Top 10 Reasons Why College Graduates Can't Get a Job

This is not to discourage all of you, on the contrary if anything I want everyone to look at it and learn from it. Take these Top 10 Reasons Why College Graduates Can't Get a Job and switch each one by either convert it into something positive. Take the example of "No Experience" Let them (your potential employer) know that you are ready and willing to train within the a company. Give him or her a reason why. One possible answer could be that by starting with this particular company you can prove to be a greater asset them over time. Explain that you will commit yourself to their company and that by gaining experience first hand within their walls you will become a better asset then going out elsewhere, coming back and wasting time on being trained on how their particular company operates. This way, you'll show them that you are truly interested in working hard for them and you are making a commitment to learn and work with them to grow, build a client base and remain loyal in your hard work after you've been trained by learning the way they operate.

However the ideas I'm about to present also shows us all that sometimes, even when you are trying your best, it's just a consequence of a young career person's life that like every new adventure there are always going to be some hurdles to overcome before you climb to the top of the mountain.

1. Increased competition.
The days when college was only accessible to the rich and elite are over. College has become more affordable and a lot of pressure has been put on students to attend college in order to find a good job. The result?
Record number of college applications across the nation, resulting in more college graduates, and thus, more competition for the limited number of jobs available on the market. I can also safely assume that every person reading this knows at least one person in their social circle who has graduated college and is still having difficulty getting a job.
The secondary effect of this is that the days when having a degree alone would get you a job are over. The “prestige” that comes with having a degree has now become diluted with the rampant number of students graduating. You now need something more than just a degree to get you that first job out of college. (more on that later).

2. Little or no work experience.
Many college graduates make the grave mistake of assuming that their degree alone will qualify them for a job. They spend their college years just getting by, partying, and essentially, wasting their time. Because there’s more competition, college graduates are now a dime a dozen. What’s going to separate one college graduate with a degree from the next and the next and the next?
The result is they get stuck in a catch 22 position. They have no job experience, yet all the jobs out there require it if you want to apply. So they can’t get a job because they have no experience and in order to get a job, they need a job for work experience, but they can’t get a job without work experience and the cycle viciously continues.
One way to get out of this cycle is to not pass up on jobs that you may think are beneath you. Swallow your pride and take those jobs or intern for free at a company you would like to work at. You could also propose a new position to an employer if you have the creativity and the boldness to do so. You’ve got to start somewhere, and if you didn’t take the time to gather decent work experience during your college years, this is the price you may have to pay.
Always keep in mind that jobs can lead to other jobs. You never know if the job you think is beneath you can lead to the job you want. There’s always room to move up in the company. Always do more than what you are asked to do. That is one of the keys to moving on up Plus, by actually having that job, it can provide valuable work experience and knowledge, as well as the much needed dough.

3. No skills
You have to be good at something (aka skills) in order to contribute something of value to a company. People with computer skills (or at the very least computer proficient) will always be in high demand. Learning these types of technological skills will always be in your best interest because companies leverage technology in their offices in order to be more efficient, and if you can integrate well with that, you’ve got something good going for you.
Another valuable skill to have is people skills. (more on that later)

4. Lack of networking
Many people get jobs through referrals. Statistics show the majority of people get their jobs this way. The reason why word of mouth is so effective is because it cuts through all the worry of whether or not this person can do the job.
If somebody has been working for a company for some time, then that employee knows what it takes to succeed, and if that employee knows somebody who can do it, it’s an easy fit. The employer will trust the employee referring the new candidate and the new candidate will most likely get the job.
There’s just one catch though. You have to be “worthy” of being referred. Remember that the reputation of the person referring you is one the line. If you do a bad job, you make them look worse. So have a fine reputation of being a hard worker, someone who learns easily, etc. so people will be happy to refer you.
Spend a lot of time networking at college. Make a ton of friends, get in touch with recruiters, career counselors, etc. Don’t underestimate the power of networking and word of mouth. (btw, my first job out of college was due to such networking.)

