<p>Find out which temp agencies are used by the companies you wish to work with; also look at local colleges and see if they are hiring temps. Register with the temp agencies and be flexible. It’s good to get out and about, to try new jobs, meet new people and not have to take it too seriously. Sometimes it’s better to volunteer or try temp jobs to get out in the workplace and stay busy. When I married and moved to another city, I went to an agency and said I’d like to work on the campus of the local university, or the big employers in town. I did some temping, got some good experience, and then transitioned to a large company where I’ve been employed for many years. The temp experience was good for me and got me out and about, learning about the city I was now living in, meeting people and laughing again. Just this past year, we hired a temp to work in my group; that young man just got offered a position. Had he not registered, taken the temp job, we would not have connected. If you don’t want to ‘temp’, consider doing volunteer work for the connections, and to keep you thinking positive.</p>
<p>Agree with Mycroft on the temp. Twice in my career I have been in a position where I needed to work through a temp agency. It got me some immediate cash and helped bolster my self esteem. It is always easier to find a job when you have one…If you do the temp route be prepared to take some computer tests when you go in.</p>
<p>OP I feel for you. Millions of kids graduate every spring from college and all are looking for and competing for the same jobs which are still in short supply these days. The debt is water under the bridge and a choice made four years ago and you can’t change that, it’s unfortunate but it is what it is. I agree that you need to figure out your priorities…if it’s living in Boston then so be it. You now have geographic parameters for your search. I think looking for a temp or contract job is good advice. My son and my siblings D both took one year contract jobs (they both graduated in May).</p>
<p>I think you need to be realistic also. Being educated only opens the door…it’s what you can contribute that will seal the deal. Have someone look at your resume. Amplify your actual work experiences or contributions during an internship. Make sure you’ve got your elevator speech down pat. Who are you and what can you contribute. Don’t be afraid to emphasis why the organization and it’s potential is of more importance to you than the particular job. Chances are you will be doing something that deep inside you feel over qualified for…everyone feels this way at one point or another in a career. Titles don’t tell you much about what anyone else is doing so don’t focus on that, focus on you and your needs. And as awful as this sounds you may apply for 60,70,80 jobs before you land one and it will take you months so if you need a stop-gap, go sign up with a temp agency or on-call agency or take a part-time job at a restaurant or someplace that frees up a chunk of 8-5 hours for your job hunt.</p>
<p>Finally, I’ll tell you what I told my recent college grad…treat your job hunt like a job. Make a spreadsheet of where you apply. Follow up at reasonable intervals and keep a log of the contacts you make and the person’s name and info you contact. Spend x hours a day working at this. Network, network, network…tell everyone you know you are looking for a job. Chin up and best of luck, the first job after college is always the hardest to find and might be the hardest thing you do over the next couple years.</p>
<p>I did the temp thing during summers in college. I learned about several industries from the inside and had more than one boss lament that I was only there for a few weeks because I was such a good worker. It is definitely a way to get a foot in the door.</p>
<p>You are not alone in your quest, and the fact that you progressed well with at least one job (before withdrawing because you want to be in Boston) says that you have desirable skills. If you have to start as an administrative assist, that’s not terrible - for 2 reasons:
- A lot of your friends who are “associates” are probably actually doing the work of an administrative assist, with a different title. Don’t let labels fool you.
