The job market is changing.
Many college graduates are finding that securing a job isn’t as easy as they thought. Around 170 million new jobs are expected to be created by the end of this decade. However, with changes to the market such as technical development to demographic shifts, over 90 million jobs will be displaced. In other words, recent graduates are entering a new world of jobs.
In today’s time, searching for jobs is difficult, time consuming and sometimes, dreadful. A lot of people expect to start a career after college, but it can take three to six months to find a job related to your field after graduation. There are numerous factors as to why securing a job is challenging. From AI softwares to job cuts, all contribute to a tight market.
With the internet, someone can apply to a job within minutes. While this accessibly can be a huge advantage to eager job seekers, if hundreds of people are applying to the same entry-level desk job, the chances of even having your resume reviewed are slim.
AI in the Job Market
Enter AI. This relatively modern tool can be one of the best and worst things to happen to the job market. On one side, employers use AI to help review applications. It’s efficient and cheaper, but it’s also not a real person. In some cases, a person’s ability to secure an interview is dictated by artificial intelligence, not a real human.
Lack of Experience
Students don’t have a lot of real-world experience. Afterall, they just graduated from school and are fresh off the press. True, some students may have prior internship or classroom experience, but they now enter their industry, and it is scary.
For employers, they are taking a risk hiring you. Unlike internships, where you can expect training and lessons, full time positions expect you to be confident with your knowledge. As such, they will look at your resume. If you appear to be under qualified compared to another applicant, they may opt for someone with more experience.
In today’s time, many jobs are facing job and budget cuts. This means downsizing their teams, sometimes by hundreds of employees. They may not want to hire new people if they are barely getting by with the people they do have.
With all of this considered, there are ways for graduates to find opportunities. By being rigorous with your searches, creating strong connections and having an open mind, you are bound to find your career path, but it will take a lot of work.
Staying Strong
The first step to locating a job is to have a positive mindset. It will be overwhelming at first, and you will receive more rejections than offers, but it’s critical to not be discouraged. Having a strong level of confidence will allow you to continue searching.
Plan Ahead
Create a plan. You will find that there are tons of jobs, some of which you’ve never even heard of. To keep track of these jobs, create a plan. Write down certain keywords, job websites like LinkedIn and Indeed or people to contact.
Pro tip: Keep a log of all the places you have applied to. This could be on Google Sheets or on paper, but having a log allows you to keep track of where and when you’ve applied.
Additionally, once you’ve applied, reach out after a couple of weeks for an update. This will create a connection with you and the hiring team along with a status on your application.
Standing out
Now that you’ve entered the competition, you’ll find that there are thousands of people just like you looking for jobs. In fact, for bigger companies, there will be hundreds of applicants for one entry level desk job.
Standing out is crucial. Whether it is AI or a real person reviewing your application, you want to make sure you look impressive.
Personal branding is basically marketing yourself as your own brand. You are giving yourself a new look and name publicly and promoting yourself to future employers. Your brand can include things such as your values, strengths, purposes and even legacy. However, your personal brand should reflect who you are, as it shows the way how you and other people see yourself.
Internships
Internships are always a great option. While having a full-time job is stable, it is also a commitment. These jobs will take up eight hours of your day and may require you to relocate and move from your family. Internships can allow you to stay closer to home, if necessary, while also providing a learning environment. Some are paid, and some are not, but the experience is all the same and they will make your resume look impressive. Remember, the goal is to stand out, so having real experience is better than nothing.
Volunteer work
Volunteering is also an option. This may not be what you want, but it shows that you are being proactive while searching for permanent jobs. If you volunteer at a local homeless shelter or food drive, it not only helps the community, but it strengthens your leadership skills. Employers love this. If you can show that you want to be a leader and helper, this will make your resume look impressive and give you something to do.
Part time jobs
Have a part time job while finding your real job. As a recent graduate, it’s good to have some income while you build your career. Jobs like a local coffee shop barista or late-night security personnel are all low commitment, and you can do this while also looking for jobs. Temp agencies are also a great resource to find these short-term positions.
Networking
Perhaps one of the most important steps in finding a new job is networking. Talking to people, reaching out. This can be done on LinkedIn, cold calling, attending alumni events and asking around. Your family or friends may know someone in your field, so use them to your advantage. You never know who you will meet, so create as many contacts as possible.
Looking for a job is a full-time job. You are putting in lots of hours each week, just like a nine-to-five. It’s also a numbers game. You will receive tons of rejections, false calls or not even get a response. Do your best to not be discouraged. Struggling to find a job is a problem a lot of young people are facing, but with some strong motivation, you will find your place.
Good luck searching!
