Hey Grads! No Experience? No Problem! (Sort of)
March 26, 2008 (10:00AM) by Brianna Raymond
I graduated from a 4-year college two years ago, even though it feels like about 10. With a pretty solid balance in my bank account from my part-time job at school and "good luck" graduation gifts, I spent the summer relaxing, sleeping in, and job hunting. I graduated with this notion that having a college degree would serve in place of experience (read: a lack thereof) and pretty much guarantee a decent starting salary in a first job. And finding that first job was going to be a piece of cake with a degree to boast. Knowing what I know now, I couldn't have been more foolish.
What I Learned about Experience, from Experience
1. You have it, but it's not the right kind. The "Experience" section of my pre-graduation resume looked a little something like this: Grappelli's Pizza, 3 years; Brooks Pharmacy, 2 years; Riverside Athletic Club, 5 months. In my mind, this kind of work record could show a prospective employer that I'm a good, loyal worker. But none of that matters in the "real world." If the jobs and the skills are irrelevant to the field of work you're looking to enter, then putting them on your professional resume won't help you much.
2. Your free time in college counts for more than you think. College meant the freedom to schedule my own day. To be done with classes by noon or to not even start until 4 p.m. Oh, and the parties? Yeah, those were really something. But what about the student activities and clubs? Or the internships advertised around campus? Not only did my contributions to the campus newspaper and my summer internship at a publishing house give me valuable experience for the workforce, they also gave me a stronger resume that secured interview after interview.
3. Moneywise, your degree will only take you so far. Nowadays, practically any office position requires a bachelor's degree. Way back when having a college degree was less common, you could use it as a negotiating tool for more money. No degree? You'd start at $20,000. Bachelor's degree? OK, how about $35,000? But this system doesn't apply in today's workforce. Having a degree to put on your resume might get you in the door, but only experience will influence the kind of money you want to make – unless you're in an industry where each degree level means higher pay, such as teaching or engineering.
4. Figuring out what you really want to do will only get easier. Landing that first job is something worth celebrating. After the countless hours of searching and interviewing, you've made the leap from student to professional and your career can only go up from here. In my first year, I learned how to adjust to regular office hours, figured out what my superiors expected from me, and most importantly, I learned that that particular business and industry was not quite right for me. In your first job, you'll figure out what makes you happy about your career choice, and what doesn't. And that's how you'll know it's time to build on your experience and start looking for a second job.
If you're just making the transition from student to professional (or will be soon), don't let the "2-4 years of experience" stop you from applying for positions that interest you. Your coursework and contributions to clubs or internships count toward that number; just be sure to describe them with skill and professionalism on your resume, highlighting the most important, job-relevant contributions. And as always, keep in mind that if your goal is a better, higher-paying position, you have to gain experience somewhere.
Was your first post-grad job hunt anything like you expected it to be?
And might I suggest that the college grad do SOMETHING after they graduate and while they search. Instead of hanging out and looking I would suggest temp jobs for example. Temp jobs are available in office situations as well as education, for example. By May, there are many teachers that are taking days off to interview for the next year, see their kids end of year school activities etc. and substitute teaching slots are open to fresh college grads in some towns. Temping also offers flexibility to still interview and even get to the shore for a day. I don't want to insult anyone, I basically think any type of work is good and shows future employers that you are energetic. Babysit, be a Nanny, mow lawns.....
Thanks for the comment, Manny! These are great suggestions for students on how to fill the gap between college and their first job. For those, like me, who knew they were destined for a desk job in some big office, it can be intimidating to think that so much of our previously self-managed time would soon be dedicated to 40 hour weeks for the next ~45 years of our lives. It's a typical Generation Y fear. So while I agree that having a constant flow of income is valuable, I also encourage post-grads to take a break and sort out their lives and personal goals before they jump into the corporate world -- if they can afford to. A gap like that on their resume isn’t something that’s frowned upon by employers -- at least not any that I interviewed with. But I'd be glad to hear from anyone whose experience was different! ~Brianna I think college grads should temp or sub in different districts to check out different types of businesses and opportunities that exist. Helps make a better choice and could help someone get a position that suits them even better. It's like trying on the clothes before you buy them and take them home. If they don't fit, you don't buy them and look at them disappointingly or have to waste time returning to the store for the exchange or refund.
Grabbing a temp job in an office or substituting in a classroom is definitely an option for grads who just aren't ready to take that step or aren't sure what they really want to do yet. They can gain valuable experience and dabble in different occupations until they find the right fit for them. Thanks for contributing, Muriel. I'm curious to see if grads have actually taken this route (or even know that it's available). If so, how did it work out for them? Many years ago I graduated from college and the economy was not booming (similar to today). A friend told me about temping. I had no clue what temping was but went and registered with a temp service and told them I knew how to answer a multi-line phone. So, I went on a couple of jobs at different companies as a receptionist and got to know a lot of people. The 3rd or 4th company I went to figured out I could do more than answer the phone and people would ask me to do other things and I was happy to keep busy and make the day go by. At the end of my 3 days, someone in another department asked if I could come back and help them. I told them I needed a beach day but could come back on Tuesday. I did and then returned the next week and suddenly found myself working more than I wanted for my last summer of freedom. I cut back to 3 days per week and then started a permanent job with them after Labor Day using my business degree. I left that company after receiving my 10th anniversary gift and after earning an MBA for which they paid.
I think that's a great example of what a new grad can do to gain experience and test out the waters before they jump into a full-blown career. Thanks for sharing, Mary!
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