- After many years as a stay-home mom and part-time worker, I am now an administrative assist. I can tell you that, at least in my case, I can’t imagine doing this job without a college degree. Part of my job is to write first drafts for my boss, and to edit her writing - and she’s a former English teacher who now has a PhD! I also do a lot with Excel spreadsheets, as well as a lot of research and organizing. At least at my place of employment, they wouldn’t have even considered hiring an Admin who didn’t have a bachelor’s degree.</p>
<p>My son is a Class of '11 college grad, not from an Ivy institution but from a selective LAC, he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He is currently living with us and job-hunting. Our neighbor is in the same situation. You are not alone. I suggested to my son that he set himself a goal of applying to 3 - 5 jobs per day (I think he lowered my goal to 2 - 4), and after that he can enjoy his free time guilt-free. At this point he’s still pretty cheery, probably because he’s living home rent-free, and also because he still feels like its summer vacation. If he’s still unemployed in Sept he may feel differently. </p>
<p>Also I have another website for you: HigherEdJobs.com . Since you’re in the Boston area, there should be tons of listings. They have openings at colleges & universities not only for professors and deans (which you aren’t qualified or looking for), but for Admins, Admissions, Financial Aid, marketing, accounting, library, student/res life, etc. Their search engine works really well. You can search by location, job type, or both.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Please dont resent applying for any job you are qualified for. I had a BS degree in Psychology from a bodunk southern state school. Graduated at 19 (smart but bored) and had never worked. No one was hiring me as a professional. So I started as a clerk–not even an Admin Asst. 30 years later I’m a CSuiter in a large organization.</p>
<p>Get that first job then work your tail off. Theyll notice talent that shines no matter where it sits.</p>
<p>I’d suggest trying to get any job at any company in your target field (along with the temp agencies other have suggested.). Most employers are most comfortable hiring a known quantity so if you show up, and work hard when they post a job internally your resume combined with your good record in the company will give you a leg up. Years ago in the last great recession (1982), I, too, graduated from a lesser Ivy without a job along with several of my classmates. Eventually, I took a job as a bank teller(we had 2 people with masters and the rest of us had our bachelors degrees on the teller line) and then went up the ladder into their investment department: my dream. Plus if you are working in the field even in a lowly position you’ll make contacts and can get advice from insiders. Good luck and my heart goes out to you.</p>
<p>If you are in the Boston area, look at the job boards for all of the schools - especially Harvard and MIT. Along with a number of other recent grads many years ago…I took an administrative position at one of those universities. The pay wasn’t great, but the perks were good. If you can pick an interesting dept (one of the business schools, an external office - like fundraising, alumni, or partnerships) you will have interaction with lots of different kinds of people. May also help you define what you’d like to do next.</p>
<p>I have a young lady who is a business manager or chief of staff for me. She is only 25 (not that much older than D1). This job is normally held by someone who has a lot more experience and older. My boss questioned the hire at first, but after working with her on few projects, he is now a fan of hers. My fear is now he will want to hire her as his chief of staff, which would be a promotion for her, but I wouldn´t have her on my team.</p>
<p>She started as an administrative assistant on a trading floor 3 or 4 years ago- answering calls, getting coffee, scheduling…Because she was organized, well spoken, discreet, great communicator (creating reports, doing budget analysis), she was quickly promoted. At age 25, she is now making 6 digit salary with an expat package. As mentioned by other posters, if you do a good job you will be noticed.</p>
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<p>It took me years to figure out that comparing yourself to others was a mug’s game. You’ll always be comparing something that someone is really good at to something that you are very poor at. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of those friends that you are comparing yourself to is comparing herself with you and saying, “Why can’t I find a good boyfriend like Lyrabelacqua has?”</p>
<p>“Resent applying for administrative assistant and receptionist when everyone else is analyst or associate.”</p>
<p>You “resent” applying for jobs that other people in this economy would die to have? I guess that having gone to Dartmouth makes you special. </p>
<p>I really have a hard time being supportive for someone who has that attitude. Get over it.</p>
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<p>This totally mystifies me. You need to get over this. A ~3.25 GPA from Dartmouth is nothing to be ashamed of, and you’re needlessly shutting yourself out from any number of opportunities.</p>
<p>I have a 3.08 GPA from UIdaho, and it never stopped me from applying for anything. Your grades and transcripts are not you - they are just one part of you, viewed holistically. Start looking around for opportunities in unexpected places, and be willing to branch out.</p>
