want a company that you will be happy (or at least content) working for, and if they offer advancement opportunities you’re interested in, even better.