<p>I graduated with a bachelors of Art in political science and history two years ago. When I graduated I went to over 50 interviews and could only land a low paying security job. I tried everything: law enforcement, government jobs, account manager positions, etc. My parents think I need to get more education, but that seems imprudent considering all the PhDs and JDs that are struggling to find work right now and the massive debt that will be accumulated in the process. Is going to back to school a good idea? I am getting really stressed out and depressed about my situation, I'm about 30 thousand dollars, and I've ran out of ideas. If someone could tell me a step by step guide to landing a government job, nonprofit, or private job that pays reasonably well, I would be eternally grateful. I graduated with a 3.9 and was admitted to phi beta kappa. I worked my way through college, and starting working around the age of fourteen. I've put in hundreds of applications so please refrain from telling me to try harder. I need sound advice that will help me get a job. I'd love to work in the state department, DEA, DOD, but at this point I'm not to picky. Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me.</p>
<p>My D graduated last spring as a Poli Sci major from an LAC, also 3.9/Phi Beta Kappa. She landed a good job, but it was NOT directly in her field. She also would have liked to work at State (she interned there for a semester), but an awful lot of government agencies at the federal and state level have been shedding jobs, not hiring.</p>
<p>She got her job by networking with alumni from her college. Someone she knew who graduated a year earlier had a job with a consulting company in DC, and D got a lead on a job through her. Of course, she had to shine in the interview, etc. to get the job. But it worked out. I think she applied to about 75 positions before getting this ONE interview and then the job.</p>
<p>Her best friend from college was also a Poli Sci major, and had trouble landing a job. She went to DC and couch surfed with her sister who lived there. It took her about 7 months to find a job. She worked at a restaurant to help cover expenses while job hunting. It helped a lot to be in the city she wanted to work in, and she probably sent in a couple hundred resumes. She landed a few interviews, but didn’t get the final job for several of them before finally getting something. The pay isn’t fantastic (maybe 30K?) but she is happy to get her foot in the door.</p>
<p>You may have already done all these things, but here are some ideas:
- First, make sure your resume, interviewing skills, and wardrobe/grooming are spot on for the job search. Get help from your college’s career office on this if necessary, and TAKE THEIR ADVICE. They should still be willing to help you, since you have not landed a job since graduation.
- If you are not on LinkedIn, get on. Link to all of your classmates, any older students you know who graduated ahead of you, anyone who has given you an informational interview, anyone you know from past jobs/internships, parents of your friends who work in the field you want to get into, etc. Note that LinkedIn is NOT like Facebook. These people are not your friends (some may be, but don’t have to be), they are professional connections. I have seen college students who are reluctant to invite people to link because they think it is too forward. I say, if the person knows your name/who you are AT ALL, they are a good candidate to link to.
- Sign up for the LinkedIn job search function. Note that the darned thing seems to die every 30 days, and you have to re-create the search.
Not sure why, it just does. - Emphasize your strongest skills. If you are good at analysis, writing, and talking to people, say so. Entry level jobs are often “analyst” positions.
- If Phi Beta Kappa isn’t on your resume, be sure you get it on there with your degree information! </p>
<p>I personally agree with you that you do not need more education. I suspect from your post that you have been too picky about what types of jobs you have been applying for. Honestly, you HAVE to look outside government type jobs these days – it is a terrible field to job hunt in at the moment.</p>
<p>There is a hiring freeze on for most government jobs, so that stinks for recent grads. </p>
<p>SimplyHired seems to have lots of listing and my daughter got her first nibble from Monster last week. </p>
<p>I say this often, but colleges are pretty good places for employment, including community colleges. They hire recent grads for admissions and many other departments. There is a higher ed search engine. The Chronicle of Higher Education should have lots of listings. Other big employers in D.C are the thousands of associations. There is an association in D.C. for every industry imaginable and they all hire recent grads to do marketing type work, which people with good writing and speaking skills can do.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that you only need one job. Sometimes it takes a long time. Put you resume on lots of the job sites. Good luck. I know the job search stinks.</p>