out of college, time for a job? Options

[Hanyo]

Just a got a question for everyone where. How long did it take everyone to find a job after college?

I know some friends who went traveling right after and didn't find a job until half a year later. I have another friend who started working as a private contractor getting paid $40 per hour before he graduated.

I'm currently graduated 1 week ago, and i feel like i'm a bumb already.

second questions is: when you did find a job, where and how did you get it? Through friends? Through craigslist? Monster track?

[SlickRick]

What do u have your BA in? that should tell u right there. Oh and best place to look for a real job is city hall in your area or area u want to work. City jobs are the best, cushy, good pay and benefits. And its not like the city is ever gonna go out of business.

This post has been edited by SlickRick: Dec 23, 2007 - 5:56 AM

[forkee]

well if you have school loans to pay off, you better get a job. traveling and bumming around are for people who already have money, or they are really bums, lol.

i agree with slickrick about working for the city, i just had an interview last week for a county hospital. if i get in, ill be able to transfer to any county system and keep my seniority. plus ill be able to retire after 25 years (if i decide to stay that long)

best thing to do is ask your network of people. see who's hiring and if you can get in through them. there's no better referral than a current employee. second best is to gather information on the places that interest you. visit the location and try and get a feel of whats going on on a typical day and see if that suits you. last thing to do is respond to job listings. the best jobs aren't listed and those are usually temporary anyways.

[GriffGirl]

Craigslist is a great resource for job postings... I'd stay away from Monster and Careerbuilder and sites like those, I have never had even any REMOTE luck with those.

The best way to get a job is to know someone. That means you have to network, meet people anywhere, everywhere, you never know when you're gonna meet someone who knows someone who knows a guy looking for someone... Your school probably also offers job placement assistance, that's a great resource. And yeah, research! Where do you WANT to work? You don't know they're not hiring until you send them your resume, cover letter, etc and follow up a week later. GET AN INTERVIEW ANYWAY even if they say they're not hiring. Then follow up with them periodically, remind them you exist.

Go to the library, there's tons of books out on how to get a job. It's the unorthodox stuff that more often than not helps you find a job. Be creative.

[Sh0gunkid8721]

Unfortunately a lot of good jobs are found through connections and who u know and this is why internships are so important. People take internships too lightly but thats where it all starts. I interned at Laird and Partners, helping them design ads for Gap, DKNY, Tangaray, Holland House and other stuff...landed my first job at UsWeekly Magazine even though they barely paid me at all, and now im over at ESPN as a freelance designer. Now through ESPN, ive met some other well known designers. Its baby steps...if u get offered a good job, or even an internship, just take it. Screw the money cuz it'll come later....so many people out of college are all about the money but unless ur coming out of grad school or have serious connections, ur not gonna be making much out of college.

Monster and Craigslist is a joke to finding a good job. Dont even bother cuz its the biggest waste of time...half the e-mail addresses that are posted in Craigslist dont even work !!! Depending on what u got ur BA in, there are specified sites out there that can help u out...for example, designers, there's mediabistro, aigadesign, and others that i cant think of off the top of my head. Get interviews and practice interviewing, cuz its probably the most important tool u can have when you're job hunting. If you can sell sh*t on a stick...ur gold. If you're really having problems, hire a headhunter. But it all depends on what u want to do and where u want to go. Just dont get too greedy too quick.

This post has been edited by Sh0gunkid8721: Dec 27, 2007 - 11:18 PM

[Hanyo]

thanks for all the info everyone.

I have a degree in business management economics. So my carear field is pretty broad. I just dont really know where to start. I'm not very confident with my GPA and past employment experiences.

Just dont really know where to work, or where to start looking.
I just dont feel comfortable sending out my resume to strangers on craigslist, seems like most of them are scams anyways.

I'm seriously considering going through a headhunter agency, i figured they can get me a respectable job.

[Slick]

Do you like to travel? Try the Foreign Service. They have some of the best benefits around. Free housing, dedicated maintenance department, diplomatic status, paid school fees, overseas pay, retirement benefits, free medical, and savings and investments plans. And there are so many jobs available, regardless of your political views.

[GriffGirl]

If you've got the money, a headhunter is a great idea. It'll cost a pretty penny, but they're working for YOU and have more to gain by finding you a killer job. If I had the money, I'd go that route NOW, and I've been in my field for 14 years!

By the way, not many people will ask you what your GPA was. I think I've been asked like two, maybe three times. No one really cares.