Today, I Got My First Rejection Call

Reflection on Experience vs. Potential

This morning I received word that after Friday's interview, Job Position #1 was filled by an individual with more career experience. Let me start by saying that this is not a "pity me" post, but rather documentation of the first bump on the road that is my job search.

The Good News: I was informed that in comparison to other college graduates who applied, my experience in student leadership and event planning was a step ahead of the pack.

The Big Frustration: It's not possible to have career experience as a college graduate, and nearly every job opening is searching for an applicant with at least two years of experience.

The Plan: In future application processes, I have found it will become necessary to frame my experience as an undergraduate as "Real-Life" work experience, because, after all, that's exactly what it is.

From an employer standpoint, I can understand searching for candidates with adequate experience. On the other hand, everyone has to start somewhere. As an employer, I would see huge benefits in filling entry-level positions with motivated self-starters who've just finished college.

3 Benefits to Hiring A Qualified College Grad:

1. Excitement- College graduates are excited to dive into a new job and show off their newly acquired skills.
2. In Touch with the Times - In today's society, technology and social media are increasingly important for businesses. College graduates have been living in a social media world for at least four years. They know how to connect with young people, and from an employer standpoint, they can be used to reach out to a target audience who is increasingly reliant on technology.
3. They Aren't Afraid to Work - To be blunt, college graduates work their butts off around the clock to get everything done throughout the college experience. Their days are filled with classes, homework, group work, study time, meetings, involvement opportunities, and attempting to fit in the occasional social experience (or maybe the frequent social experience). For college gradates who have been involved, a 40-hour work week sounds like a breeze.

Today, I'm Starting a Blog

The Goal: It all started with a question: “What are you doing with your life?” As a child I would have answered with ease and certainty that I had full intentions of being a veterinarian or marine biologist. How hard could it be? Through the years, the answer changed slightly, but even after 3 years of higher education at South Dakota State University, I was on a seemingly straight path toward entering medical school with the goal of becoming a physician. As the moment of truth, entering the real world, approached, I began to question my future, and then one evening as I grudgingly opened my M-CAT study book, I had a breakdown. I’d realized I simply could not do it anymore. I didn’t question my competency, knowing that if I set mind to completing a goal, I’d find a way to do it, but I questioned my passion. How was I going to put my heart into being successful in my career, if I couldn’t even find the motivation to study for a test? I called my parents, and was surprised to hear that they had thought I’d change my mind about medical school long before I did. Then they asked that question for the first time: “So, what now?” I was at a loss for words, something rare for me. I had no idea, but somehow I was more at peace than I’d been in three years. Over the next year, I heard that question countless times from family, friends, professors, administrators, employers, friends of family, friends of friends, people who truly cared about the answer, people who didn’t care at all and were just making conversation, and everyone in between. I still don’t know the answer, and first and foremost, I am okay with that.

The goal of this blog is to seek an answer to that question by asking myself what I’m doing with my life every day.

The Timeline: Two days ago, I walked across the stage and received my college diploma, and today was the first Monday in my educational career that I woke with literally no idea what the future holds. Stairs are climbed step-by-step, and I can’t expect to make a sound life decision in a day. On the other hand, reality is harsh, and in the words of one of my favorite contemporary poets Gabriela Garcia Medina, “You can’t light up the world until you’ve paid your light bill. You can’t bring forth change if you’ve got no change.” Therefore I’ll give myself a one-year deadline to at least have an answer to the question “What’s next for you?” In that time, I’ll embrace new experiences and reflect on them.

Why? Because I’m not alone. It’s no secret that the job outlook for college graduates is anything but rosy. If you don’t believe me, please see the articles and video below:

Job outlook for 2010 grads: Still Stinks

It's time to grow up - Later

Fresh Out of College: But Can't Land Work

Video: Bleak Job Outlook for College Grads


I’m not necessarily writing for an audience, but rather seeking a way to stay motivated in the search for opportunity. That being said, if even one person relates to my experiences, finds them comforting or inspiring, or simply takes from them a lesson in what not to do, I will consider this blog a success.