Harsh Job Market Awaits Graduates
When it came to finding a job after college, Josh Currie did everything right.
The Trinity University graduate, who wanted to work in media or marketing in New York, began his job search five months before he got his diploma in May. He contacted bosses from a previous internship. Asked recruiters how he could improve his résumé. Met with alumni for help. By mid-June, he had applied for more than 100 jobs, with no success.
“I didn’t think I’d land a great job within three weeks, but I didn’t realize just how exhausting it would be and how frustrating it would be,” says Currie, 21. “The problem is the competition is so tough. You’re competing not only with other young graduates but experienced workers who have been laid off.”
He’s not alone. With the national unemployment rate at 9.5 percent or higher since January, 2010 is one of the worst years to graduate high school or college since at least 1983 and possibly the worst since the end of World War II, according to a paper published by the Economic Policy Institute, a think tank in Washington, D.C. More…
We are in an interesting time. People want jobs, but many are not willing to work for the pay that is offered.
Part of the challenge is that people think they can achieve the same results for less money. So many people, and so little differences between them.
When the market can’t tell the difference, price becomes the deciding factor.
Start making yourself different from the competition, this is your secret.
-AJ
Thank you, AJ.
You are exactly right. That’s a key element in landing a job in today’s tough job market.