Graduating from college is quite a thrilling experience for many students. Unfortunately, it may also be an overwhelming time mainly because finding employment after graduating college can be a real challenge. Furthermore, it involves hard work, consistency, endurance, optimism and a measure of courage. In this article, we will review some of the reasons why college graduates struggle to find employment after college and we will provide you with some important tips that can assist you in landing your first job.
Reasons why is it so hard to find a job after college
True, there are a variety of reasons why college graduates battle to land their first jobs after graduating from college. However, common reasons include the following:
- Lack of skills
- Lacking the important skills required by potential employees makes it hard for college graduates to find jobs because such skills can only be attained while on the job.
- Lack of follow up
- At times, not following up after an interview reduces employment chances.
- Uncertainty with college major
- Due to the lack of research and many other economic factors, college graduates may discover that there is a lack of employment opportunities within their chosen career field. On the other hand, some students may lose interest in their majors after graduating college. All these uncertainties make it difficult to find employment.
- High competition
- As many industries experience high competition, job-seeking becomes more difficult.
- Little networking
- College graduates without any work experience may not have any professional networks to assist them in finding employment.
- Little or no work experience
- Most entry-level jobs require a measure of work experience, which most students don’t have.
Tips to help you get a job after graduating college.
- Research
- Research is the most crucial part of job-seeking after graduation.
- Research about part-time, full-time jobs, and internship opportunities within your field of interest l.
- Ensure that you research before applying to a company so that you are aware of the reputation, culture, and working conditions of that company.
- Set realistic goals
- Know exactly what you want and then set short- and long-term goals. Doing this will help you stay motivated and dedicated to your job search.
- Apply for internships
- Internships are one of the best easy to gain experience, network, and build your skillset before entering the job market.
- Interning after graduating will help you gain new skills, education, and experience.
- Improve your resume
- Your resume speaks for you, therefore make sure it represents you well.
- Create a simple, unique, and excellent resume showing off your qualifications, talents, hobbies, accomplishments, personal projects, skills, and experience.
- Build an online profile
- Most employment opportunities are found online through online platforms such as LinkedIn or Indeed. Hence you must build and maintain a good online profile that will increase your chances of getting employed.
- Grow your professional network
- Actively grow your network by
- Meeting up with potential mentors.
- Attending in-person or virtual networking events.
- Connect with recruiters.
- Connect with other college graduates, college professors, friends, college administrators, or student’s advisors
- Join industry-focused groups
- Use social media to connect with potential employers.
- Actively grow your network by
- Gain knowledge, experience, and valuable skills
- To gain knowledge, experience, and skills you can do the following:
- Join volunteer programs
- Work on your projects
- Be a freelancer
- Join online classes
- Workshops
- Conferences
- To gain knowledge, experience, and skills you can do the following:
- Follow up
- Whenever possible follow up with the interviewer via email. The email should be concise and professional and also include qualities, skills, or attributes that make you different from the other candidates.
- You can create a spreadsheet that will help you track positions you have applied for so that you know when to send follow-up emails.
Conclusion
Realistically, getting a job after graduating college is no ” walk in a park”. Therefore, if you are a college graduate or soon to be a graduate it is vital to have a well-structured job searching plan. Having a plan will reduce the stress and confusion that comes with job hunting. On the other hand, always strive to have a positive outlook, be patient and stay dedicated in everything you do!
Frequently asked questions
- Why is the first job important after graduating college?
- The first job is vital mainly because it is a foundation for building a career and it has a huge impact on your career path.
- What uncontrollable factors contribute to unemployment among college graduates?
- Factors we can’t control involve the state of the economy, competition within the job market as well as personal affairs.
- When is the right time to prepare for job hunting?
- Students must prepare for job hunting before graduating.
- Why is it important to be mentally prepared for job hunting after graduating college?
- Job hunting after you graduate may involve dealing with rejections, hence it is vital to stay positive and not be discouraged.
