Job prospects for college grad with no work experience?
Asked by khendradm
Hello, I am 24 years old and have been seeking a job since the summer. I got my B.A. in 2007 with a 3.75 GPA in English ("General Writing"). After obtaining my undergraduate degree, I spent one year in graduate school and maintained the same GPA. I majored in "Teaching English at the Community College." However, I withdrew in the summer based on advice from a couple of professors who said I probably couldn't teach English at the community college level with just a Master's degree (I could not afford studying for a Ph.D, which seems to be the minimum standards these days for someone to teach English at any college level). I remember hearing that having a four-year degree helps a person's job prospects. While this may be true for promotions, my degree has been utterly useless so far in helping me get a job. I believe I made an extreme mistake in going to a four-year college; it seems a two-year, specialized degree in something like Office Administration is infinitely more useful than a Bachelor of Arts in English. My only practical experience outside of generalized academia is an internship I took as part of my four-year English program's requirements. In the internship, I wrote press releases, advertisements, and compiled art inventory (I interned at an art center). This limited experience has not particularly impressed anyone; I have now sent around 50 resumes/applications in the last six months, but only two companies have responded and granted interviews (neither of which was successful). Am I applying for the wrong jobs, perhaps? I have tried applying for the following positions: administrative assistant, secretary, medical transcriptionist, data entry specialist, receptionist, and customer service representative. I always respond to advertisements which claim that experience is not required, but I get the feeling I am getting passed over because I don't have job experience. Some other info: Adecco clerical tests timed my typing speed at 90 WPM without errors. I also have familiarity with MS Word and Excel. My temperament is reserved, conceptual, subjective, and organized - if that helps any in deciding what jobs I should be seeking. Thanks for the responses. I found quite a few positions available on craigslist.org, and two have already responded. I also uploaded my resume to careerbuilder.com and got a response there already as well. These online job search web sites look much more promising than some of the others I have tried, and list more positions than my local paper classifieds do. I am feeling more hopeful in my job search now.

Best Answer:
I feel your pain but you can't get discouraged. Your credentials are impressive so perhaps you are not communicating this well in your resume. I would look ask some successful people to review your resume and give you feedback. Definitely try craigslist, local classifieds, and simplyhired, but internet job boards should consist of only half of your efforts. Since something like 70% of jobs are never advertised, network like crazy. You can attend lunches of local groups like Chamber of Commerce or contact alumni and offer to take them to lunch or coffee. Ask for informational interviews, because they may not be hiring but they'll remember you when they are hiring. Also my last piece of advice is that your search seems too general. You must find out what you are passionate about and pursue it if you want to be happy. For inspiration check out the podcast- 60 Days to the Work You Love and the YouTube video of The Last Lecture with Randy Pausch.

A sensible suggestion:> in stead of all these applications, think about your typing expertise. Go round to local agencies, law firms, estate agents, any offices and ask if they need extra help with typing. With many firms shedding labour there is a whole lot of this type of work available, employers are really glad of it. You may have to go self employed to do it. Good luck.
Answered by octogen