6 Reasons Why Most Fresh Grad Job Searches Fail

The name says it all.

‘Job hunting’ – which literally translates to, hunting for a job. And who would dare argue about hunting being easy?

It is then no wonder why majority of fresh graduates find it hard to land a job (not necessarily their dream job) weeks and even months after graduation.  You’re just like a predator in the wild, hunting your prey without any guarantee of success.

How can this be? You’ve spent years in preparation; (read: drudgery) spent effort in attempting to master your craft; and more importantly, spent time - much of it - doing projects and assignments just to pass your subjects.

And just when you thought everything has finally paid off, you’ll find yourself trapped in this long-term, worldwide trend we call unemployment.

So yes, how can that be?

Source: Google Images

Well the thing is, you really don’t have to.  Even if a survey conducted by the NACE (National Association of College and Employers) reveals that they will only be hiring 2.1 percent more college graduates this 2013 than on 2012 as reported in cnbc.com, you need not to be a part of the ‘unlucky’ ones.

There are things you just need to keep in mind in order to get an edge in this competition. Below are six common reasons why fresh grads fail in job hunting. Read them and understand. Take notes if you like.

It all pays to be prepared. Always remember that.

1.      No Customized Resume

The Internet has indeed made our works easier and faster. But just because there’s the presence of predesigned resume templates online doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t make one ourselves.

Employers are looking for applicants, fresh grads or not, who stand out – someone who can give them something unique. So if you stick to the same resume design used by many who’d rather have the easy way out, then how will you outstood the others?

Alison Doyle, an employment expert who has years of experience in career development and human resources writes about different types of resume everyone can use. Try making one now and see how it makes some difference!

2.      Relying too much on the Internet

If employers have online advertisements on job vacancies, what’s the point in personally looking opportunities by myself?

True. Job vacancies can readily be available online. You can just Google it. No sweat, job hunting done. Now what? Do keep in mind, and I mean really keep in mind, that the internet is just a tool. The work is on you. It has its limits and you know it.

So go out and talk to people. Ask questions not on search engines but from workers, real people, your friends and family members. You’ll be surprised by how the real world can show you much more than what the internet provides.

Source: Google Images

3.      Minimal or no Effort at all in Doing Follow-ups

Job hunting doesn’t end with the HR (or the computer for online applications) accepting your resume. That’s just the start and not the end. If you leave it at that and wait for the call that will tell you ‘You’re hired,’ then forget it.

You’re not doing anything. Remember that this is a competition! We need speed! Patience is a virtue, but it’s not forever – most especially if we consider our empty pockets for the next couple of days if we still don’t have a job.

Wait for three days and call them. If there’s no response, wait some more, a week or two tops. Still if there’s nothing, go ahead and move on. There are jobs waiting for you. Don’t be late!

4.      Aiming for that ‘Perfect Job’

There’s no such thing as perfect job unless you work for it. While it’s true that you need to love something before you can really work for it, reality doesn’t always agree. Sometimes you have to do it the other way around.

If you keep on aiming for that perfect job, the tendency is you’ll be missing out opportunities – a lot of them. Some which might even lead you to the ‘perfect job’ you’re looking for.

You’re a fresh grad and experience will mean a lot in the long run. So find a niche. Check available opportunities and start something. Now.

5.      Taking Interviews for Granted

Source: Google Images

Interviews are not created for nothing. Nor is it employed to simply annoy you with questions like ‘Tell me something about yourself,’ or the basic ‘What are your strengths and weaknesses?’

Why are they so interested?

Actually guys, they’re not. They’re just doing their job. That’s it. Period. This doesn’t mean however that you can take it for nothing. The usual mistake is when you treat job interviews like that of a casual conversation with a friend.

For one, interviewers are technically not your friends. Two, they’re gauging your ability to deal with work professionally based on your personal responses. Lie to them and they’ll know it. Believe me.

Honesty plus confidence is the key here. And where can you get confidence if you still don’t have it? Preparation.

So there you go. Do it.

6.      Too Many Target Niche

What if the problem isn’t the scarcity of available jobs?  What if, the problem is that you have a lot of them (jobs)?

This is tricky, but once you spot this trend, you’ll be grateful you learned about it before applying for something.

Sometimes we have too many prospect companies on our list. We have one from advertising, media, law firm, ecommerce, and everything that we tend to lose our focus to the point of why we’re applying.  It’s not just about money. It’s about working for something that we’re capable of.

Look at your list again? What do you see? How many categories? More than 2? Really? Now why don’t you narrow them down before moving on? You’ll see more if you do.

