| Topic Name: |
PLEASE PLEASE HELP |
| Message Name: |
college to work is a really tough transition |
| Date Posted: |
01/28/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
Hey folks,
Maybe you all can help me. I've been searching for a job since I graduated May 2001. Over the summer my job search entailed emailing, faxing, mailing about 20 resumes a day...constantly calling HR people, recruiters, temp agencies (only to get voicemail, and no returned calls). As far as wanting similiar salaries..i've applied to jobs where the pay was low, solely for the sake of experience. A lot of positions I've found are asking for 5+ years experience in the most obsure skills (for example, 7 years exp. in "such-and-such" data system program required).
It seems as if companies are making new graduates feel bad about being fresh out of college. I know I have the competency and ability to perform the tasks in the job descriptions..but because I don't have 5 years experience written on my resume I get brushed off. I am fully aware that in this extremely tight job market, I am now competing with very experienced workers who have been laid off. But how can I get experience in doing something when I am not even considered because I lack experience?? It seems to be a vicious circle.
I've begun to take things personally. What is it about my resume that won't even make companies give me a chance? I graduated from a competitive school that's among the ranked Top 20 in the nation. I held summer internships..2 of which were in finance in London. My grades were pretty decent. I would say that I've got many similar qualities to other students that graduated with me. Why then, on January 26, 2002, am I working at a department store..still hoping every day that a company I've sent my resume to will give me a chance? What did I do wrong? I don't want this to be the result of the $120,000+ investment that my parents put in me. If someone has some answers...please please help.
|
| Message: |
I was in your position a little over ten years ago, when the last Bush was in the White House and we were in the middle of a nasty recession. I found that sending out mass copies of my resume didn't work for me.
The best way to get a job is to use contacts. Tell everyone you know you want to find a career, and ask to meet with them or their bosses at work to learn more about what they do. Don't beg for a job, just ask them lots of questions and try to seem interested in what they do (helps if you really are).
Cold calling strangers, or emailing them, rarely works. And HR is usually only good at getting people who are already doing the job somewhere else.
Good luck.
|
|
