What You Didn't Learn

Fresh out of school and with a degree hot off the press! You feel really good about the graduation speeches, you feel inspired. You spent 4 years, maybe more, maybe less, of hardwork to finally be where you are now; smart and ready to make real salary money - with benefits no less! Or do you? 

You should feel like this, but maybe you don’t? You’re not alone, but you aren’t quite the majority that you think are. 60% of college students come out of school unemployed, so if you’re working you are a “minority” but just barely. So How did I get 2 jobs right out of college?

There are a few trade secrets.

I should clarify, 1 job began part-time (that would go full-time) but I left for a better opportunity and higher pay after 1-2 months of work to start full-time where I am currently. Yes higher pay. Not too shabby. 

The job process began 6 months before I became employed while in my last year of school. That’s not to say it will take 6 months to find a job, but it took 6 months for me to learn how to find a job. I began my senior year, I had been interning, small freelance projects, etc, all on the side to boost the good ol’ CV. But I soon learned, that while that was a large part of my success, there was so much more.

Some 25 resumes sent out for jobs and not a single interview or email back. You can consider that I spent about an hour and half of time putting together the Cover Letter and CV for each application. Then I said to myself, to quote Benjamin Franklin,

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

So I went back to the drawing board.

6 applications later I had 3 interviews and 4 email backs. What happened?

I changed how I approached the CV and Cover Letter. Now I was spending 2hrs or more per job posting creating my CV and Cover Letter. What I realized was that there were plenty of jobs, heck I was applying to them all, but they didn’t want a college kid. Well, sure they want a kid out of college, but they don’t want your typical, run-of-the-mill college kid. I learned that companies are hiring, but they are being very specific with who they bring in. They want someone that is a professional and hardworking and stands out through quality. They have to believe you in your delivery that you are what you say you are. If you’re lazy, and pretend that you aren’t, it’ll come through (if you’re lazy and get hired, you probably wont last long working with that mentality anyways).

“You know, we had over XXX applicants, and I only looked at a few portfolios. After the first few sentences of the CV and/or Cover Letter I knew if I even cared to see their talent.” 

You can’t change the content in your CV unless you are doing additional things, but you can change the delivery. That is what its about. How are you delivering yourself in your CV and Cover Letters? Are you giving each job posting your personal consideration and care or are you sending out mass emails? If the latter, you should change your approach.

The recession isn’t to blame. You aren’t owed a job because you went to college. If you were slacking in school you are slacking in your job hunt. Companies are hiring all over the place. But college degree grads feel owed to these jobs, and companies are now only hiring those they feel they can rely on. The review process has become more specific and under much more consideration where interviewers are not gonna hire the casual applicant. This is not to say you should do something so off the wall and different, but maybe that typical Cover Letter template just isn’t working out? Here are a few tips for your CV and Cover Letters:

• Proof read. Revisions and correct written english are incredibly important. Its going to be the first thing anyone will notice.
• Personalize each Resume and Cover Letter. Take care in finding a job and respect those who are reading your applications.
• Brand yourself. Be consistent and show that you know how to unify a design scheme.
• Work hard on your trade. If you get pass the part of the CV and Cover Letter - have quality work. Take pride in your work and go out to freelance, for free if you have to.
• In regards to the last point: show you can be trendy in your designs. Not that you have to be, but it shows you understand current trends and you can design that way should you need to.
• Lastly. Have personality. Don’t send a robotic CV and Cover Letter. Let your personality infuse with the things you’re writing.
• Work hard.

The economy needs you to work. There are jobs. Go out and fill them. The recession opens the doors for great opportunity and lends itself to the American Spirit. I hope this pushes you and helps get your foot in the door.