You finally graduated from college! Congratulations! You have worked tirelessly for four years and before that you also worked hard in high school graduating in the top 10% of the graduating class. Now you are on your way to finding that flexible well-paying job, so you start filling out hundreds of applications with wonderfully written resumes and cover letters. But oh… you are getting rejection after rejection and a lot of the so-called entry-level positions are asking for twenty years of experience. How depressing!

Yippie! Graduation!

Was it worth it?

College graduates continue to face the daunting reality that their degrees are not enough to get a toe in the door of some companies. No one told me the secrets of securing the first job out of college before graduation. Therefore, like many before me and some after me I found myself terribly upset and questioning if this STEM degree was worth the debt and the sleepless nights. It is frustrating to find out that all your arduous work to gain this degree is not helping you to get into the spaces that you know you deserve to be in.

Volunteer, Internships and Work study programs

So, I am here to help you with a few tips that you never thought about before or you were not interested in finding out. If you are in college the first thing you should do is seek employment in your field before graduation. I know you are saying you have a heavy workload and if they do not want to hire you after graduation who says they would hire you before you get the degree. Well, I understand your dilemma, but a lot of companies and colleges are willing to help students. If your school is well connected to the area, you can find a volunteer position, internship, or a work study program to gain experience. Even if it is one to two hours a day for five days a week that would help you gain experience.

Networking

The second tip I have for you is networking. I hate networking too, but it can put you in places faster than your resume can. Join groups on Facebook, Group Me, and LinkedIn to meet people and gain valuable information. I joined a few Public Health groups, and I was able to secure three jobs from those groups. Join those groups, introduce yourself and be pleasant. Ask questions and let them know what you are looking for. Most people understand your frustration and they are willing to help.

Start applying ASAP!

Do not wait till after graduation to apply for jobs. You should start applying for jobs while in college. Even if you apply for a fellowship or an internship, do it ASAP! When you get the contract position do your best and see if it can become a permanent job or move into something higher after graduation.

You need experience

Your degree is just part of your package for that job you need. Unfortunately, it may not be enough. Employers want people to come into their jobs without having to teach them much. This is very unfortunate because there are many inexperienced college graduates who are willing and capable to do any job.

I wish you the best! Remember this just my opinion!

Did you have a challenging time securing your first job after graduating from college? What other tips can you share?