Message to College Graduates Entering the Workforce for the First Time
By Keith Zimcosky

You just graduated college and now it is time to enter the workforce for the first time. You have your degree, and you feel you are ready for the workforce. Your family and friends talk about how successful you are going to be. You have your resume created and ready to go. You may already be sending your resume to potential employers. Congratulations you’ve done well!

However, are you really ready for the job hiring process?

Many college students graduate with the impression that since they have a college degree they are entitled to the same money, if not more, than what their parents make. In some professions this is very much true. However for most, you will be competing for the same jobs against people who already have experience in the position for which you are applying and those same people possibly have the same degree as you. These people may even have the same GPA or a higher GPA than you. You will be competing against other college graduates who graduated with your same degree, similar GPA, and maybe a more recognizable school.

Now what?

The answer is simple; separate yourself from these individuals during the interview process. Will your resume and cover letter stand out in a stack of resumes on a hiring manager’s desk? This is your first impression to have an impact on whether or not you even make it to an interview. Just because you have your degree doesn’t mean an employer will call you for an interview. You need to stand out!

When you do make it to a face-to-face interview, remember just because an employer called you in for an interview does not mean you are going to get the job. This may just mean that you are in the first stage of many more interviews to come. Now is the time to show the employer why they need to hire you over the other candidates applying for this same job!

Remember you are in a competition for this position. The individual who presents them self the best will win! They may not even be the most experienced person or even have the highest GPA. However they impressed the hiring manager by presenting themselves in a way that separated them from the other job candidates. This employer is speaking to numerous other candidates. You have to sell your skills to the hiring manager. Just because you walked into the interview, introduced yourself, shook hands, and talked about the position doesn’t mean you are going to get hired.

Go in prepared, show enthusiasm, and most importantly show the employer you want to work for them. The job market can be tough. Many factors play into you getting a job. The area for which you live in may be depressed, and the position itself may have had hundreds of respondents. The hiring manager may have graduated from a college that rivaled yours, and you just never know what may affect you from getting a job.

So, if you approach the interview with the idea that the employer is just going to hand the job over to you because you showed up, good luck, because you will be searching for a job for a while or land yourself in a position you may not enjoy! However, if you go in prepared, enthusiastic, confident, and show the employer why they need to hire you, you will have much success throughout your career! Best of Luck!

To sharpen your interviewing skills we welcome you to purchase our latest book, The Interview Survival Guide. Available in digital format for immediate download! Click here.

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