A Chapter In The Life Of An Unemployed College Graduate…
| January 10, 2012 | Posted by Katy under Graduation, Road To Grad School |
I’ll admit it, since I graduated (ok, after I took my Chemistry final a few days later) I’ve been on a winter break.
Even though graduation is the transition from the college “bubble” into the “real world,” I took advantage of my last true winter break- thanks Mom and Dad!
Sure I researched more graduate schools, talked about my future, and started looking for jobs, but really, I took the past month to relax and de-stress from the previous 3.5+ years. However, the “break” is now over.
Hello real world….
I will admit, as a new college graduate with what many see as an “unmarketable” major, I am petrified. It is time to grow up and find a job, which is difficult in this economy. I can not aim too high because I am not qualified for many jobs and I do not have enough job experience to even apply. Currently the only jobs that are looking promising are retail and I have a few places I am applying to tomorrow.
But that is life and I have to suck it up… but at this point, I’ll do almost anything (within reason), as long as someone pays me!
Since I currently do not have a job, I am having to find other ways to keep myself busy. I function best with some sort of schedule, but not having to go to class five days a week, opens my schedule wide open.
To keep myself busy I am taking Human Anatomy & Physiology I at the local community college.
I am taking it as a hybrid course which means we meet once a week for two and a half hours and the remainder of the course material is online. I decided to take the course for two reasons: 1) I thought that it would tie in with my study material for the ACSM Certified Personal Trainer exam I plan to take in Spring and 2) for graduate school.
I found an interesting graduate school program which combined public health with human physiology. I am looking very seriously at this program and taking this course will be a good indication as to whether or not I am truly interested in this branch of the field.
This course alone will keep me quite busy. In addition to the 2.5 hours we meet a week, we are expected to spend 15 hours a week outside class working on material, and I believe it! The journal assignments are lengthy and we have to memorize over 70 diagrams throughout the semester! Whew!
To achieve one of my 2012 goals, I am also taking an eight week Beginning Spanish class at a local high school.
I was debating auditing a Spanish class at the community college, but instead opted for a more low-key approach to start off. If I really like it, I can always audit a class later on!
It is a community education class through the county school system. I am the youngest person in the class by about 15 years, but everyone is awesome and fun!
I will say that I felt a little old when I was walking down the hallway this evening. I know that I am not that many years out of high school, but it is still very strange to be “back in high school.”
I am also making myself busy by researching races (but I do this almost nightly so that’s nothing new 
), reading, doing blog work, studying for the ACSM exam, and, of course, graduate school preparation.
As much as I am enjoying my more open schedule, I also can not wait to have a job to take up some time. Oh, and a little money wouldn’t hurt either.
Cross your fingers that some opportunities come my way!
Did you find it difficult to find a job straight out of college or did you already have a job lined up?
My name is Katy and I am a 23-year-old living, running, and cycling in and around the Washington, DC metro area. This blog chronicles my life, inner musings, and fitness adventures as I try to navigate this crazy thing called life!
Girl, I think you are completely on the right track. I graduated college in June with a BA in literary journalism and I have nooooooot been able to find a job since. It’s so frustrating. I job searched like nuts the first 4 months, and since then I’ve really lost steam. I have an unpaid internship, but through all this I don’t think I want to rely on a journalism major to support me for the rest of my life. I think I’m going to need to go back to school for something more. I just have no money and am still trying to decide… haha.
I think you are doing the right thing keeping busy and applying to what you can. You’ll be fine, no worries
Thanks Floey! It’s definitely frustrating, but good things come to those who wait (and actively search) right?
Good luck with your job hunting!
I would disagree with you regarding one statement, though; don’t limit yourself because of lack of experience. If you believe you can do the job but don’t have the years of experience that they ask for, apply anyway! The worst they can say is “no.” I was fortunate to have a job waiting for me. I graduated on a Friday and started Monday.
My dad called me earlier and said that he really liked your comment (my dad reads my blog everyday). He keeps telling me to apply to anywhere, even if I don’t have the experience, but I never listen to him.
Guess I needed someone else to tell me the same thing to believe it. 
Haha, maybe you should listen to him! He may know a thing or two.
Lol… I guess I should.
Go katy go! Can’t wait to hear more of your thoughts about the program of public health and human physiology!
Oh wow good for you! You are definitely keeping yourself busy! I’m an elementary ed major in college and I’m a junior so I have a little while until I’m thrust into the real world. Hopefully the job market turns around during that time. Fingers crossed! Good luck with the job hunt!
Thanks Sarah!
Hi Katy, stumbled across your blog … as it happens I am coaching unemployed grads (virtually, for free – one of my 2012 goals help 100 grads) and so just had to reach out. With your ambition, self-starter spirit and goal tracking you will be an employer’s dream! Unfortunately no one is sticking their neck out hiring fresh grads, for fear of their own job in part. Just want to dig a bit deeper, are you really looking for a career-starting job now or just killing time before grad school? What type of job exactly? What have you tried that hasn’t work, what are your biggest frustrations with this search? …let me know I’ll come back with some tips
Hi Risa!
Thank you for reaching out and for your compliments!
Right now, I am just looking for a job to save up money for graduate school. Since I will be heading off to school again in the next 1-2 years, I know that I can not guarantee any business or corporation that I will be there in the long run for years and years. I realize that this puts me at a HUGE disadvantage because I do want a good job but I know that I can not (nor would it be fair to the company) commit to being there for more than 2 years.
That is what frustrates me- any job that I could see myself being reasonably happy for a year or two, I can not apply for because they want long term employees (understandable). (I’ve been looking for jobs in social media, non-profit agencies, and admin assistant) However, right now I’m just applying for retail and other jobs of the sort. Of course it is not what I want to be doing at all (I actually cringe at the idea), but it seems like the only thing that I can do at this point in my life. I don’t know where I will be at this time next year.
I am studying to become a Certified Personal Trainer with the hope that I can be hired by my gym to train people. Sure it won’t pay great (just above minimum wage since I would be an employee of the gym, not a private trainer), but it would A) allow me to build experience in training people and B) be something I am at least interested in!
Wow, that was a lot of ramblings- I apologize! Thank you so much for reaching out to me!