I just graduated from Cornell University this past May. I majored in Biology & Society, and I can use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. I have been actively looking for a job since February. My mode of finding jobs has been: Linkedin, Indeed, Glassdoor, Cuelinks/alumni network, unpaid internships (I am a marketing, web development, and content management intern), Craiglist, USA Jobs, various company websites, cold emailing, etc. If anyone knows of any additional advice that I haven’t tried that would be great. Thanks!
What kind of job are you seeking? What was your GPA?
It can take a while to find that first job as it seems that employers are always looking for someone else to give a young person those first few years of experience. They want to hire someone with 5 years experience. But you are looking in the right places.
It does seem that it is taking too long, so my two questions. Is it a crowded job field you are trying to enter? And biology very well is. And for many companies, GPA cutoffs are real.
Do you know what type of job you want or what type of company you want to work for? If so, use your alumni network to identify people who work in either the job or company that you’re interested in. Email or use LinkedIn to set up an informational interview or phone call. Once there, try to learn more about their career and ask for their advice on job hunting. Have them look at your resume and typical cover letter. Be open to constructive criticism. Also, ask if they would consider helping you with a mock interview for that job.
Also, try to be analytical as you look at your applications and results. Are you targeting appropriate jobs? Is your resume tailored for those jobs? Are you writing a strong cover letter? You may need different resumes for different jobs.
A few thoughts… Have you had someone review your resume to make sure you’re highlighting the stuff employers are looking for? With all those different approaches you may be spending too little time on each application? You don’t want to approach Job searches like college applications but you also don’t want to be sending your resume in 20 different directions, it gets really discouraging and it’s impossible to tailor your resume to multiple different kinds of jobs. Have you focused your resume and your job search on your most marketable skills? I helped a co-worker recently who is having trouble finding new work and the problem was she had two types of skills that she had included on the same resume rather than having two different resumes for her 2 potential areas of work. From your quick description of your background I’m guessing you may have the same issue. Your degree is in biology and society but your skill set is in online development and your internship is in marketing? Maybe if you explain how those interact we can give you good advice on how to present a more cohesive and marketable front to potential employers.
Ask friends, family and acquaintances if the company they work for is hiring or if they know anyone that is hiring. You may not find the perfect job right away, but it is always good to have money coming in while you continue searching.
I have been reaching out to alumni through CUelinks and Linkedin. I have not been successful at getting a job offer. Some of them have become my mentors, but I would really like a full-time job.
are you willing to relocate to Southern California? My D is finishing a paid internship at a start-up , and they are hiring a lot – interesting that she mentioned to me there are some of the new hires have ivy league degrees but with majors such as English or premed . if you are interested, I will pm u the name of the company.
Digital networking is fine, but the most effective networking is face to face and the number one way to land a job is through a connection. Widen your net.
Did you try rewriting your resume? You need to include details of your experience, education and relevant skills. This service https://resumarea.com/cv-writing/ did it for me. It should be clear and easy to read.
Hope your search has been going well @Amber345 If the traditional method of applying to positions are not working, I highly suggest going to events and networking. Also, a lot of people are surprisingly friendly on LinkedIn, you might be able to send messages to people working in the field or company you’re interested and they can help share their experiences and connect with you.
I went through this process before and gathered a bunch of resources online that I hope can help you and others!
Does Cornell use Handshake? Or a similar online platform run by the career office? Can you reach out to alumni at companies you want to work for and see if they’ll refer you so you don’t just upload your resume into a black hole? It can make a real difference, and guarantee a real person looks at it.