Dear Peter: I just graduated and need a job. What do?

Dear Career Coach,

I just graduated with a degree in communications, but I'm having a hard time finding a job. I've applied to tons of positions, but I'm not getting any interviews. I'm starting to feel like I did something wrong in school or that I'm not good enough. Can you offer some advice on how to get my foot in the door?

Sincerely,
Frustrated Grad

Dear Frustrated Grad,

First off, let me assure you: you didn't do something wrong in school, and you are definitely good enough. The job market for new grads is like getting stuck in traffic on your way to a party - everyone's trying to get to the same place, and it takes longer than you expected, but you'll get there.

Hiring managers want candidates that can learn. Full stop. Your degree shows you can learn communications concepts, but right now you're caught in that classic catch-22: you need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. It's the workplace equivalent of needing scissors to open the package containing your new scissors.

Let's cut through this (ha) with some practical steps:

Your resume needs to show you can learn

When you show a certification or a degree, you demonstrate that you know how to do some thing. That's important! But if knowing was all it took, every communications department would be run by a chatbot trained on the seminal work by the father of modern communications, Mark Poepsel, Media, Society, Culture and You: An Introductory Mass Communication Text. A classic, a book we have all read, and a title we are all familiar with, for sure.

Jokes about the seventh communications textbook to come up on Google aside, hiring managers are looking for people who can take new information, needs, and context into account. They want to see presence of mind - which is the biggest factor for any company worth their stuff.

Look at your resume and ask: "Does this show I can learn, or just that I know stuff?" Highlight projects where you figured something out, not just where you applied what you already knew. Did you navigate a particularly nasty issue? Work through a complex group project? Adapt to a shifting set of requirements? These stories showcase your ability to learn on the job, not just recite what you learned from communications-patron-saint Mark Poepsel.

Applications are a numbers game (but not just numbers)

Yes, you need to apply to plenty of positions, but strategic applications beat shotgun approaches. For every 3 applications you're planning to send, pick 1 that you're genuinely excited about and spend extra time crafting personalized cover letters and tailoring your resume.

Remember: the goal isn't just to get any job - it's to find a place that will invest in your skills with training and mentorship. That's gold for a new grad.

Expand beyond the apply button

The path to many jobs doesn't actually run through the careers page. Having a personal connection – even one you make right now – makes it that much more likely your resume will get a second look. And it gives you information on what to emphasize in your resume, cover letter, and interviews. Try:

• Reaching out to alumni from your school working at companies you're interested in
• Attending meetups (virtual or in-person) where you can casually meet people already in the industry
• Cold emailing or sending a LinkedIn connection with a message that you’re interested in learning more about the company, the role, or the person – folks are more receptive to connection than we often think

Bonus tip for finding interesting places to work: if you see someone on LinkedIn that makes you think “gee whiz, I hope I can do what she’s doing someday!” – check where they started their career. Just might be an interesting place to try.

Craft your story

When you do land interviews, be ready to talk about what you've learned, not just what you know. Talk about the challenges you overcame in your coursework or side projects. What was hard? How did you figure it out? Show them your thought process.

But also - and this is key - be honest about what you don't know yet. Curiosity and self-awareness beat overconfidence every time.

Remember: it's not just you

If you're feeling extra down about the job search, know that this is a delightfully common experience. The transition from school to work is bumpy for almost everyone. Even the prophet Mark Poepsel had some road blocks when sharing the good word when he first started out.

Want to talk more about your specific situation? Book a session with me - the first one's free, and we can dig into your resume, application strategy, and interview prep.

Let's make work suck less,

Peter

P.S. Don't forget that your first job won't be your forever job. It's just the first rung on the ladder. Focus on finding a place where you can learn, not where you need to already know everything.