5. No preparation on the resume and cover letter.
Your resume and cover letter act as your first impression. You can’t charm them with your presence or your smile. Your writing does it all for you. So spend some time to make it look and sound good. When describing yourself or your work history, use action words. It makes a big difference. Go to google and type in “resume action words” and you should get a ton of sites which you can use as a reference when crafting your resume.
Get a proofreader to look over your resume and cover letter. Make your cover letter and resume stand out. Be detailed and descriptive.
I had a friend who volunteered to look over my cover letter when I told him I was applying for jobs during my senior year. He made some good suggestions and I implemented them and it sure made the cover letter look a whole lot better. It didn’t hurt that he was a copywriter by profession . His suggestions helped enormously in me getting call backs.
I suggest you get some professional editing done as well. It’s worth the investment. Think of all the money you can earn by just investing a very small portion of it to professional editing.

6. No interview skills
So you’ve got past the resume stage and now you’re at the interview. Think it’s a breeze? Think again.
They WILL ask the hard hitting questions. Why should we hire you? What do you bring to the table? Tell me about yourself (that throws off a lot of people) What’s your greatest weakness (obviously reframe this question when you answer), etc. There are a ton of resources online you can tap into in order to prepare. Use our trusty friend Google.
You must prepare. Have all your answers ready to go when the question is asked. Be prepared to give examples of things you’ve listed on your resume.
When you meet the interviewer, don’t give the limp fish handshake or the bone crushing one. Give a firm handshake and smile. Show your friendly side. We are all human.
Wear the suit, tie and jacket. It’s never wrong to overdress. Even when I applied for a part time position while in college, I went to the interview wearing a suit and later found out I was the only applicant to do so and yes, I did get the job.
Don’t go in blind. Research the company. When I went to interview at the Hilton Hotels Corporate Office in Beverly Hills, my interviewer actually asked me when and where the first Hilton hotel was built. I answered Texas, 1919 of course. Did I get the job offer? Of course I did.
When they ask: Do you have any questions?, make sure you do! Always ask questions. This shows you’re interested in the job. Ask what kind of skills/qualities are needed to succeed in the job. Ask what a day in the life of the job is, etc.,
This is also your opportunity to flip the tables on them. Start interviewing the interviewer. Ask about opportunities for advancement, benefits package, etc. Remember, YOU are interviewing companies as well to see which one is best suited for you. Own the frame.

7. No weapon x
You’ve got to have an edge. Something that’ll make you stand out from the rest. Be different. Among a sea of black family sedans, be the fiery red convertible.
I can’t help you with this part as the only person who knows yourself the best is you. So take some time, sit down and think of what are some of the best qualities you have and write them down. You can use this when they ask you the hot question of: Why should we hire you?


8. No follow up
So you sent the resume and cover letter, but didn’t hear anything back? Follow up. It can’t hurt. It can only help. Shoot an email or a phone call and ask what’s going on. Chances are, they may have not received it or forgotten about it. It also shows your tenacity and separates you from the rest of the people who don’t follow up. Don’t just assume that they don’t want you and wallow in your self pity. Take action and make it happen.

9. Quitting too easily
Not getting any call backs can be depressing. Don’t look at it as a negative thing. Look at it as a positive thing. It’s just a sign you have to change things because it’s not working.
If you have worked in sales, you know that all sales is just a numbers game. If you have a good product (which is yourself) and if you can put the product out there in front of as many buyers as possible, you’ll eventually make a sale. It’s inevitable.
So don’t quit. Keep on going.



10. A lack of people skills
One of the greatest myths regarding getting a job is that you just have to have the skills and knowledge. That may be true for some jobs, but the other major thing that employers are looking for is social skills. Will you integrate well with the staff? Will you mesh with co-workers? Are you a positive person? Are you easy to get along with?, etc.
I remember times when a lot of staff members would talk about the interviewee right after he left. They talked about whether or not to hire him based on not his skills, but his behavior, demeanor and likeability.
This ties in with the tip of: Be nice to everyone you see in the office because they DO talk about you after you leave. The secretary, the intern, etc,. they all chip in and can help make or break you.
Try to avoid these types of mistakes and you shouldn’t fall into the pool of college graduates who are having a hard time finding a job after they graduate.