It’s all a matter of knowing the rules of the game. We see but we choose to ignore them. Well, not anymore.

Decoding Academic Regalia for a Masters Degree

The hustle and bustle that comes before a masters graduation day can get very taxing for a student. Aside from making sure you get all the garments required to have complete academic regalia, you also need to think about your budget, especially for the graduation after party. There are also other matters such as having someone at hand to take good pictures of you and other concerns such as what to wear and what you need to do to get to the ceremony on time. However, you should know that there is nothing more important than your graduation attire to be well-prepared. In this article, we will talk about each item and how essential they are in making up the whole of your outfit.

The graduation robe

Also known as the toga or the graduation gown, the robe is the central item in academic regalia. By simply donning it on, you change from just another person in a nice suit or dress into a graduating masters student. This means that the robe you’ll be wearing is one unlike any other graduation gown you’ve worn before. Masters robes are often larger because they are made with more fabric, and they also have a style of their own, such as wider bell sleeves and more precise pleating. The material used is also more luxurious, such as velvet or raw silk. The history of the graduation robe springs back all the way to Roman times, and by wearing it with pride, you pay respect to tradition and how education and history go together.

The academic hood

You will see lots of images of hoods if you visit any website specializing in academic regalia, such as GradShop. Do masters graduates wear hoods for practical reasons or does it just serve a decorative purpose? Hoods are normally worn to protect the head from rain and snow, but academic hoods are kept off the head. This may not necessarily make them as important as graduation robes, but there really is nothing like a hood to turn an ordinary black robe into something extraordinary. Masters hoods are also made to look more prominent than hoods made for bachelors and associate degrees, and this way you will feel more special with the higher level you achieved in education.

The graduation cap

A well-fitting robe and a pristine academic hood may already turn you into a picture-perfect graduate, but to top the ensemble off, you need a graduation cap. There are two types of this: the mortarboard, which is the more common style. It features that distinctive square board on top and a tassel hanging from one side. The second type is the Tudor bonnet, used in only a few universities and often reserved for professors and other doctorates. Most schools carry the tradition of transferring the tassel from one side to another once the commencement exercises are over. Students also like to throw the caps up in the air in celebration. To get the perfect graduation cap, visit GradShop.com for ideas on what you need for your special day.

Remember that wearing the complete academic dress and having each item in it fit you perfectly is important to make your graduation day, so do what you can to make sure you get the best.

3 Tips to Save Money for Your Masters Graduation

Graduation days are truly special events. For one thing, every graduation gets better and more important. A high school graduation, for example, is more special than your grade school ceremony, while the graduation day you had in university when you received your associate or bachelor’s degree is even more memorable. 

A masters graduation day will top them all, and that’s why you may think it’s perfectly fine to spare no expense in getting ready for it. However, there is still no reason to not try and save money whenever you can. Check out our three tips below on how to stay practical on preparing for that special day so you can enjoy yourself to the full and not empty your bank account.

Consider renting instead of buying

Most universities nowadays offer the choice of selling academic regalia to their graduating students, and it is not surprising that a masters graduation attire will be more expensive than a bachelor’s academic regalia. The difference between masters’s vs. bachelor’s graduation gown lies in the style and the materials. A bachelor’s attire is far simpler. The robe uses less material and a plainer fabric, whereas a masters robe is often more elaborate and made out of expensive velvet or silk. The academic hoods and graduation caps are also more stylish.

To see how much money you can save, check out GradShop masters graduation hood for sale. Renting will save you more money, but it is worth noting that buying and keeping your own academic hood can be a very precious memento, especially for a masters degree. 

Opt for bulk orders

                                                                               If you've decided that you want to buy your own hood, try collaborating with your fellow graduates on purchasing a bulk order so that the individual price will be much lower. This will also work for graduation robes and caps. The best time to buy academic regalia is at least a week before the graduation day, and this is because the shop you are ordering the garments from will not be as hassled as they will be if you will order a day or two before the event. This way, you can also check that your graduate attire are in perfect condition and will fit you perfectly.

Universities can also order all the academic regalia they need from GradShop by bulk. This means tahat the university itself can save money, and naturally when they sell the garments to the students, the prices will be even more reasonable.

Send online invitations for your graduation celebration

Your family, relatives, and friends will definitely be glad to hear that you are receiving your degree, and let them know about the upcoming graduation day by contacting them online. Most people use the Internet nowadays anyway, so make full use of it. This will save you money and from having to go through the hassle of buying stationery and mailing them to different addresses. Just make sure you email them a good week before your graduation ceremony. This will ensure that those who live out of town will have enough time to schedule and plan for their trip.

