Posts Tagged ‘Challenges’

This is part two of a two part post on the biggest challenges facing new graduates. It deals with ways to overcome the obstacles set out in Part I.

It’s one thing to be aware of the challenges that you will face as a New Grad looking for an Entry Level Job. However, you also need to know how to get past these challenges if you want to land a great position.

That being said, here is some of my advice:

• Lack of Experience: There are three great ways to battle the lack of experience issue. First, volunteer. While it can often be difficult to land a job on your own without experience, there are certainly many local organizations which would appreciate capable volunteers. This will help you gain experience without having to find a job. Second, focus your resume and interview on the skills that you have developed (though school, volunteering, and extra-curriculars). Third, be enthusiastic (but not over the top). You may lack specific experience, but you can make up for it in other ways.

• Debt and Dwindling Resources: While this is more of a personal finance issue, try to ensure you cut any discretionary spending as soon as you are out of school (or during school…the earlier the better). If possible, move back in with family when you graduate. Or, if that isn’t possible, find a roommate and cheap accommodations until you find a job. Do everything you can to conserve cash.

• Sense of Entitlement: This is a tough one. The only advice I can give is to be humble and be ready to put in your time. Having a sense of entitlement is a big turn-off for anyone who has had to “pay their dues”. You need to respect their feelings or you might find yourself being held back by your colleagues.

• Poor Job Market: Unfortunately, it’s a bad job market all around. You need to ensure that you go the extra mile to get noticed (follow-ups, thank you notes, networking, etc.). In this case, the luck comes to those who are willing to work the hardest.

Landing an Entry Level Job can be extremely difficult and time consuming. However, with enough effort, plenty of patience, and a positive attitude, you will succeed.

This is part one of a two part post on the biggest challenges facing new graduates. Part Two will deal with ways to overcome these obstacles and land an Entry Level Job.

Being a New Graduate is tough. At times, it can seem like the world is against you. You feel everything from the weight of your parents expectations, to the size of your student loans, to the unspoken competition from your friends and classmates for scarce jobs.

That being said, I want to outline the four major challenges that all New Grads face as they enter the job market in the hopes that I can share some tips for overcoming them.

• Lack of Experience: This is the big “Chicken and Egg” problem that all New Grads face. You need experience to be able to get a job. However, in order to gain experience, you need a job. It’s a problem that every Entry Level Job seeker must overcome in order to start their career.

• Debt and Dwindling Resources: As the average debt-load of a college graduate continues to climb, so does the pressure to pay it off. Grace periods generally last no more than six months, meaning that you risk falling behind on your payments if you don’t find a job right after school. This only increases the level of pressure to find work, potentially leading to desperation (which can often lead to lost opportunities).

• Sense of Entitlement: One of the biggest complaints that employers have is that New Grads feel entitled. Entitled to high salaries, early promotions, and respect before it is deserved. Even if you don’t display these characteristics, you may still have to overcome the stereotype.

• Poor Job Market: Last but not least, the job market itself is one of the biggest challenges that a New Grad has to overcome. A catastrophic downturn in the economy has led to astronomical unemployment rates for recent graduates. This is yet another blow to anyone who is fresh out of school and looking to start a career.

These challenges are not insurmountable. However, it takes time and planning to be able to land the job you really want.

In Part Two, I will look at ways to conquer these challenges and land the Entry Level Job you have been looking for.