A familiar struggle

5.7% of recent grads are unemployed. They are competing with experienced workers in an already tight job market. Few companies are hiring and firing, which leaves little room for opportunities for new graduates. Young people are facing a bad job market at a time of high rents and a crisis of affordability. It’s a flashback to when I graduated after the 2001 recession and the Great Recession. Millenials did not have to compete with AI. But we did have to contend with outsourcing and offshoring. I got very creative to find work. Read on for how I eventually found work.

the old job search strategies

We’ve all seen the posts from Boomers who tell recent grads to go into offices and ask for jobs. My dad actually gave me that suggestion back when I graduated. That worked when I looked for summer jobs in college. But not after I graduated from college or during the Great Recession. I took the train and threw my resume under the doors of law firms. I also handed my resume to front desk staff. No dice.

Another suggestion Boomers often make is “take any job!” The “spray and pray” job search method does not work. First, if you’re overqualified, employers rightfully assume you’ll leave unless you can convince them otherwise. Second, everyone is doing that. Look online. You’ll find videos on YouTube, posts on Threads or LinkedIn with recent grads saying they’re applying everywhere out of sheer desperation.

WHAT I DID TO FIND WORK

• Temped for a year until I landed my first job. Signing up with staffing firms did not guarantee a job but it did lead to experience that was useful in my first “real” job.
• Commuted. Right now, many recent grads are fighting for remote only jobs. There’s less competition for in-person or hybrid roles. Be willing to drive long distances or take busses and trains to get to work. I took two busses and two trains to get to my first attorney job.
• Took jobs that were “beneath” me. Even though I was an attorney, I worked as a paralegal. After graduating from college, I went back to school for my ABA paralegal certificate. I leveraged that and my attorney license to expand my role and gained amazing experience. Recent grads are loathe to take jobs that do not require their specific degree. I get it but you have bills to pay.
• Worked as a contract employee instead of a full-time salaried employee. During the Great Recession, I worked as a contract attorney. I discovered that while companies were not hiring, there were plenty of contract opportunities available. Contracting isn’t always stable but can sometimes lead to a permanent position.
• Relocated. When I couldn’t find a job in my area, I moved to an area where the economy was booming. Go where the jobs are and where less people are applying.
• Stayed open to possibilities and pivoted.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

• Read this article
• Spend more time connecting with people and less time applying
• Consider retraining in healthcare or the trades
• Master AI
• Contact me to learn how I can help you with your job search strategy
• Don’t forget to download your FREE checklist here.