Written By Brian Kim, August 8, 2006

All Kinds Of Love

"Holly Kennedy: Dear Gerry, you said you wanted me to fall in love again, and maybe one day I will. But there are all kinds of love out there. This is my one and only life, And its a great and terrible and short and endless thing, and none of us come out of it alive."

So for now all of us post-grads need to grab on and experience as much of life as we can, last year I went on the trapeze (I'm afraid of heights) it was the most freeing thing I've done in a long time.

I've counted my blessings and the minute I did that when I was feeling lonely while auditions are slow I started reconnecting to my friends. (This is something I talk about in my blog "You Can Have It All: Just Not at the Same Time"

I started this blog to help others and now I find everytime I write I'm helping myself.

It could be a small thing such as learning how to knit, starting a jogging routine, painting, writing, skateboarding, anything you've wanted to do but either didn't have the time or maybe the courage. Take baby steps and for kicks write out the type of life you'd like to have or a list of things you'd love to do before you die. Take that list, keep it with you. Start small say 15 easy things and five that are a bit more challenging or are a longer term goal that you could work towards such a marathon or a big rock climb or even writing a novel. Everytime you do something new or go out and do something that may scare you (EVEN an interview) remember this is our one and only life and it's a great and terrible and short and endless thing, and none of us come out alive. But there are all kinds of love out there and I am inspiring you to take a leap and find something that will bring you joy and love for your own personal self and even if you don't do well, decide not to continue, hate it or decide once you get there it's not for you, you can never regret and you can never say that you never tried.

"CHANGE"

Ok, so I'll admit it. I am a self proclaimed self-help book junkie. Not all of the books are about "Changing your life in 30 days" (although I do have some that may be of the same genre, persay). Anyways, sometimes I find it best when starting out on new ventures, such as many of us recent college graduates know that the best advice can sometimes be the simplest.



I have found this book titled "The Life Guide: 10 Things You Need to Know About Everything That Matters". What is so great about this book is it in cut into different sections such as health, career, success, home, money, relationships. However, the chapter I took the most interest in was simply titled "Change". Each chapter has different subsections but as I said the author, Robert Ashton, keeps things simple by writing a list of ten things within each topic to help you in area of which you are reading about and hopefully wanting to improve upon yourself.. Now I'm not saying this is for everyone but I find that at this cross road section of my life, when it seems there's so many choices, while exciting, however can be overwhelming. I also that many of my peers leave school and are dissapointed to find that the idea they had about their future when they graduated did not magically come together the minute we all stepped foot into "the real world".

I'm exhausted tonight. After a long day of being lazy yesterday I got myself together today and said today's the day I'm going to make small steps in order to get my life together. Posting goals that are very large without spending time to work on your short term goals to get there is in my opinion a waste of time. As trivial as this sounds I had to set time aside today to get all my laundry and clothes in order. Now this may not seem important for my future but, au contraire my friend thank God I did. A few hours later I was being called in to be seen as a model for "Cosmo" Magazine tomorrow and voila! I will have all fresh clothes and will not be stressed out in the morning. While also cleaning I had organized my headshot and resumes so I knew where everything was. If I get the job or not is not a huge concern to me. It was more the idea of being fully prepared for the audition so as to learn from it and walk out saying that I did my best and that's all I can ask of myself.

So remember, babysteps work. Just remember to schedule at least one for each day that will help you for the day after or will help you maybe later on this week, month or year! Think of these small term goals as your base. Just as cheerleaders who are forming a pyramid have to start by stacking bottom to top, they begin by forming a solid foundation by starting on the floor. Once that is formed the others are able to climb using the first layer of cheerleaders to build the pyramid upon, so on and so on. Without the layers of preparation and a confidence from repeating these steps practice after practice the pyramid does not shake and the goal they set was carried out. You can be sure there were many falls during practices but that what I feel our twenties are; a time to build the foundation of the lives we decide to want to develop and we practice at it until our foundation is sturdy. So at this time we experiment and practice. We try and find the best way to start our base and build from there and if our pyramid grows and then tumbles either or bit or a whole crash. We should decide to pick ourselves up and try another strategy. As Einstein said "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".


