Guest column: My advice for young job seekers

What is life after graduation? You work hard for a number of years for the opportunity to walk across a stage, shake the hand of someone you've never met before, and collect a piece of paper. But what comes after that? The reality for many is not what they were promised.

Growing up, I was always told that the formula for success was to go to school, get my education, graduate, and get a job. But what happens when things don't go according to planned? What happens when you are stuck trying to find "X," without knowing what "X" actually is? You're told to start looking for a job, but then you realize that you can't get a job without experience, and you can't get experience without a job.

This is our generation's Catch 22, and there is simply no denying that it is more difficult for today's graduates to find work than it was for previous generations. Indeed, I regularly hear stories from people much older than myself, of how it was "back in the day," when you could graduate from college or university and land a job within weeks.

But now when you graduate, you're entering a much tougher job market and competing with thousands of graduates for a handful of jobs. And that's one reason why so many recent graduates are either unemployed or underemployed. In fact, since 2006 – the year that Prime Minister Stephen Harper took office – unemployment for all university graduates has risen and their ability to find work in their field of study has dropped. (1)

But if you're one of the graduates who has decided to tough it out in today's bleak job market, and you're currently looking for employment, there's some steps that you can take to make the job hunt easier.

Throughout my journey after graduation, I learned a few things that helped me achieve my goal of finding full-time employment in my field within six months of graduation. These are my tips for young graduates seeking employment in the current job market.

Look over your resume

The first step is to ask yourself: what can you do today to separate yourself from other recent graduates, who are also looking for work in your field? One of my biggest blunders in life was to put "attention to detial" on my resume. The spelling mistake was caught by an individual who worked at the career centre at my school, which in most cases is available to students even after they graduate. Luckily, my mistake was short-lived, but it taught me a very important lesson. And it also made me realize how valuable a student career centre can be in the resume writing and job application process. So if you have one in your college or university, do your best to utilize it when building your resume and applying for jobs.

Be humble

Once you graduate, that feeling of accomplishment can go to your head quickly. Don't let that happen. After graduation, I was working for minimum wage in the retail sector, while applying for jobs in my field. I had to keep telling myself that I was in it for the long haul and just getting started with my search, in order to stay motivated. I tried to learn everything that I could outside of the classroom, and reminded myself that even my retail job could be a stepping stone to not only furthering my career, but also furthering myself.   

Apply yourself

If you just graduated from college or university, try to use any spare time that you have to learn more about where you would like to go with your career, and read up on your desired profession. Ask yourself "what do I realistically have to do to get hired within my field?" – then act on it.

Never stop looking

After submitting a couple of dozen applications and receiving little to no interviews, it is easy to get deterred from finding a job. But you should never give up. Don't limit yourself to just one sector or job description. Branch out to related fields, bolster your profiles on LinkedIn, Monster and Workopolis, and never stop checking those sites for jobs. Eventually an opportunity will arise.

Rudy Persaud is a 23-year-old communications professional based in the Toronto area.