The job I lost
I graduated with a B.A. in Journalism in 2008. I immediately procurred an amazing opportunity with a yearlong fellowship at a small, national nonprofit in Washington, D.C. When I first took the fellowship, I was under the impression that I wanted to go to law school after a year of working.So I turned down a couple other offers. In the end, I decided I did not want to go to law school. Instead I focused on applying for jobs that would help start a full-time career. I don't regret taking the fellowship or not going to law school, but I do want to find a job.
What it's like being unemployed
I started applying for jobs in April (the fellowship ended in August). After discussing my situation with my boss, he agreed that if I found a job before the end of the fellowship, I could take it.Five months later, I am unemployed. Because I'm so young, and pretty much a recent graduate, I don't have enough experience that so many places are looking for. It is frustrating for me because I am very capable and a fast learner. I know I can do whatever job I am assigned, but on paper, I can't compare to someone with 5-plus years of professional experience even if I am willing to work for a lower wage.
I am currently working a temp job just to pay my bills and gain more experience. I've applied for over 30 jobs, most I am very qualified for, but have only had one interview and zero offers. The response I keep getting for employers is that they are having too many applicants. One job said they had over 100 applicants for one six-month position. How can I compete with that? Another had over 200.
Despite coming for a great program with a high GPA and great references, employers are not giving me the time of day. When I interviewed for my current temp job, the boss here told me he knew he was going to hire me within five minutes of talking to me because I am eloquent and confident. But what do you do when you can't even get an interview? I'm not sure what happens next. I consider myself lucky to have savings, parents that support me and a temp job. But I hope full-time employment arrives soon.
Advice
- Apply early. I've figured that if companies are getting 100-plus applications per opening, then the early bird really will get the worm. There's no way companies can go through all applicantions that come in. They have to go through them on a rolling basis.
- Apply no matter what. I've heard experts say you shouldn't apply just to apply, but I disagree. The more people who see your resume and read your cover letter the greater your chance to get a job. It is simple statistics and probability.
- Present yourself as best you can on paper because that is the only chance you have.
