Job

THE COLD, HARD TRUTH: I DON’T LOOK GOOD ON PAPER

by Abby Phillips

The months leading up to graduation are an awkward time. There are those select few go-getters who somehow secured a job post-grad and then there are those like me: successfully received 20 rejection emails in a single day. Can I put that on my resume? 

However, I have figured it out for myself and here it is…

I don’t look good on paper.

There, I said it. It is harsh, it is true, and it is not what a recent or almost college graduate wants to hear (especially when applying for jobs!)

Now, don’t get me wrong. I did not spend college maxing out my credit cards and skipping class; although let’s be honest, there was some of that. I spent my time working 30+ hours a week while going to school full-time, being active in greek life, writing for the school magazine, and oh— having a life, too.

Somehow in the past four years I missed the lesson on how to get a job. Here is where I went wrong:

I worked to make money, not to gain experience. 

What I did not realize was that I needed relevant work experience throughout college. While I may have no debt or student loans, I have three years of experience in a field that will not help me get a job in Marketing or Communications. 

And there it is— I don’t look good on paper. 

Now, in the meantime, here are some helpful tips I have found while figuring out the job market:

  1. Design a good resume. Post it everywhere. Send it to everyone. The more people who see it, the more likely you are to get a job. 
  2. Invest time in building your professional social media, aka LinkedIn. Don’t be afraid to connect with strangers— that’s the whole idea of networking! 
  3. Apply, apply, apply! Try to not be discouraged by the few (or dozens) of rejection emails. The more applications you submit, the more job opportunities available!
  4. Apply for jobs where you are under-qualified. While you may not get the position, you can build a connection or have your resume on file for the future. 
  5. Create opportunities for yourself. While I may not meet the “5+ years of work experience” requirement, I can offer experience of my own; hence, starting a blog. 

Thank you for stopping by and reading my blog! Have any tips for me? Let me know below! 

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