Graduating College and Looking for a Job

[USF11]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

I'm coming up on the year anniversary of graduating college and I still have yet to get any work experience. Lot of interviews, fair amount of phone screeens and 2nd interviews and recruiters, no job offers (outside of, yup, commission based life insurance). I don't know, I know its only a bachelors, but I thought a Business IT degree was in demand. I had a 3.4+ GPA and I call after I send out resumes but I haven't even been able to get a Best Buy or Micro Center gig. Since when was a bachelors not good enough to be a bank teller? I really wanted to get into a entry level career and figured with Northern Virginia booming with businesses and DC a metro ride away, i'd have found something after mulling over a couple offers. Maybe its me.

This is the norm right now.

Unemployment is at all-time high levels. Nearly 15% in places. The Kicker to that stat though is people who have no work history or people out of work more then a year arent included in that 15%. So Unemployment could be anywhere from 25%-35%.

Just got to keep your head up and try to network as much as possible, turn the stones over other people arent even considering.

[Tha_Kid]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

Networking is definitely my weak area. I suppose that is something that could use a renewed focus.

[USF11]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

Networking is definitely my weak area. I suppose that is something that could use a renewed focus.

Every Job you apply to - goto to linked in and find a member of HR. Ask Questions, tell them you applied, etc.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

Yeah that is the norm now, especially if you live a big populated area. Nowadays if you live near or in a major city, you got a million other people with a bachelor degree too. If you an IT degree holder, look to the northeast or the far west coast. Midwest and middle east coast is FLOODED with IT grads.

Plus you got to remember in the past 4 or 5 years a lot of companies outsourced most of their IT department over seas to India. All I got to say is keep trying and be prepared to move to a new state if you have to. Save up a grand or two and just move to another region of the USA.

[tsalbysp]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

Yeah that is the norm now, especially if you live a big populated area. Nowadays if you live near or in a major city, you got a million other people with a bachelor degree too. If you an IT degree holder, look to the northeast or the far west coast. Midwest and middle east coast is FLOODED with IT grads.

Plus you got to remember in the past 4 or 5 years a lot of companies outsourced most of their IT department over seas to India. All I got to say is keep trying and be prepared to move to a new state if you have to. Save up a grand or two and just move to another region of the USA.

Or to a different country entirely.

[WeLLWeLL]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

I'm coming up on the year anniversary of graduating college and I still have yet to get any work experience. Lot of interviews, fair amount of phone screeens and 2nd interviews and recruiters, no job offers (outside of, yup, commission based life insurance). I don't know, I know its only a bachelors, but I thought a Business IT degree was in demand. I had a 3.4+ GPA and I call after I send out resumes but I haven't even been able to get a Best Buy or Micro Center gig. Since when was a bachelors not good enough to be a bank teller? I really wanted to get into a entry level career and figured with Northern Virginia booming with businesses and DC a metro ride away, i'd have found something after mulling over a couple offers. Maybe its me.

I'm 5 months out of college and still looking for a "real" job. I've had a couple interviews and phone screenings as well but no luck. The competition is stiff right now, with numerous people much older than I am (and having much more experience) applying for some of the same jobs as myself. The only thing I have been doing is working as a sales rep for my buddies company...commission only. I have an interview on Thursday for a customer service position (good starting experience, I suppose) that I will hopefully land. Decent starting salary, a foot in the door with a good company, and hopefully a lot of experience to gain. I've really only been looking for a job since February, so I'm not exactly freaking out right now...but if I still haven't found one by the time summer is over, I may just go back to school. At least I can get more financial aid.

[Tha_Kid]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

I'm not freaking out only because i've thrown myself into working out and getting into shape. My parents have been getting on edge with each passing month though. I have enough student loans so I don't want to do any more school (yet). I'm studying for an A+ Certification and see if that makes the resume more attractive but i don't know. Good luck on your interview WeLLWeLL, I hope you get that position as I also don't want to think about a jobless fall 2010.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

I'm stupid....have no idea what I'm going to do with a BA in Poli Sci after I graduate next month.

I'm not going to do law either.

[tsalbysp]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

I'm stupid....have no idea what I'm going to do with a BA in Poli Sci after I graduate next month.

I'm not going to do law either.

I am in the same exact boat.

Except, I'm considering taking the LSAT and if I do well enough, and can get a school to give me a scholarship, maybe I'll go into law. However, if I am going to end up have to pay $40,000 a year for law school, I'm going to pass. The law profession is pretty much dead right now (too many lawyers, no jobs), so I am not going to get myself into that much debt (already owe like $30,000 after undergrad) for a dead profession.

[WeLLWeLL]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

Good luck on your interview WeLLWeLL, I hope you get that position as I also don't want to think about a jobless fall 2010.

Thanks. I need to find something because I begin repaying my student loans in two months.

[str8stuntin03]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

I'm not freaking out only because i've thrown myself into working out and getting into shape. My parents have been getting on edge with each passing month though. I have enough student loans so I don't want to do any more school (yet). I'm studying for an A+ Certification and see if that makes the resume more attractive but i don't know. Good luck on your interview WeLLWeLL, I hope you get that position as I also don't want to think about a jobless fall 2010.

I graduated from Univ of MD-CP 3 years ago with a degree in Information Systems Management. Recruiters are not really big on degrees with no certifications. Get you a couple of certifications, and you will be see a lot more job offers in this area. Experience > Certifications > Degrees in IT.

[superjames1992]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

I'm stupid....have no idea what I'm going to do with a BA in Poli Sci after I graduate next month.

I'm not going to do law either.

My dad has a degree in Political Science from West Virginia State and now he's flying airplanes for US Airways, although he originally intended to go to law school. But he ended up joining the WV Air National Guard after college and never looked back.

[shaunlmason]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

I graduated from Univ of MD-CP 3 years ago with a degree in Information Systems Management. Recruiters are not really big on degrees with no certifications. Get you a couple of certifications, and you will be see a lot more job offers in this area. Experience > Certifications > Degrees in IT.

Experience trumps everything else.

Most new college graduates don't understand that they really don't know much. No one take that personally, but it is the truth. Find something useful to do with your time if you aren't working. In the IT (hardware side) industry? Start a small business (read: fix your friends computers), use that as experience. Software developer? Join an open source project and write some code. Accountant? Find a non-profit who needs help with books...do it for free because experience = job.

Learn to sell yourself, that is what a job interview is about. Remember above all else that everyone who is interviewing for the job you want has AT LEAST the same degree as you. Set yourself apart somehow. Unless you went to Harvard, no one is impressed by your degree.=)

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

Yeah now degrees don't mean crap if you don't have experience. Back in the 80s and 90s with a Bachelor's degree with no experince you were guranteed to make 40K or more a year right off the bat.

But now, if you have a bachelor's degree with no experience in that field, they will look at you like you just got a GED and you will be lucky to break the 30K a year mark.

[MassNole]

Re: Graduating College and Looking for a Job

Unless you could get into a Tier 14 law school, avoid it all costs in this market. I am only employed because I am self employed. The market is brutal right now for new lawyers.