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The Job Search is Hard
By Heather Carpenter | May 14, 2008
I remember when I graduated from college; a bright-eyed, optimistic 21-year old, ready for my first job in the real world. I spent a lot of time in the Career Center my senior year so I had a polished resume, a well-written cover letter and strong job search skills. But come the end of June, and what seemed like hundreds of applications, I found myself in tears. I was living back at my parent’s house. I was still working my part-time college job. I was nearing the expiration of my health insurance. And I had no solid job prospects in sight.
When I graduated from college I had unrealistic expectations. I had gone to a great college on scholarship. I thought for sure any employer would recognize what a rare find I was and hire me at $50,000 a year. No problem. Unfortunately that was not what happened. I learned quickly that finding a job in a difficult job market was an extremely painful process.
I am not telling you this to discourage you, rather I am hoping to encourage you. Before becoming frustrated with your job search take a deep breath and remember, you are not alone. The unemployment rate in the United States rose to 5.1% in March 2008. This means 7.8 million people are not working. The upside is that not all of these people are looking for jobs, so your competition is not quite as high as it seems. In addition, 21% of employers reported a plan to add jobs in 2008.
During a recession recent graduates are great new hires for employers. Although less experienced their salary demands are lower. Additionally, recent graduates tend to be young and healthy, costing less in insurance. And in a tough economy they are more likely to stay longer, justifying the training costs. With this said, don’t just take the first job you are offered. Be sure it is the right fit for you and that you will be happy and able to further yourself in this opportunity.
So when you start to feel desperate, remember that you are in demand! Work with the Career Center to sharpen your resume, to write a great cover letter and to learn dynamite interview skills. Confidence is a key component to getting a great job; keep your head held high and keep moving and you will be successful in your search!
For more information on job prospects visit The Lantern.
Topics: General, Job Search |