Current Events > How did you get your first job out of college?

(+) Yeah! (+)

For those that graduated and wanted to get in a particular field. How much of landing a job is who you know versus applying to what is available?

I'm getting my Masters degree in a few months and I have been starting the job hunt process now. I've applied to a countless number of jobs that are posted on Indeed, even writing personalized covers letters to them. I even emailed a few to follow up on and haven't heard back, other than 2 auto generated emails saying the position has been filled. What am I doing wrong? I feel like I'm just throwing my resume out in the abyss >_<

Do you have experience, research, or internships?

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You're not doing anything wrong, job hunting is just that soul crushing.

I actually got most of my interviews from jobs I applied to on Craigslist... but that was 10+ years ago.

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I had to take a crap job up in North Dakota

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I left my resume in the abyss and they contacted me

Truth is the vast majority of open jobs are rarely posted; people will leverage soft social connections or hiring people will seek out candidates from the abyss instead of having an official opening.

Yes, it is very frustrating to be ghosted when applying but that is the norm because they can't be assed to personally reject all the rejected applicants. Just keep at it and stay in touch with colleagues who've recently graduated.
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MedeaLysistrata posted...

Do you have experience, research, or internships?

No job experience in this field (public health). But I have 2 short-term volunteer positions related to this that I have been putting on my resume.

I never graduated, but like a year after I dropped out one of my professors called me and asked if I wanted to do some Cultural Resources Management on the side, and I said yes. 5 years later I do just about every aspect of environmental consulting

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Mailing list for my subject area

I was a couple months away from having to resort to a research position in Singapore lol

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In my particular case, I looked for positions in very rural areas. It's much harder to find jobs specific to your industry, but the few that do exist tend to be easier to get as there aren't as many qualified candidates opting to live in rural towns for lower pay.

The job had very low pay, but they compensated for it by giving me a good title. Plus, the cost of living in rural areas is much lower so the pay still worked out nicely. The additional benefit is that after a few years, I was able to go work in a much more urban, populated area now that I had experience, and the elevated title opened many doors for me.

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Put my application into an internship program at college for like the 5th time. Got a call back this time in Senior year and was offered an internship at a p well known company. I had a really good mentor there and apparently impressed people, so got hired fulltime at a competing company that paid way more lol

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One of my professors worked there part time.

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Zanzenburger posted...

In my particular case, I looked for positions in very rural areas. It's much harder to find jobs specific to your industry, but the few that do exist tend to be easier to get as there aren't as many qualified candidates opting to live in rural towns for lower pay.

The job had very low pay, but they compensated for it by giving me a good title. Plus, the cost of living in rural areas is much lower so the pay still worked out nicely. The additional benefit is that after a few years, I was able to go work in a much more urban, populated area now that I had experience, and the elevated title opened many doors for me.

Yeah I kinda came to terms with having to do this as well. Im pretty open to relocating for work, but I havent applied to rural areas just yet. Guessing this is the answer.

Oh, definitely try to get on a graduate listserv

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i got an internship during my last year at uni and was hired when i graduated

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SamuelLJackdson posted...

No job experience in this field (public health). But I have 2 short-term volunteer positions related to this that I have been putting on my resume.

Why not?

I dont know much about the public health field, but with new grad roles for software engineers we are flooded with so many applicants, we wont look at anyone who doesnt have at least a couple of internships.

Zanzenburger posted...

In my particular case, I looked for positions in very rural areas. It's much harder to find jobs specific to your industry, but the few that do exist tend to be easier to get as there aren't as many qualified candidates opting to live in rural towns for lower pay.

The job had very low pay, but they compensated for it by giving me a good title. Plus, the cost of living in rural areas is much lower so the pay still worked out nicely. The additional benefit is that after a few years, I was able to go work in a much more urban, populated area now that I had experience, and the elevated title opened many doors for me.

This is actually what I want to do, except without moving back to an urban area.

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The hardest part about finding a job is finding a job.

You simply have to apply to anything you can. Maybe by the 50th application you'll get an interview. Don't just rely on Indeed only but try Monster, Craigslist, Linkedin, and on the company's websites.

Also adjust your resume a bit before sending it. See what key words are on the application form and adjust your resume to make yourself seem like the perfect candidate.

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Mike Xtreme posted...

You're not doing anything wrong, job hunting is just that soul crushing.

I actually got most of my interviews from jobs I applied to on Craigslist... but that was 10+ years ago.

Seconded. It sucks man. I remember struggling as well, and whenever I asked others what they did, they said the knew someone at the company.

Well shit, no one in my family circle worked in a white collar job.

I eventually got one through applying through my school's job board.

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every software developer job i've landed since leaving college i've found on craigslist of all places

but i've only worked for two companies aside from my own so it's not saying much

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To answer the question, I didnt know anyone. I applied to maybe 50-100 jobs and got two interviews out of it. Got offers for both and picked the highest paying one. I looked at every job board I could.