Here are two lists I got from the section of the book titled "Change":

pg. 40 - 41

"Overcoming Obstacles: Your change journey is unlikely to be without obstacles. However hard you try to be organized, life throws things in your way. People say that "every cloud has a silver lining," but when you're in the middle of a crisis, however minor, it's often hard to see the positive side".



10 Ways to Push Over Barriers:

1) Don't give up - Difficult things are never easy to achieve. You have to expect obstacles adn be prepared to find a way around them.



2) Admit Your Mistakes - If the adversity is self-inflicted, then recognize the fact, seek a solution and move on. Do not continually beat yourself up. We all make mistakes.



3) Swim Against the Tide - Don't simply go with the flow. When others are giving up and getting washed away, keep fighting your way upstream. Remember only dead fish swim with the tide!



4) Be prepared - Like as we insure our homes and cars, so, too, can you protect your ambitions. Also try to have a "plan b" just in case.



5) Forgive and Forget - Some people bear grudges for years. Don't bear those scars forever. Forgive, forget and let them heal.



6) Take a detour - Somtimes the barrier is simply insurmountable. Recognize when your path is blocked and look for an alternative route. If the journey is worth making, that detour will exist.



7) Take time - It's said that you can adapt to almost any major change or tragedy in around six months. When your life is bombarded by something totally horrible (and don't we all agree leaving college life can qualify as something horrible:) ) don't make too hasty decisions.



8) Look for the positive - We are the total of our experiences. Even bad experiences carry value, even if it's sim;ly a hard lesson you won't need to relearn.



9) Get It Over Early - There's a lot to be said for making mistakes when you're young. You then at least have more opportunity to recover. Getting it wrong late in life can be more difficult. (ONE OF MY FAVORITES)



10) Look around you - The chances are someone else has hit this obstacle before. Ask around or check the internet for possible solutions. (THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET!!!!)

Everyone post-grad can relate to the crazy change one feels as summer ends after graduation and the fall starts and for the first time in over at least 16 years of our lives we've had a routine to come back to. We've also left behind friends, some we may see everyday, others we may never see again. Without a doubt many of the young women and men I have talked to about their experience after college is that they feel alone, isolated. This is definitely true for artists in whatever field you may be, because majority of the time you're going to auditions alone or writing alone. Another note is if you're going out on interviews and you're so tight before you go in to speak with a potential employer you may feel as if you're going to scream and for the first time in maybe four years you might not have that person there sitting on your couch or dorm bed to come home and vent to. This is where we all must learn what we can do indepentely to help ourselves through this transitional period in life. Maybe going to exercise more or take up a hobby you loved before college but didnt' have time for during college such as taking dance classes, joining a local sports team that plays on weekends, getting out that guitar again or whatever your calling will be. Find a group maybe to jam with, find a writing group, anything that can help you meet new people to see that even though you may feel lost remember the saying "Time Heals" and this includes anything concerning changes. So give yourself 30 minutes of self-pity or watch your favorite T.V. show and get to work on something else where even if it's not in your direct career path will make you feel a little more fufilled even for just that day. Because trust me, once you jump on the bandwagon I garantee your days will start to fill up a lot quicker and you'll realize how many people in his or her own way are going through a change as well.

There's a great quote in "P.S. I Love You", it seems a little sad but has so much truth to it. It is in one of the last scenes in the movie where Holly is standing with her mother as her mother hands her the last letter her late husband Gerry wrote to her before he died. Holly feels very alone, and her mother who was abandoned many years earlier by her husband and Holly's father makes a very poignant quote.

