As college students, we spend the past four long years of our lives to become experts in a dedicated field in order to pursue our future careers. Not to mention, the previous 13 years of schooling you attend to simply become a functioning member of society. Put that aside and think about the years in preschool learning your colors and shapes and numbers and you may come to the realization that the past 21 years of your 21-year-old life has been spent preparing you for your future career. Suddenly you are about to graduate with your degree, and you are applying to jobs and getting rejected left and right. What was the purpose of obtaining the degree, if you cannot pursue the career attached to it?
As a young professional, I have spent my four years of college pushing my boundaries and never letting an opportunity pass me by with the hopes that all my dedication will help me succeed in the future. Something that has been incredibly hard is the rejection that you will face coming out of your college career. In some ways, it feels that all of your hard work, all of the hours of studying, working and learning meant nothing. Because of this, I have found myself asking the question, why is it so hard to get a job as a college graduate?
Looking at it from the perspective of the hiring managers, more often than not, students lack the experience they are looking for. On job applications they usually list the requirements for the position, and most of the time they are looking for one to three years of experience for an entry level position. What does that mean for us? Start looking for internships. Start attending talks and networking with those in the same field. Even then, it’s almost impossible to gain experience, when employers won’t hire you due to lack of experience.
Even when these frustrating incidents occur, and you think you check all the boxes and suddenly you find yourself being rejected, do not let this slow your ambition. Push yourself, try new things, and seek out your interests. One day someone is going to give you a chance, something in you is going to spark interest. This four-year degree has set us up to be successful, but it’s not just about the degree. It’s about your attitude and work ethic. We simply need to take advantage of the experiences around us, work hard and don’t let the rejections stop you from trying.
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