About six months ago, I graduated with a First in Philosophy from University and the highest mark in my class.
During my time there, I grafted hard to get the experience I needed to land a job when I left. I volunteered & worked for free to get experience. I worked in local marketing agencies. I started an online publication. I freelanced for years & regularly attended networking events & formed close relationships in the field I wanted to pursue.
Knowing I wanted a career in Marketing and Content Writing, I did all this so that when the time came, landing a permanent agency job would be easier.
It’s been months since I graduated from University, and the truth is —
I’m a graduate who can’t get a job anywhere.
I’m not just talking about the jobs I actually want, either. Not only can I not land an interview in a marketing agency, but I’ve applied for tens of hundreds of jobs at cafes, bars, supermarkets, retails shops, and factories — all without even an acknowledgment back.
I’m aware that COVID has made the current career market hostile and difficult to navigate. I can get over my University experience being cut short. I’ve gotten over my graduation being canceled.
Still, a lot of people my age are sat wondering:
- Where is the career opportunity I was promised when I was sold my £30,000+ degree course?
- Would it have been better for me not to have bothered with University?
A Lack of Purpose & Direction
I’ve been quite fortunate throughout this hostile economic climate. Since finishing University, I’ve had the security of living back home with my family.
I’ve also managed to maintain a steady income. Throughout the pandemic, I’ve been freelance writing and have built up a client list and connections that provide me with enough money to live off.
Sadly, no matter how much online writing and networking I do, I can’t help but feel like I lack direction and purpose.
Sitting alone every day, in my own time, is great. But I would love the opportunity to meet and interact with people on a daily basis and have some solid structure/routine to see me through until things return to normal.
This past week I’ve been hit with cabin fever. And I largely put it down to an inability to land a job.
Thrown in at the Deep End
I must admit that I’m not the most experienced in hospitality jobs or manual labor. After all, it’s not something I trained myself for. I’ve worked in a retail shop for five years, so I have at least enough experience to illustrate competent in customer-facing roles.
The dream would be to land a steady job in marketing, but I’ve realized that the odds of that happening are the lowest they’ll ever be.
In the meantime, I’ll keep applying for retail jobs. I don’t have high hopes, though. Right now, job listings are being overloaded with job applications. With so many people out of a job, the competition for available work is at an all-time high.
And as a 21-year-old with minimal experience in the sector, my application hardly stands out. Why would Starbucks care about all my marketing experience?
They don’t. They want to know if I’m an experienced barista. I’m not. So, rightly, they’ll give the job to one of the hundreds of applicants who can.
My career prospects have been radically cut over the past six months, and I’m not sure the economy can recover from it. But I’ll keep pushing on; I’ll keep telling myself things will work themselves out soon enough.
Remaining Productive in a Time of Crisis
Given my current circumstances, it would have been easy to feel disillusioned and alienated and completely given up. If you’re in the same situation as me, you’ve probably experienced moments where you’ve doubted:
- Whether the reason you’re not landing work is that you’re not good enough.
- Whether things will ever actually change — or whether you’ve been shut out of the job market forever.
I quickly learned that these sorts of self-worry get you nowhere, and achieve nothing. Instead, they lead to a cycle of procrastination; where you spend so much time worrying and blaming circumstances, that you lost sight of your goals, and get very little done.
Rather than doing nothing and blaming circumstances, I decided to dedicate this time to improving the skills I need for the career I want. I increased my writing output, I took on new projects, I used Linkedin to start networking online with people in that field, and I started taking free online courses to learn the ropes.
If, through no fault of your own, you’ve found yourself in a similar situation to mine. Rather than moping around, and using your circumstances to justify doing nothing — invest that time in yourself. Improve, learn a new skill, or network and meet new people.
Because with such a competitive job market, improving your skill set, further developing your portfolio, or getting to know people in the field are all things you can do, right now, to make yourself more attractive to future employers.
Light at The End of The Tunnel
I’m not supposed to be here. I had planned on traveling around the world to see off student life before entering the job market.
I should be on the beach in Barcelona or exploring Rome right now.
But instead, I’m stuck indoors in my gloomy hometown yet again. It’s raining outside & all I can think about is going out and living my life. But I can’t. Counter to what some friends have told me, it still doesn’t feel safe too. Now COVID cases are on the rise in the UK, traveling feels completely irresponsible.
But there’s light at the end of the tunnel. When the time is right, things will get back to normal. The job market will level itself out, and I’ll find a graduate job and the routine I crave.
Counting My Blessings
Until then, I’ll count my blessings that I’m fortunate enough to have a roof over my head, hot meals, and a somewhat steady income from my freelance writing.
I’ll live each day as it comes, and do everything I can to broaden my horizons. I’ll go out and meet people where I deem safe, and I’ll continue to pursue my love of writing.
I’m grateful for you, as a reader, for taking the time out to read my pieces and make me feel less alone right now.
If you’re feeling stuck right now too, maybe you should take a leaf out of my book. Dedicate a minute to truly appreciate the things you do have, and acknowledge that things could always be worse.
We’re all in the same boat, we’ve all made sacrifices — but that doesn’t mean you can’t dedicate this time to improving yourself.
Final Thoughts
When I started my degree three years ago, I was told that if I work hard, get experience & achieve a first-class degree, I would have no problems navigating the job market and pursuing the career I want.
Well, I’ve done all those things, and through no fault of my own, I’ve found myself stranded, and unable to land a job anywhere.
If you’ve found yourself in a position similar to mine, rather than sulking at the fact you should be in an exotic country right now, you should:
- Navigate the hostile job market by making yourself look more attractive to future employers. Get experience, take free online courses, and use Linkedin to network with people in your field.
- Leverage any passive income you can, to ensure you have enough to live off.
- If you have a roof over your head, and your friends and family are healthy and happy — then count your blessings and truly appreciate the things you have. This isn’t forever, and it won’t be long before your circumstances improve.