College Degree, No Experience, NO JOB!

[xtinamagnolia]

How is it possible to work your butt off for 4 years to get your college degree and feel SOME sort of satisfaction and pride towards yourself if you cannot get a job?

I recently graduated and got my 4 year degree.  I cannot find a job because every job I try to apply to wants 5-10 years experience??  I have supported myself since i was 17 years old, paid my own bills and worked all through college.  I did not have the means to get an internship that didnt pay me and I dont have the means now, what do I do?

[Quirita]

sorry to hear about your job search.
But Congratulations on your Graduation!!!!
I will get better soon. You'll find a great job...just dont give up!

[amy11077]

Yes, HUGE Congrats on all of the hard work you did getting to/through Graduation!!! That's an outstanding accomplishment!!!    As for those jobs requiring  X number of years experience, maybe you could be super persistent and explain to them what you stated above about how you supported yourself since 17 AND got yourself through college coming out victoriously!! The more persistent and sure of yourself you are, the better chance you might have of changing that employers mind!!  Show them that you've worked VERY HARD for so long and are prepared to put that same enthusiasm/work ethic towards their company!!

[gesus]

Now see , it should be stories just like yours , to be announced  in congress and on the media that NOT EVERYTHING IS PROMISED TO YOU THESE DAYS! , and your not the only one , theyre are crap loads of college students who have to work , like 2 jobs , and grind like no other and juggle to get that job , like someone told me , That Degree doesnt mean ANYTHING , unless you use it . and attatched to that , this is nothing but another test in your life , Heck in ALL OF OUR LIVES! ....its LIFE ,man ,  Sure sure , Congrats yet another person graduated , but , put ur degree on the wall and go out and place ur resume on everysingle door , now take that on the chin and get up and get out and establish yourself so that you wont be called a LOSER , cause only the LOSERS  LOSE IN THE END ! gooy luck

[JLBT2]

Thats tough and not fair, when you know you worked so hard to support yourself. Congrats on finishing college. I'm sure with the economy being slow doesn't help. Maybe work another job in a company you want and work your way up from there. Just a thought.

[madmansmom]

well I got a job at the place I interned

[liljp617]

Well, at least you're not alone in not being able to find a job =/ If that's any consolation.

What is your degree in?  That could be one of the problems...

[jaymz462]

I had the same problem when I got out of college- there were jobs available, but they all required experience.  How are you supposed to get experience if no one will hire you though?  Very frustrating.  I had to take part-time jobs and jobs that weren't really in my field until I landed my current full-time job, which is now getting me the experience I really need.

Try to be patient, and good luck!

[mlbevins]

I know exaclty how you fill, I was in the same spot 9 years ago.  My advice is take any job that is offered to you.  Any experience is experience.  You learn from all jobs, and hopefully that will take you where you would like to be a few years down the road.  When the right job comes along it will fall in your lap.  Congrats on your graduation.

[cloudsoup]

saaame here, but i've just begun the long journey
that is job-searching 

not sure what kind of degree you just earned, but
a career counselor from my school helped me build
my resume and it sounded MUCH better than my first attempt.
also, making your own business cards (even if its JUST your
name, contact information, and a line or two with your skills
and degree type on it) is a great idea.

you can stick them anywhere you see a cork board!
you never know who's gonna stumble upon it.

uploading your resume to hotjobs, monster, etc. might help 

[LittleDebbieG]

I had the same problem when I got out of college- there were jobs available, but they all required experience.  How are you supposed to get experience if no one will hire you though?  Very frustrating.  I had to take part-time jobs and jobs that weren't really in my field until I landed my current full-time job, which is now getting me the experience I really need.

Try to be patient, and good luck!

I've seen many of my friends in the same boat. Almost all of them either worked a non-field job or did not work at all while in college. Now they work retail or call center positions while trying to pay off loans and live solo. It's very, very sad. Many of them saw the potential earnings of the field they were interested in... and thought a degree was all that is needed.

They asked the same question: "How can I get experience if nobody will hire me?"

To any college students out there, I would give the advice of finding a company that deals with the field you want to work in. Start at the bottom while in school (even part time!) and work your way up in that company. Then, once you graduate, you will have that pretty degree and years of solid experience. For me, I am going to school to be a programmer. Started with this one company as a Data Entry and have worked my way up to Applications Programmer and I'm still 2 years from graduating. After graduating, I'll probably stick with this company a few more years before packing it up and going elsewhere.

For those that have already graduated, I would still give the same advice. If nobody is hiring you for the exact position you want, go a step or two lower and work towards it.

[xkrystlex]

its been 2 years since i graduated with a diploma for veterinary assisting...and still no job. for one, no veterinarians in my area are ever hiring...and 2...they all want someone with experience....i understand your frustrations!!

[mlainez]

How is it possible to work your butt off for 4 years to get your college degree and feel SOME sort of satisfaction and pride towards yourself if you cannot get a job?

I recently graduated and got my 4 year degree.  I cannot find a job because every job I try to apply to wants 5-10 years experience??  I have supported myself since i was 17 years old, paid my own bills and worked all through college.  I did not have the means to get an internship that didnt pay me and I dont have the means now, what do I do?

Hey I am in the same bota as you and manyothers out there. It really sucks to have a degree with all that education and not be able to put it to good use and make money after all it cost to get it...

[krxstal]

You keep looking. I've had this problem too. You just keep on looking and make your resume sound exciting and eventually someone will hire you even without experience. Even places that say they require experience might get desperate enough to hire someone without any, so I would apply at those places anyways.

[NickOfSpencer]

*sigh* ahh i hear this, and i've been told this also this year by my father. "If you have no experience nobody will want you" thats because hes been working all his life in countless numbers of places so of course it shouldnt be hard for him. But me, im 19 and still cant find a part-time job to save my life. I've been on countless numbers of interviews but still in the end it just turned into a waste of gas money that i dont have. What do i have to change in order for these people to realize I NEED THIS JOB TO SAVE MY FUTURE. *sigh*