[manwithnofriends]

so i've come to the end of my degree and therefore i must be seeking work. already i feel like admitting defeat because i don't have everything that the relevant job applications ask for. it really hurts

[LookingforCalm]

Hi there. Do you know anyone in your field that could possibly help you? Or perhaps an old professor from school that could give you tips on getting into your desired field?

I wish you the best. Give yourself a break, too. It's tough out there, but you can do this. Heck, I'm a 43 year old sophomore.

Good luck!

[guilloche]

Congratulations on making it through your degree program! That takes perseverance and hard work, so good for you! What did you study?

I know it's a tough time for new grads. If it's any consolation, new grads have always faced the type of problem that you're facing - you're coming out of school with (I'm guessing) not much "practical" work experience, and it makes it feel like you're not going to be qualified for many jobs.

But... here's a little secret. Many, many people (not just new grads!) apply to jobs where they don't have ALL the qualifications listed! Seriously. I was just reading about this - how actually, men tend to be really good at this. Women (I'm a women, which is why I was interested) tend to think that if they don't meet all the listed qualifications, they shouldn't apply - so they select themselves out. Men tend to do the opposite, they apply anyway, and play up their strengths.

You might not get the job, or even an interview, but - that's OK! NOBODY gets an interview for EVERY resume they send out. That's just not how it works.

But, you might get a nibble. You might have *something* that grabs someone's eye at the company. Maybe you've got some cool class or experience on your resume, or maybe you went to the same school as someone reviewing resumes, or maybe there's another position that hasn't been announced yet that you'd be perfect for - and wow! They just happen to have your resume right there in front of them, so they pull it out of of the pile to call you about the other job.

Things like that happen.

HR and managers also know that you're not going to have every skill they want, especially if you're fresh out of school. That's OK. New hires are a bit of an investment. Depending on your field, there will be some skills or knowledge that they hope you have, but for an entry level position, they're probably planning on spending some time/money/energy training you, so that you can be productive. Again, that's totally normal.

Does your school have a career center on campus? Do they set up interviews there? That might be a great place to start looking, since you'll know those companies are specifically looking for new hires. And, the career center can usually help with things like polishing up your resume or mock interviews.

Oh, and for the record, some big companies actually *love* new hires right after school. For one thing, they can train you and indoctrinate you with their culture more easily (not meant in an overly negative way, but... that you're coming in fresh without a lot of baggage from other companies.) I've seen places like this... they really want to get new hires right out of school.

Good luck, and congratulations again! You can do it!

[Little Lulu]

I agree with gilloche ... put down what you do have and play that up. If it comes up in an interview, emphasize that you are motivated and eager to learn what the job requires.

[BreakForTheLight]

Also agree with guilloche. I was just like you after I finished uni, any job posting I read I was like "Nope, I'll never gett that, I don't have this and this" and I never even applied for anything until it was a perfect fit (and I did end up getting that job). It really got me down.

This year, after I quit that job, I had to apply to jobs that I didn't fit all the criteria for, because of how little jobs there were around.

I got a few rejections saying I didn't fit the profile when I damn well checked every single box, and invitations for interviews for jobs that were completely new to me and where I had zero experience. One of those is where I was eventually accepted, even though I lacked experience. You never know exactly what people are looking for.

Can you apply for lesser positions at the same firm and move up? Yesterday I interviewed for a contract position that offers scant compensation, but the CEO mentioned in a magazine article in 2009 that she wanted to write a book about her experiences in the workplace and I found out yesterday that she still hadn't written it. If I earn her trust with light contracts maybe someday I can ghostwrite that book with her. If you don't yet have the experience or qualification that your target job calls for, apply for a lower-rung job in the same organization and seek opportunities to demonstrate your training and abilities.

[Bettrresultsihope]

i just read something online that if u have at least 75% of the qualifications for the job description, go ahead and apply. congratulations on obtaining your degree!

[Dog on a Tree]

Don't give up buddy. You can do it!

[Crazy Hitch]

I'm sorry to hear this manwithnofriends. I agree with the above posters so there's not much more I can add. Other than to echo Dog on a Tree's sentiment - keep the faith that there is something out there. There always is. Even when there seems to be nothing