Graduating and job hunting

Uni is over. Graduation is imminent. The future is unknown.

It’s a story that thousands of graduates nationwide are living. And I am one of those graduates. I’ve spent the last three years working my socks off to get my degree.

And I’ve spent the last six months or so applying for just about every journalism job I’ve seen advertised. I applied for the grad schemes at the nationals, I’ve applied for numerous local reporters roles all over the country and I’ve applied for various online roles. But nothing has been successful. And for all the jobs I’ve applied for I’ve had maybe five acknowledgements of my applications. And even less where I’ve actually been told that my application was unsuccessful.

And that’s the most infuriating part. The not knowing. The silence of potential employers. You keep hope for a week after the applications close, maybe even for two weeks. And then you lose all hope. And then you get a phone call from an unknown number and you get your hopes up for a split second. Only for them to be shattered again when you answer the call and it’s your network offering you an upgrade.

And with every rejection it gets harder to carry on. I find myself thinking that maybe I’m not actually good enough to get a job. And maybe I should give up and just accept that it was a great dream but is never actually going to happen. But if I’m perfectly honest, more than anything I’m too stubborn to accept that. So I’ll keep going.

And maybe now I’ve got my actual results my applications will have a better chance of being successful?

Are you graduating this year too and finding the same problems trying to get a job? Do you have any advice for someone in this situation? Leave a comment on this post or tweet us @wannabehacks

aleekwrites

While temping, I spent 8 months applying. Hit 96 jobs: got one. A permanent, graduate, well-paid one. Interviewed so well after 8 months of interview research, ideas and practise; I know I can interview well again. (I'm job hunting again. ^ That job turned into redundancy.)

I also have a bookmark folder full of career advice blogs, websites and posts. 2/3rds are how to stay motivated, remember and review why you love it/do it/want it. It's the biggest factor.

Smile. You're the best thing you've got. Don't take it personally: Job openings and applications are a matter of timing. Try sympathising with recruiters (hard, I know): They get 200 applications for each dream job advertised. Can you do anything better or differently?

If so, what have you got to lose?

Oh, and also? Don't give up.

AmyDyduch

@wannabehacks #PoweringThrough

AmyDyduch

@wannabehacks The best way is for a job to stem from work exp. It's hard for people to see what you're capable of on just a piece of paper!

HuwLHopkins

@wannabehacks you're not alone. Never thinks it's cos you're not good enough. There are so many of us going through this same situation.

lexiconflows

@mhd_bass @NatalieJosh @wannabehacks I wish I had more sympathy, but I got my degree, worked for the past 4 years, got my NCTJ : still nada!

lexiconflows

@MellyQuesha @mhd_bass @NatalieJosh @wannabehacks actually I qualified this year.....but it's hard for everyone, that was my main point.

Adam_WatfordObs

@wannabehacks What degree has Natalie got? If it's not NCTJ accredited that might explain the silence. #ChinUp

NatalieJosh

@Frost_J sarcasm? Or does it genuinely come across as cheery? If so, absolute miracle!

Frost_J

@NatalieJosh IT IS NOT CHEERY

NatalieJosh

@Frost_J GOOD. Cos I am not cheery about it!

anon87

1 Like

Don't get too despondent. It's easy when you're a student to develop grand ideas about jobs you'll get into when you graduate, and when everyone's telling you about how much potential you have and how well you do in your studies it's hard to see how it could pan out any other way.Fact is, journalism is in a pretty bad place right now. I know simply extraordinary candidates (we're talking 1sts from cambridge/oxford, distinctions at City, bylines in the nationals) who have had a real hard time of trying to settle into a long term permanent job. Hundreds of applications, a handful of interviews and no real luck.You have to be realistic about your goals. Don't expect that you can get yourself straight into a staff position, as there's some very experienced people out there applying for some very entry level positions. Even as a graduate you'll have to face the fact that you'll need to inern for a while still, and if you're lucky, one of those opportunities may develop into a full-time opportunity.Basically, you're not the first one to go through this and won't be the last, but keep the faith and put in a decent year of trying after you've graduated before throwing in the towel.Lastly, don't start thinking it's anything to do with you not being good enough. Unfortunately at this stage of your life being 'good' really doesn't mean anything at all. We're all terrible in our early 20s really - inexperienced, naive, arrogant, insecure, lacking the chat, lacking the contacts etc. The only difference is whether people are going to have the energy to give you a chance, which unfortunately is as often down to how well connected you are as any type of potential. That's life, but it levels out over time...

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