How Can You Get Custom Stoles For Your Graduation Day?

To have a really perfect graduation day, one of the things you need to do is to get the best graduation attire. Custom stoles, perfectly-fitting graduation robes, and an immaculate graduation cap make up this ensemble. The robes and the cap will most likely be provided by the university, or at least from some graduation shops that they collaborate with. Because you need to follow what the university dictates regarding graduation robe colors and cap styles, you really don’t have much to do about customizing them. Academic stoles, on the other hand, leave you more room to work with. In this article we will talk about how you can personalize your stoles for your graduation day as well as ideas on what you can do to make them look even more special.

What are custom stoles and where can you find them?

No graduation shop will ever run out of custom stoles, hoods, and cords. These are the three different ornaments worn over the graduation gown. The cord is simpler and is more commonly found in secondary graduation celebrations. The hood is considered to be the most exceptional and is often reserved for graduates of masters, law, medicine, and doctorates. The stole stands in between the cord and hood. It can be found even among primary and secondary graduates, and when customized can also hold its own for university graduating students.

How can you get custom stoles?

There are two ways you can go about this. First is to visit a graduation shop. If this shop is familiar with the academic regalia requirements of your school or university, then it is so much the better. You will be presented with samples of custom stoles and the ways you can personalize yours so that the stole will express your individuality and at the same time follow your school’s regulations.

The second step is to check out the website of a graduation shop. This way, you can see how stoles for the various universities differ from each other, and more. For example, GradShop custom stoles for masters degree will naturally look more elaborate than a stole designed for associate degrees and high school graduates.

Where can you buy custom stoles?

Most schools nowadays permit customization for their graduating students, especially for something that is already as special and decorative as a stole. A graduate of arts, for instance, may wear a different stole design than the graduating students of science, engineering, commerce, etc. And if you buy a stole, there are no limits to how you want to personalize it.

If you’re rushed by time, you can order a customized stole at www.GradShop.com. And don’t worry; online business is so popular now that you will most likely get little to no trouble at all. For lower prices, you can go for bulk orders by teaming up with your fellow graduates. GradShop also offers plenty of other items that you may find very helpful for your graduation, such as diploma covers, personalized diploma frames, and even graduation robes, caps, hoods, and cords that they can create or modify according to your preferences.

Tips when you Buy Masters Graduation Hoods Online

Are you waiting for your graduation day? Making this big day a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you need to start with your Masters academic regalia. From the Masters Graduationhoods to gowns and caps, at commencement ceremony, each piece plays an essential role; this is a special time that may happen in your life that deserves an outfit by the same token as other special affair as well. Subsequently, opt for the most excellent garments possible above all hood as it holds your discipline being a Masters Degree candidate.

All through the graduation ceremony, you will feel paramount importance with your attire. How do you like to have your regalia- buy or rent? Read on the following are tips when you buy your Masters Graduation hood online"

1 List down the school design including the colors of your academic regalia especially the hood

Do not think that all the schools have the same styles, colors, and design. Every institution might have similarities with other institutions, but in most cases, they differ greatly when it comes to graduation outfit. This is due to countless students that tend to swerve to show up in this respectable day. This is the reason why you have to confirm all important details intended in your regalia before you make an order through online. Who knows? Maybe your school is one of those institutions that are too strict enough to disallow you to attend the graduate ceremony together with other graduates if you will not conform to their rules.

1 Have the right measurements

Did you measure your body measurement for your gown? How about your head circumference for your graduation cap? Finally, did you confirm the colors to be used for the Masters hood? The purpose of academic hoods is very important to differentiate you from the other candidates. Masters Degree is higher level in academic, thus, you must be confident to boost your pride with the best hood you could ever have for the graduation day. Keep in mind to wear your apparel for graduation when you get your measurements. The hood's length apart from the color is crucial. Of course, attach it precisely at the back of your gown.

1 Compare and distinguish the online shops

Check several online shops if you would like to guarantee the best and accurate graduation hood at a price that allows you to save money. So it's advisable to not only visit 1 or 2 shops. Endeavor to as many as you can.  After all, the Internet has boundless of online stores that provide graduation clothes.  Therefore, you need to remember the first tip beforehand or you will eventually acquire the wrong item. Online purchasing of graduation clothes can be the best solution when you are running out of time to obtain it. To look for it at local shops might take you longer than you expected. Regardless of your geographical location, all the pieces of garments that consist your graduation regalia can be common apparel wherever institution you graduate.