"So now, all alone or not, you gotta walk ahead. Thing to remember is if we're all alone, then we're all together in that too. And I find comfort in that" - P.S. I Love You

You Can Have It All- Just Not at the Same Time

So at the current moment in time I will let everyone in on the fact that I am signed by a talent manager in NYC who sends me on auditions as well as a boutique modeling agency where my agent sends me on go-see's. I'm what they call a commercial print girl - think of me as the type you'd see in a magazine promoting anti-fungal medications for toenails as opposed to the Victoria's Secret Catalogue. I was signed directly out of college by my manager and last year as I said in my last post was HELL. This is a note to all students who are just graduating or will be that the first year out of college was the most difficult year of my life to date as well as many of my peers. If you are reading this and feel that way...YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!! I'm learning more in my second year that our twenties are a time to find ourselves. Many people graduating college have this notion that if they don't land their dream job right away they're a failure. I'm here to tell you that's complete and utter bullshit!!! You need to take time to explore different areas. Many of my friends who were in the theater program with me are now exploring different areas and career tracks, some public speaking, some with cable networks and then of course my friend Jenny who did stick to her lifelong dream of dancing and although it's a hard life, she's 23 traveling the country making small amounts of money then coming home doing nothing and going out again. And you know what she loves it. She won't be able to dance professionally for the rest of her life. SO as they say SEIZE THE DAY... The first few years out of college, explore.

I'll tell you why I am saying this, it is because it is something I have to say to myself EVERYDAY. You have to remember that 1 out of 1,000 people land their dream job out of college. Also another thing to remember is that yes, if you work hard and strive to do your personal best that you can "have it all" whatever that means to you. Just remember you can't "have it all" at the same time. Enjoy each day for what it's worth. If you are in a good relationship and maybe don't have the job you want right now, that's amazing. Look at that aspect of your life and count your blessings for that. If you are single, out on the scene having fun, go enjoy yourself (just be safe while you do it - had to put that in) embrace all that your post-college life has to offer. You have the world at your hands. Maybe you have the best job, but you work long hours although making a great salary, so your social life may suffer a little. Later on when that money's saved up you'll be happy you did it and if it becomes too much you can always say that you never regret giving that job a chance. So wherever you may be know that it's ok, you're right where you should be. Last year I had a great boyfriend but wasn't dong much with my career. We eventually broke up but I appreciate everything he gave me and made me realize that I am someone who deserves the best for myself. So while we may have not stayed together he left me with the idea that I deserve to be treated well, as opposed to other relationships in the past where I wasn't. Making a gratitude list always helps (as cheesy as it is) I have to do it. Because in the career path I choose of performing and working in non-profit everyday is different, some weeks I'm watching Law and Order for hours on end. Other weeks I'm at events, non-stop auditions, non-stop rejections and then occasionally that golden opportunity comes along. I had an audition for "The Good Wife" last week and you know what, I totally fucked it up. But I had an audition for "The Good Wife" so that was enough for me for a day.

A Different Kind of Pearl

Well I guess I should give you all some background on myself before I delve into more specific topics that inevitably befall on people who have either just graduated college or are in their first few post-college years.

I grew up having an amazing life wanting for nothing. I am originally from Long Island, Manhasset, to be exact. I grew up splitting my time between Manhasset and Southampton (don't worry I'm not a spoiled brat, our house out east was my parents first house and at the current moment while still being my favorite place in the world, has a black plastic trashbag covering half the wall in the shower so the water doesn't leak through the wall and into the basement, if that gives you any idea's. Not to mention that my father replaced the mattresses two years ago for the three bedroom ranch only after careful consideration for a short TWENTY years, so I have to say it was quite an improvement moving from sleeping on a pad with coils sticking out to a mattress where I didn't wake up with fear of lead poisoning).

But back to my younger childhood where I won't boor you but I started participating in theater productions at the age of seven and became hooked. I was never a full on theater enthusiast, all theater all the time, I had friends throughout highschool in many different areas of interests. I hung out with the jocks, the dancer's (I was a dancer but let's just say my commitment was lackluster to the prima ballerina's I shared my love of the art with). I went to an all girls catholic school and I'll be honest, I loved every minute of it. The uniforms ( I still have my plaid skirt and knee socks tucked away in my closet), the craziness of not having any guys at our school - we became the guys; you know freshman year at the lunch table seeing who could EAT THE most calories before the period ended. Let's just say we were clearly not worried about our so-called labels by the other catholic school of being "heffer's". We didn't care what other people thought about our antics in school and it was great.

