Why is it so hard for a new-grad to get a freaking job?
- Thread starter rc2021
- Start date
There are no jobs and it is getting worse, we are in a recession. Like the old addage goes, not what you know but who you know. I gather the general advice is to network like crazy or maybe even volunteer. The GTA is also a very competitive market, have you looked at re-locating.
I have to agree with other members replies.
To the O.P. in this day a University degree is still good, but you have to continue to work your ass off more, to get that top position that you want. No one in their right mind will give you a management position right out of university, not knowing the company and their work practices. The first thing you should so is suck up your pride and think about at least getting your foot in the door at a lower level position and work for a few years learning the different parts of the company, and then start your climb. You will see that it will pay off in ten folds and one day you will look back and pat yourself on your back.
Unfortunately Co-Op don't do it for me on resumes. Anyway I'm spending my weekend going through about 40 resumes from my company. Not what I planned but it has to be done.
Take Care,
SVT
To the O.P. in this day a University degree is still good, but you have to continue to work your ass off more, to get that top position that you want. No one in their right mind will give you a management position right out of university, not knowing the company and their work practices. The first thing you should so is suck up your pride and think about at least getting your foot in the door at a lower level position and work for a few years learning the different parts of the company, and then start your climb. You will see that it will pay off in ten folds and one day you will look back and pat yourself on your back.
Unfortunately Co-Op don't do it for me on resumes. Anyway I'm spending my weekend going through about 40 resumes from my company. Not what I planned but it has to be done.
Take Care,
SVT
I'm going to assume you mass emailed companies with your resume and cover letter. Possibly just changing the company name on each cover letter. That is just not good enough, you need to write a whole new letter for each position. Realistically, it should take you an entire day to write a proper cover letter by the time you research the company, position, and tell them why you would stand out for that position. I can confidently assume that there is most likely errors, or at least areas which could use vast improvement on your resume, and that you send out the same flawed resume to each employer.
And what makes you think you anything is wrong about working in a restaurant? LOTS of university grads do it, and they make more than almost every entry level position out there. Servers can EASILY bring home 1k+ a week.
Clearly your arrogance and sense of entitlement is working well for you, so keep going with that.
You are an arrogant prick, who thinks the world owes him a living.
What makes you think working in an office is better than working in a restaurant ?
As posted earlier by Master Bates, serving in a restaurant is a wonderful way to network, socialize, and make solid money, and you get paid every day.
I kept a part time job in a restaurant into my 40's for many reasons, including the extra cash, the enjoyment of working (and socializing) with quite a few lovely young waitresses, and other social aspects of the job. I made contacts from when I first started waiting that I continue to do business with, to this day.
I can sympathise with OP in that the fact is our craptacular economy over the last 15 years has created a pathetic situation were people are underemployed & real incomes have been decimated. The old addage is truer now than ever: the rich get richer & the poor, poorer. When I graduated from University in 1988, you actually were recruited at the campus job fairs for entry level MANAGEMENT positions. Job security & advancement looked more secure. Not these days from what I read. SHAME.
cute-bald has a very pessimisstic view.
Listen, you have to be unique. You have to distinguish yourself from the 1000s of other applicants.
If you're lucky enough to get an interview, walk into the office with confidence. You'll probably be sitting across from not 1 but 3 hiring managers. They'll ask you things like, "so, what skills do bring to the table?" Don't hesitate for a second. Skills? Reach into your suit pocket and pull out an 8 ball, and plunk it squarely on the conference table. Offer them a few lines (make sure it's high quality stuff). Even in this scenario, you'll only get a call back one third of the time, but it will increase your odds of getting a job 10 fold in this economy.
Look, I come from the streets, and I know that this approach works.
Listen, you have to be unique. You have to distinguish yourself from the 1000s of other applicants.