10 Things You Should Do Before Your College Graduation

Days before your college graduation, you will most likely feel two dominant emotions that are fighting with each other. One will be the feeling that you can’t get over this busy time soon enough, and the other will be wishing for that special day to last forever. To help you through this very confusing time, we have created a list of ten things you should consider doing before your graduation. Not only will they help you get a more enriching experience, they may also cheer you up at finally accomplishing what you have always wanted to do.

1. Talk to that person you have always admired. Or at the very least, smile and wave. You’ll be glad you did so before your college graduation comes and you might never get to see that person again. And you never know, he or she may come over and talk to you, and you may find yourself earning a new friend or more!

2. Seek out your most favorite college professors, and tell them that you have always found them inspiring and that you are proud to have studied under them. Trust us; your professors will really appreciate it. However, it may be best to do this after your final examinations are over so that they won’t think you are sucking up to them for better grades.

3. Send out the most creative college graduation invites you can think of! Whether they come in the form of letters, cards, or digital art sent through email, be as wacky and original as you can. Not only will they be appreciated by your loved ones, they may also help convince them to give you a really great graduation present!

4. Take two old shirts and get your college buddies to sign one and your college professors to sign the other. These will prove as precious and special as your diploma in the future.

5. Make sure you have the complete set of academic regalia at least two days before your college graduation day. Your cap, robe, and hood should fit perfectly, be immaculate, and be free of wrinkles and other flaws.

6. Return all your library books. As much as you want to keep the ones you really love, remember that there are students who need them far more than you do.

7. Sit in on a class for fun. If your university is quite strict regarding attendance, talk to the professor in charge of the class first. He or she will most likely appreciate your interest and won’t mind you sitting in and learning something new for the day.

8. Join a club you have always wanted to, even if it’s just for one meeting. It could be glee club, the debate team, Red Cross volunteers, the photography club, etc. You might end up pursuing a new passion and meeting new friends.

9. Take a picture of you in your complete academic regalia in a professional studio. You can also have a friend who’s handy with a camera take your photos instead. If your college graduation attire isn’t ready, try GradShop for garments that look closest to what you will be wearing on that special day.

10. Above all, just have fun! Your college graduation will be one of the most memorable times in your life, so enjoy yourself!

Best Gift For Doctoral Graduation

To find the best gift for a son or a daughter or a friend instead for his/ her graduation day can be really overwhelming. You have to think of one sensible thing that can make him or her happy. If the recipient will be receiving a doctorate certification, one of the best gifts to consider is the frames for diploma. The doctoral degree gives enormous pride to graduates. In the article entitled, Frames for diploma: the Most Practical Doctoral Graduation Gifts, frames may not cost that much.

Perhaps the most significant thought in preserving a document is the objects that truly touch certificates. What makes this frame for diploma to be your present is that it can always remind the recipient his or her achievement after all the hard work. Doctoral certificates are very important; thus, one of the best concerns of this item is to protect the crucial document from fading by placing them in a frame. 

You can choose either from these 3 options: clear glass, non-glare glass, or the anti-reflective glass. Every form of glass has a special feature that can affect the document to be contained in diverse ways. With a lot of frames to opt for the range of process can be overwhelming. For easy selection, you can visit GradShop for more choices. You can make sure that they offer best diploma frames fitted for doctoral certificates. All their type of frames holds a special means of flaunting your recipient's graduation memories and enjoys it for years. 

You can also get specialized frames where pictures taken during the graduation can be placed inside. If the graduate for instance received a tassel or a medallion, he or she can frame it at the side of the diploma too, and that extra pride to possess. There are numerous graduation frames with specific decorations. Prefer a high quality diploma frame on top form at all decor and also usable to frame other unforgettable moments together with your family and friends during your graduation day.

The recipient can choose where to put the frame, either on the walls at home or at the office. However, majority of individuals like better to hang the frame at home because the significance of their certification proffers more pride when their visitors see it. People give respect to a person who has gone through academic struggle that has been worthy and evident with their diploma. 

Graduation diploma frames are ideal as the best gift that you can bestow on graduation day for a fulfilling great memorabilia that any person can appreciate. So start looking for a shop now where you can obtain the frame. Inquire if you be able to customize in order to goes well with the qualities of the recipient. Stop spending too much money, because there's very affordable diploma frames offered in GradShop, in particular, since they are accessible in a lot of dissimilar sizes and enclose a diversity of gifts. Furthermore, you can make sure that this online shop provides you friendly service and easy navigating site.