How do you get a job?

[Lengsel]

I graduated last August and have not been able to find anything. Is this normal? I tried all the monster sites, government jobs, and newspapers but still no go. People tell me I'm too qualified or I have no experience. How am I supposed to have experience when I've just graduated? I'm stuck in my student worker position (20 hrs a week max).

I was thinking about joining the military because this is really killing me. I don't want to but bills are piling up.

Any suggestions?

[radwriter0555]

1. Start your own business.

Why not?

[StaggerLee]

2. I finally got a job last summer

after being unemployed for six months. It was total luck since the person who hired me was someone I had worked with in the past and I had just happened to run into her when I was lunching with my mom.

Have you stayed in contact with people you went to school with? Or anyone from any past jobs for that matter?

Sometimes it's who you know...

[Elidor]

3. DO NOT join the military

I know times can be hard, but god, don't do that.

[Rick Myers]

4. As a USAF vet, I can tell you...

do NOT join the military while these 'Ghouls' are in power!!! Let them send THEIR children to fight their OIL WARS!!!

[Nikia]

5. Temp agencies or other temp jobs

I don't know what sort of job you want or what your area of study was, but temp jobs are often the jobs available to the inexperienced. The experienced workers usually have or want full time jobs so you will have less competition. Some companies use temps as a way of auditioning people for permanent jobs within the company. Although some companies might advertise temporary jobs, particuliarly if they need a lot of people for a busy time in their business, temp agencies are a good source of temp jobs. Many agencies get several job orders per day so you are bound to get something eventually if you are relatively open as far as jobs and pay rate. Applying through several agencies maximizes your chances of finding a job.

[GOPisEvil]

6. I graduated in 1990 - under Bush I...your story sounds familiar.

It took me two years to find a "real job". I worked at temp agencies and for rental car firms in the interim.

I finally hooked on with the state of Texas, and I've been with them ever since.

[displacedtexan]

7. Do you know anyone or have recommendations?

With George W.'s shitty economic situation, you might have to play the repuke card: get a friend or relative to "sponsor" you. That way, you become what is called in repuke circles "a must hire."

[tjdee]

8. Temp agencies, associations in your major...

A number of companies prefer to try someone out before hiring them on. I have two or three friends who got a job this way. This will not work if your major was biology or economics, LOL.

If your major was something like...marketing, for example, the professional associations will sometimes advertise on their site or internal newsletters and not in papers/job engines.

See if you can find an internship--pay sucks, but sometimes people are hired after an internship is over (it's harder to find one that pays and will take people for other than college credit).

Getting a job right out of school sucks unless you are an accountant, nurse, doctor, or lawyer. Good luck!

DO NOT JOIN THE MILITARY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FIND A JOB.
When you come to your senses you might be in a tent in Iran, stuck because of a stop loss.

[Beaverhausen]

9. I got my current job after temping here for 2 months

temping is a great way to "try out" a job or a company. And if they like you they will try and keep you. And if you like them well...you will want to stay.

Hang in there! We believe in you!!!

[shraby]

11. I don't know what you studied, but

sometimes volunteering can work into a job.

[Orangepeel]

10. I think you need to let a professional see your resume

does your school have a placement service you can still access? You might just need to do a better job explaining why they should hire you.

If people are telling you that you are too qualified for the job you want, then they are probably afraid that you are going to leave right after they spend the time and money to train you. If that is the case, you need to reassure them that they won't waste their investment. It can be a balancing act between letting them know that you want opportunities for advancement with them, but that you aren't using their job as a temporary stepping stone.

If you are being told that you don't have enough experience, then you may just need to explain to them why you have the skills they need. You might try a skills based resume rather than one that focuses on job history. Pick out the skills you learned from jobs you have held (e.g., analytic skills, communication skills, teamwork, etc.) and document projects you've worked on and job activities to back up that you've been successful employing those skills.

Also, target your resume to the job you are seeking, even if you have to write a new one for each job. Recruiters see LOTS of resumes and they have to narrow them down before they can process them. They are human, so they are going to base a lot of it on first impressions. If your objective is too vague or wishy washy or doesn't seem to fit, that's a reason to toss your resume (of course, if it looks unprofessional or you have words spelled wrong then it will go in the trash, too). If your resume looks like exactly what they want, you are more likely to get an interview. It will also help with the "over qualified" problem.

There's more job advice here:

http://www.quintcareers.com/career_resources.html
http://www.collegegrad.com/

Good luck!