By the time I had written this post, Trina Thompson had already been offered a job by the Ski Channel. But I still think there are some pertinent points, regardless.
Alumna Sues College Because She Hasn’t Found a Job
Really? It’s actually quite hard for me to even write anything about this news because everything that comes to mind is sarcastic, juvenile and downright mean. Has this woman not learned anything while in school? It’s really easy to blame career services for your unemployment while covering up your own laziness. There are plenty of reasons why her resumes and cover letters are being ignored. And they have nothing to do with how much help career services is giving her.
When I first graduated college, I entered the job search very half-heartedly. I penned a cover letter that I used for every single job, except where I filled in the correct date, job title and company. I never followed up with potential employers; I just assumed they’d gotten my resume, didn’t care for it and put it at the bottom of the pile. All I was doing was going through the motions.
It took a few months before I realized I just didn’t want a job. I wasn’t ready, and it showed. So instead I spent a year traveling, working as a nanny and creating a “before-I-enter-the-real-world-I-want-to-do-this” list. It included learning to cook, driving across the US and visiting a foreign country. I moved home (thanks, Mom!), cracked open my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook and recruited a travel buddy to go with me to Ireland . After a year, I drove across the country to move to Montana , a move that my family still doesn’t entirely understand.
When I got to Montana , it had been a year since my last failed job interview. But this was different—I was not only moving out on my own; I was 2500 miles from the nearest family member. I burned through my nanny income with the trip to Ireland and the move, and I needed a job fast. Not only that, but I wanted a job. I had accomplished what I had set out to do, and I felt a little more focused on the task of applying not only my technical skills, but also my passion and love for the field. Instead of sending out blanket cover letters and resumes, I tailored each one, called to follow up and even came up with a good answer when asked why I took a year off between graduation and employment. That answer even got me the second interview and eventually the job, where I spent 9 months before moving to my current job.
My point is this: regardless of how much (or how little) help career services gives you, there are many, many other factors that come into play during a job search. One major issue in this case is probably the state of the economy and the general outlook for new jobs in the near future. I would hope that this woman graduated knowing she would probably have a hard time getting a job. You’d have to be hiding under a rock to be ignorant of our current situation.
Another thing—you also can’t sit at your computer, send out a few emails and hope that you stand out. There are so many other ways to get in touch with an employer these days. LinkedIn and Twitter are two of my favorites. And unless the application specifically says not to, you can always ask to introduce yourself to the hiring manager if dropping off a resume in person. Thank you notes after an interview are also a must.
Revamping her job application techniques is what she should be focused on, as opposed to wasting time, money and energy suing an entity that will probably win in the long run. Oh, and what about not burning bridges? College professors can provide great recommendations. Why risk losing that?
