This time in my life is surreal. It’s scary and exciting at the same time. Before I had a path that was well lit, now my path is dimmer. Recently, I graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) with my Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication and a minor in Mass Communications. As I transition from student to alumni, it is hard to imagine what my next step will be. As for now, my job is looking for a job.
Here are some tips for recent college graduates similar to myself. According to Melisa Bullard from collegegrad.com, recent college graduates should keep a positive attitude, consider rewiring their resume or curriculum vitae (CV), prepare themselves as best as possible, and keep looking.
1. Keep a positive attitude
According to the Wall Street Journal, the unemployment rate in April among those with only high school diplomas was about three times that of college graduates the same age. The bottom line here is those with a college degree are better off than those without. Although the opportunity might not arise automatically, a lot of companies are still hiring. It’s like the saying ‘good things come to those who wait.’ Eventually a company will be in demand for the unique skills found on a person’s resume.
2. Rewiring resumes or curriculum vitae
Although degrees and previous job titles have a lot to say about the experience of a person, so does the underling skills that got them to that point. Adjusting a resume to fit the qualifications of a person’s dream job may be just what he/she needs to succeed. Don’t ignore the small details such as, volunteer work.
3. Prepare
Career fairs, networking opportunities, mock interviews and resume consultation are wise to consider when in between jobs. I know SIUE offers most of these through their Career Development Center. Most importantly, a person should figure out what necessary skills are missing from his/her resume and fill in the missing gaps.
4. Keep looking
The secret to finding a job is to never give up. If a person follows the above guidelines and stays active in his/her job search, a job is in the near future!
Writing to feel alive 