University Graduates

Whats the best way to get a graduate job? and why is it so hard?!?

I graduated this June and went straight into a graduate position that didnt suit me. So I quit, silly I know, especially seeing as I didnt have a back up and now I am fully unemployed. My hopes have faded and Im not sure if I'll be good working for anyone. I feel really useless and almost on the brink of depression. I dont wanna be a bum, I loved working, the freedom, the hard work, everything. But now I am so scared that Im going to get rejected from good companies that I dont even try. I cant even get the dole as I voluntarily left the last job. For all you former graduates who are high flying and happy...how did you do it? I got a 2.2 in my business degree and feel its a major set back for me. Can I ever get a good job with this grade? I was 2 marks away from a 2.1 and it will forever haunt me! I just need a little advice, especially from you ex grads. Thanks ever so much! Disheartened in London x

Public Comments

1. It seems like everyone I know is going through this right now. You're just going to have to get out there and apply to places. The worst they can tell you is no. Someone once said it takes 1,000 no's to get a yes. So if you have to send out 1,000 resumes, so be it. To make it a little less stressful, you might give yourself a daily limit, like "I'm going to send out 5 resumes today" and maybe the 6th one comes a little easier. Good luck.
2. Don't complain so much because at least, you are in London, were women work. In Spain, where I come from, 38% of women are unemployed, even though women have better qualifications than men. I got a 2.5 in my BA two years ago and I am still looking for a real job. I just try not to be discriminated right from my delicate and femenine and young appearance. This is a poor advice, but, at least, you are not alone...
3. What you need is training. Get yourself some professional qualifications or just some simple classes to brush up your skills. It gives the message that you want to work, and want to learn new things. Don't let it get you down, you have to be positive. Employers can smell insecurity a mile away. You need to tell yourself that you got a graduate job straight from school, and with only a 2:2, so you can sure as hell do it again. Go Go Go !
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5. First off, get yourself any kind of job. It's a harsh fact of life that people want to employ those who are already employed, and avoid the unemployed. Once you get a job, take all the training that is on offer to boost your cv with work based training. It took me six years after getting my degree to get a really good graduate job, but I did gain huge amounts of experience from all the non-graduate jobs I had. Its now ten years since I graduated and I have a dream job that was so much worth the wait. Hang in there and best of luck.