4 Common Mistakes Recent Grads Make
February 12, 2019
With 2018 behind us, another new wave of college graduates have entered the job market. As they put together their resumes, gather letters of recommendation, and plan out their upcoming career fairs, hiring managers and recruiters alike are looking to attract the best of the best for their organization. With unemployment at record lows, there are still many new grads who find it difficult to get their foot in the door. I spoke with a few recent graduates (who chose to remain anonymous) about their struggles and successes. Here are a few mistakes that recent grads make when entering the workforce.
Networking
One of the common themes I noticed when speaking to individuals who had not secured a position yet was that they waited until graduation, or just before, to start networking with professionals in their field of study. By now you are probably familiar with the phrase, “Its not the grades you make, but the hands you shake,” or some variation. I firmly believe that all individuals should be in a constant mindset of “Always Networking” regardless of time or situation. Networking for graduation begins the first day of your freshman year as you introduce yourself to your professors. If you know your desired career path, join a student organization or a local community meetup and start shaking hands as soon as possible. By building relationships early on, you are at a higher likelihood of success.
Thinking Your First Job Must Be Your Dream Job
Many grads are eager to join their dream company in a high-paying lucrative role and fail to realize that their first job is just that… a first job. I was speaking to an individual who turned down interviews at smaller companies because he had an idea in mind of a high tech, Silicon Valley-type environment for their first job and believed that because he graduated with decent marks, he wasn’t going to settle for anything less. This is far too common and while he might find something eventually that fits his requirements, he is still currently unemployed. This isn’t saying you have to take the first job that comes your way, but keep an open mind and realize that while a smaller company might not be as lucrative, you’ll gain valuable experience that will help you moving forward.
Resume
This is probably the most common mistake. Resumes with misspellings, cookie-cutter format, irrelevant information, and sometimes outright lies. Thinking that putting your friends phone number as a professional reference for a previous manager and believing it will go unnoticed is absurd and we always find out.
Social Media
Your social media platforms are easily accessible to potential employers and are highly scrutinized during the initial hiring phase. Previous posts, pictures, etc. can come back to haunt you as we are seeing today with celebrities, athletes, executives, and more. Think before you post.
These are just a few of the common mistakes I noticed during my time speaking with recent college graduates. If you are new to the job market, I encourage you to “Always Network”, keep an open mind, review your resume, and clean up your social media. I wish you success on your career adventure!
Kevin Bickham, IT Recruiter