However, I can't talk about highschool without talking about the theater. I went over to the boy's school Chaminade my freshman year to audition for their musical "The Wiz". At the time their productions were known to be the best on the Island. I would have been happy with a role in the chorus however to my surprise I was cast in two leading roles and had a large dancing part. I was elated. I loved the rehearsals, being prepared with my music and not to mention at the end of the show they got four of the senior football players to carry me across the stage (interestingly enough, these guys who outweighed me by at least one hundred pounds were also a little bit frightened of the overly outspoken 15 year old telling them if they dropped me there would be hell to pay. And so started my career off in theater full force, although this was after years of performances it was truly my first show at Chaminade that boosted my confidence and led me to realize that no matter where life takes me, I would always be drawn back to my love of performing and full circle it has come around.

I have many more stories to tell but I will leave them for another time (my next post will be about a Little Fish in a Big Pond, when after years of being one of the best if not the best performer of my grade and throughout the catholic school system, I went to college in NYC where let's just say I was one of a million little blonde girls that could sing and dance).

So today I am on my second year post college. I lived in the city for four years and decided last spring I wanted to move home to save some money and I'll be honest, to get a little TLC from my parents after living on my own in the big apple for a while. At the moment it is 8:58 which is pretty good for me to be up and productive this morning. Last year I spent many days on the couch waiting for my manager to call me for an audition. I was completely lost. In college, performers and artists are taught their "craft", i.e. the craft of acting, singing, dancing, painting, sculpting, etc. However, something that many of us artists realize when we leave college is that these fine institutions seem to leave that little part about "THE BUSINESS" out of the curriculum. I can only say from my side being an actress I had no idea what submissions where or how to carry them out. The difference between being union vs. non-union in the event of auditions, lets just say being non-union you'll be waiting quite a few more hours then those in the union, if you get to audition at all. However, throughout all of this I did get to learn the business on my own last year and I have to say it was so much more powerful for me starting out this year. Clean slate. "It's as if I'm designing and stringing a pearl necklace. The first pearl being placed when I was seven for the first time on stage, then came moving, making new friends, going to catholic all girls school after attending public all my life. l\Not all of the pearls are perfectly round as the salt water pearls are. The saltwater marks milestones in my life common to other. The freshwater each have their own unique grooves and textures that take time to form and will not appear until something happens that can only come from inside of me marking my own uniquness. After this weekend I have a new freshwater pearl on my strand. I sang this It is part of a fundraiser for a charity that is close to my heart, Luciasangels (check us out at Luciasangels.org).

Through all these years I have been a singer but after going to school for it and being mandated to learn new music every week that I sometimes didn't like started to dampen my love for it. Especially because if the person I was singing for such as a teacher didn't like the way I sang it I would be reprimanded when I was just trying to add some of my own individuality to it. However, after rehearsing for the show and just let loose with my vocals I sang better then I have in years, if not my whole life.

Now I recently gave up drinking, I decided after a long time with it, it was something I could take in only very small doses and being twenty three a big part of the lifestyle is going out to bars. It's not to say that I've given up meeting my friends out at an occasionally party in the city somewhere but I found in order to achieve my goals I need a good night sleep and a very healthy body. So many of my nights are filled with watching TV. However, when I ROCKED OUTTTTTTTT working with Bobbie (Lucia's Sister - Our beloved friend for whom we honored by creating the organization Lucia's Angels for women and families dealing with late stage cancer) I felt free and light and happy. It was like my first kiss all over again, tingly, warm, beautiful and buzzing. I had rediscovered my love of singing but found a way to stay true to the melodies while making it my own. I realized then that I can sing folk, rock, country and so much more. With this came a pearl that had to marinate on its own finally came out to be placed on my string. I had to find it on my own otherwise if one little groove was not ready as though it was forced out of me I would not have and the reaction nor would I have done so well. The grooves represent a new piece to my life I didn't expect. I was finally open enough for it to look for me.