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.