<p>I was in a similar situation to yours about 10 months ago - graduated, nearly broke, no jobs in my field (journalism). I was about ready to move home, when I applied for, and was offered, a (barely) paid AmeriCorps internship with a government land management agency. Spent five months making $20 a day and living in a Forest Service bunkhouse in the Alaskan rainforest. Even before my internship was over, I had a job offer and funded graduate school acceptances in my pocket. No, I’m not an “analyst” or “associate,” just a plain-old GS-5 Step 1 Park Ranger/Interpreter, earning $17 per hour. But it’s a darn sight better than a kick in the pants.</p>
<p>Think outside the box and don’t think yourself too good for anything. It’s those foot-in-the-door opportunities that will get you started.</p>
<p>Not only special, but entitled. Good Lord, the OP just finished four years of nearly unparalleled educational opportunity at someone else’s expense, she’s been out of work for ONE WHOLE MONTH, she’s not willing to even apply for many of the jobs she’s qualified for, and she’s hyperventilating and ■■■■■■■■ for sympathy? Welcome to the world that 95% of us live in. </p>
<p>You’ve been given a lot of very good advice upthread. I suggest you take it? </p>
<p>Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using CC App</p>
<p>Totally agree with advice given. My goddaughter had to work at a clothing store for over a year before she finally got a job in her (degree) field. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get a job. Many years ago my h was out of work and there was a part-time job he didn’t want to apply for (he was out of work anyways) and I pushed him to apply. That job quickly turned into a full-time job. </p>
<p>Feel proud of your accomplishments and continue on! Good luck.</p>
<p>For some us old timer(can´t believe I am calling myself that now), we know who the OP is. There is some history of OP´s background that we are aware of. She has worked hard to get to where she is. I don´t think it is productive in this case to pick on that one phrase. OP probably doesn´t have the kind of support system our kids have and that´s why she has come here for some support.</p>
<p>Call and TALK to prospective employers. I’ve received 20 emails/resumes in the past 3 months. Not one has called. Waiting on email is not a way to secure employment.</p>
<p>A lot of good advice here. I am just curious if op is a foreign student (on a student visa?)? If so that can make job searching complicated.</p>
<p>ohiopublic, my son is job-hunting and I’m trying to convince him of the need to reach out in person. But he says most of the jobs he applies for are online applications, and there’s no name or number to call. It’s fill in the blanks on the app, and don’t call us - we’ll call you.</p>
<p>^^^ that is where Linkedin comes in handy, if you know the company, most on-line apps end up at the company website, then you find someone you know at the company and ask them for information or a connection. Here’s another tip, if it’s a blind on-line app through a search engine, sometimes if you copy the job description into Google it will unearth the same job description on the company website. Often companies don’t change the words if they post on Monster or Career Builder and then the aggregators like Indeed etc. pick it up. It doesn’t always work, but many times it does help determine the actual hiring company.</p>
<p>Successful AA’s at my DH’s firm earn $100K+. They are entrusted with huge responsibility. Those with college educations can segue onward and upward.</p>
<p>There is always nobility in work. So long as it’s legal! Don’t ever think otherwise. Toughest job my Ivy League child ever did was working as a cashier in a diner. I’ve never seen him so stressed!</p>
<p>The most successful people traverse a lot of rough spots and unplanned bends in the road. That’s what makes them seasoned, wise and ultimately very valuable people. Straight arrow super linear success stories are sort of boring. You’re living through something right now that is going to make you stronger and wiser and more valuable ultimately.</p>
<p>I just wanted to apply some encouragement. I graduated into the 1982 recession, it took me three months to find a vaguely related job to my field of architecture (and then I was laid off along with half the office 3 weeks later!) I took a part time job working in a Caltech library for six months (all that time shelving books for minimum wage in college came in handy!) and eventually found an entry level job in my field. But it was a long wait. Part of the problem was that like you I wanted to be with the guy I would eventually marry. (We’d spent three years on opposite coasts and there was another year when I had no address at all, so I’d had enough of being separated.) The job I got eventually came through a Columbia connection so do get in touch with any and everyone you can think of. I also know that my older son got his original internship because someone from Carnegie Mellon gave his name to whoever does internships at his company. He talks to alumni via some sort of CMU specific chat room - in fact he got his first internship that way too when another one he’d gotten more traditionally through the job fair fell through.</p>
<p>I’d also like to encourage you to apply for positions that don’t sound like the best fit for you. Twice I’ve applied for jobs that I knew I wasn’t qualified for, but I got hired for jobs that they hadn’t gotten around to advertising. This may work better in companies without separate HR departments.</p>
<p>Also just so you know this Harvard grad has cleaned bath tubs to earn money. Sometimes you just have to take a job, any job.</p>