Just Graduated? Maybe You Shouldn’t Have…

“(Recent graduates) need to be realistic about what they’re qualified to do… That sometimes means taking a longer view of [your] career by accepting an entry-level job first, with the thought that it will help [you] get to [your] perfect job later,” says Minneapolis job recruiter Catherine Byers Breet in an article published by Main Street.

In this recession, few people have been hit harder than recent graduates. Oh, sure, there’s the private bankers and Wall Street financiers who have spent the past year reeling from the impact of their own short-sighted decisions - but it’s the college grads who have seen the value of their education plummet as degrees suddenly ceased being the golden ticket to high-paying jobs and rapid career advancement.

In one of my earlier posts, I discussed the importance of flexibility, going so far as to name it one of the critical characteristics of a successful job hunter. Sadly, it seems that flexibility is one lesson that college graduates might not have picked up on during their university education.

Which is why I’d like to take this opportunity to hammer the point above - in this day and age, forget about holding out for that dream job and take whatever you can get (yes, even if you hold an Ivy League degree). With business future uncertain in most sectors, companies are unwilling to invest into new candidates with no record of achievement other than the degree itself - and they’re certainly not willing to gamble the future of their company by putting such people into decision-making managerial positions from day one.

Now, don’t get me wrong here - I’m not suggesting that you’re not qualified. I’m simply saying that today companies are looking to manage their risks - and putting a new hire into a decision-making position is risky.

So be prepared to accept entry-level jobs and spend some time doing what some would consider to be menial tasks. I know you’ll feel that you deserve better after working for years to get a degree (and I believe you) - but in this day and age, very often this is all you’re going to get. Even if you’re starting off as the photocopier boy who brings coffee for the big bosses, this is still a way in - and, at this point in time, a way into a bigger organization is more than what most people get!

Believe me when I say it - it’s better to stick it out for half a year at a menial job and get a promotion later on than to hold out for God knows how long for the job that you’re entitled to - one that may never come.

Do you have some advice or experiences to share with recent college graduates? If so, make your voice heard and leave your comment in the box below!