If you're lucky enough to get an interview, walk into the office with confidence. You'll probably be sitting across from not 1 but 3 hiring managers. They'll ask you things like, "so, what skills do bring to the table?" Don't hesitate for a second. Skills? Reach into your suit pocket and pull out an 8 ball, and plunk it squarely on the conference table. Offer them a few lines (make sure it's high quality stuff). Even in this scenario, you'll only get a call back one third of the time, but it will increase your odds of getting a job 10 fold in this economy.
Look, I come from the streets, and I know that this approach works.
didn't you network with the people at your co-op placement??? Did you get any references from the higher ups in the company?
How am I being pessimisstic???? Just going on what I read. 1988 with a b.a. companies were on campus job fairs hiring for management trainee ...... fast forward 2010...., I am hearing a b.a. degree gets jobs in mailrooms . In 1988 if you did not complete Highschool that is the job you could look forward to !!! Is NOT that underemplyment & underutilization of our educated? WTF????
You missed the point. Natasha and I both have jobs in our fields of education. I got offered a job before I even graduated. I thought this was about new grad employment? I only just graduated in January, I think that still qualifies me to speak as a new grad. This has nothing to do with sucking cock.
You are right, I guess I am too full of myself. A few years co-op experience and B average doesn't mean anything for the real world. I guess i am going to do what suburbanhobbyist and other suggested, approach to the industry i wanted to work with directly, and start from the beginning. to build up my career, maybe even look into other locations.
Thanks everyone
As earlier asked RC2021, are you a University graduate, a College graduate or both? If the first, what was your major(s)? Knowing this would help with giving you constructive advice.
He mentioned UW and WLU. Both are universities in Waterloo, Ontario. I know several people who work in both places (mainly in economics). Technically, UW is very good in areas like engineering, math, computers, etc and if he is from those faculties, a B is an above average grade. If he is from the Arts faculty, economics is the only department that has class averages of less than A so a B would not be so good. I am told that even in economics, B is the average the department recommends instructors keep for their classes. People there tell me that departments in the arts faculty are under a lot of pressure to keep marks high and difficulty levels low in order to attract students. Many faculty there have also told me that the students have very high opinions of themselves. WLU is more of a business and Arts university. I get the impression that a B would also be below average for them.
I am from University of Waterloo Math faculty, and took some business classes in Laurier.
LOL, i actually prefer not to give out too many details, since most people here are like managers and top managements(that's also the reason why i post this thread here).
It will be so awkward if one day the interviewer ask if i do hobby.
What a fraking sense of entitlement you seem to have.
You won't tell people your educational and work background so how can you expect anyone to help you?
Have you heard of something called a recession? Do you know what it means? It's what the entire world is currently in right now.
You think that quantity equals quality. It doesn't. Applying to a hundred jobs doesn't mean that you deserve an interview.
You don't even know what you want. "Professional background." "Office job." What does this even mean? Do you even know how broad that is?
A B average in undergrad is meaningless when you're looking for a job. It's the same for any major so don't be a snob. Employers don't look at your grades.
If you did co-op and weren't offered a job by the company then they probably didn't think you were anything outstanding. The truth hurts.
A good candidate should be getting 1 interview for every 10-12 applications they send out. The current world economic situation will hurt this number, but the fact is that the cream of the crop always rises.
You won't tell people your educational and work background so how can you expect anyone to help you?
Have you heard of something called a recession? Do you know what it means? It's what the entire world is currently in right now.
You think that quantity equals quality. It doesn't. Applying to a hundred jobs doesn't mean that you deserve an interview.
You don't even know what you want. "Professional background." "Office job." What does this even mean? Do you even know how broad that is?
A B average in undergrad is meaningless when you're looking for a job. It's the same for any major so don't be a snob. Employers don't look at your grades.
If you did co-op and weren't offered a job by the company then they probably didn't think you were anything outstanding. The truth hurts.
A good candidate should be getting 1 interview for every 10-12 applications they send out. The current world economic situation will hurt this number, but the fact is that the cream of the crop always rises.
