Ten Humbling Realities for the Class of 2020

I had been preparing for college my whole life. Whether or not I wanted to go, my parents always spoke of college as a life goal.

Then, I graduated high school in 2008. I went into college during a major recession and had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. At this time, the job market didn’t look great. When I obtained my undergraduate degree in 2012 the job market was beginning to rebound. I wasn’t entering the workforce at the worst time, but it was far from the best time.

I feel really bad for the class of 2020. They’re graduating when unemployment is increasing at a historic rate. Many of their senior events have been postponed or cancelled, and milestones will be celebrated in virtual spaces. In the end, their reward will be a challenging job market. I am challenged by these event, not as much as the newly graduated, but aspects of my life have been postponed due to COVID-19.

My experiences are not the same, but there is plenty of overlap. I struggled to find a job, I continue to struggle to find opportunities for professional growth, but I learned a lot through this process. Looking toward the future can be tough during uncertain times, so a little tough love might go a long way.

I’m not writing this to be negative, but I’m also don’t want to instill a false sense of positivity into the graduating class. So, I’m trying to provide some piece of advice with each

Leaving College Will Be a Lot Harder than You Thought When Entering

When you start college, four years seems like a long time. As you graduate, you to feel like that chunk of time flew by. Chances are you’re not going to feel you haven’t reached the end of the road because you’re not fully prepared for the next step. These feelings are entirely normal, but it doesn’t make them any less stressful. Now, you may need to consider alternatives. Perhaps there will be a delay getting your first job, or your first job isn’t what you anticipated.

If you find yourself in this position, make the most of it. Build relationships, be open about your struggle, and embrace opportunities for growth. Focus on taking mini-steps rather than the bigger steps you anticipated.

You’re Going to Get A Lot of Empty Advice

People will want the best for you, but you’ll need to separate good intentions from good advice. You’re going to hear sentiments like “things will work out,” or “it will happen.” In all actuality, these people have no idea what they’re talking about so they’re feeding you what you’d like to hear. Keep in mind, they mean well, they just  don’t know what to say.

Try to dig a little deeper. If people are willing to open up about their struggles, don’t focus on their results. Focus on their first steps after identifying the problem. This will allow you to find more generalized advice that’s more applicable to your situation. If people are willing to help but don’t know how, you can prepare yourself to obtain the most valuable information possible from the conversations.

School Isn’t the Solution

When times get tough, people go back to school to get more training. If your end goal is to get a Master’s degree, don’t expect it to have a great impact right after you graduate. Those who obtained their Master’s in recent years are likely included in recent lay-offs and competing for the open positions. Often, your entry-level status can be an asset because you’re qualified for the minimum pay-rate and benefits. Unless your industry specifically requires advanced degrees (like medical and education fields), employers aren’t recognizing you for other reasons, not because your lack of a Master’s degree.

There’s no substitute for real experience. There’s no student loan that will erase debt. If you’re looking to get more education simply because it’s the safest option, it’s unlikely to have the anticipated effect. You might be better off working on your own project to demonstrate in your field. At least that won’t result in debt.

Your Network Is Weak

If you’ve sent out dozens of resumes without any responses, you’re doing something wrong. It might be your resume and cover letters, but it’s probably because other candidates are sneaking their applications into HR’s hands. You can complain about how unfair this is, but it’s a reality of finding a job. The thing that’s even worse: some people have built-in connections because of their family and friends.

As a recent graduate, you don’t have much to lose. Remain professional, but it’s time to establish new connections. You can start on LinkedIn or by going to a networking events. The more commonalities you can find with others in the field, the easier it will be to have professional conversations. Start with people who graduated from your university or have a similar background, and you’ll be surprised how willing some people are to help.

Everyone Lies

No, I am not telling you to lie on your resume or make up some fake credential. I’m telling you to be aware of the fact that other people withhold their negative experiences in their narratives. Your classmates will downplay their stress levels, fake a positive attitude, or force optimism in the face of anxiety. For a prospective employer, this can highlight employable traits. As a job seeker, you see other people and wonder how they’re doing so well. Truth is, everyone had a struggle, but you can only see their highlight reel on social media.

Take everything with a grain of salt. In high school, there’d always be that one kid who got straight A’s and claimed to never study for tests. That kid is a liar; he studied for hours. You only see the end result, so he can tell you whatever narrative he wants. Because you don’t know what he did last night, you’re going to believe his narrative. In reality, your struggle is normal, and even the liars had to put in effort.

When Things Get Tough, Try Something New

The longer you wait for results, the harder it becomes. Your days consist uploading your resume, writing a cover letter, and submitting them. Then you move onto the next job posting where you upload your resume, write a cover letter, and hit submit. The process repeats and repeats and repeats for days on end. At some point, you need to stop. Try something new such as: reaching out to a recruiter on LinkedIn, creating content to post on social media, researching success stories from other people, or setting up an informational interview. Something other than resume, cover letter, and repeat.

Repetition will lead to exhaustion. When you’re doing the same things over and over you’re going to feel trapped. Your goal should be to explore your freedom and make the most of opportunities you have. I’m not guaranteeing you’re going to find success by taking a new approach, but you increase your odds when you explore different methods of getting recognized.

It’s Not Just Going to Happen

I know I’ve already talked about the empty advice you’ll receive, but I can’t overemphasize he fact that you need to be proactive. A lot of people will tell you things are going to work out, but things only change if you put effort into the process. Think about this logically. If you’re struggling to find a job in an oversaturated market, this means there’s more employees than we have jobs. For some people, things aren’t going to work out. There’s going to be competition, so you need to be competitive.

If you find yourself in a position where you’re struggling to find success, you need to work on your personal brand. Determine what makes you unique and use that to set yourself apart from the crowd. Find ways to demonstrate these talents, and this will give you talking points next time you’re discussing a position.

You’ll Find a Few Ghosts

Job searches can be scary, perhaps that’s why there are so many ghosts. At some point you’re going to establish a connection or have an interview. After a few days, it seems like the lines of communication just dissolve. Rather than give you a solid “no,” you’re just going to get no response from the recruiter. Communication stops and you’ve been ignored. Logically, you should know this is the end of the interview process, but without a formal rejection you cling to the sliver of hope that you might get a delayed response.

This isn’t the way companies treat candidates they want to hire, but you should still seek an answer. When you find yourself getting ghosted, remain professional, but reach out. Ask for a status update and reiterate your interest in the position. The worst case scenario: you continue to get ignored. Most likely, you’ll find out you got rejected from the position. If this happens, thank the recruiter for the opportunity. Gratitude can be viewed positively, and this allows you to leave recruiters with a positive impression.

The Universe Is Not Out to Get You

It may seem like everything is going wrong, your efforts are going unnoticed, and you feel like crap when you realize how much time has passed. Logically, you realize other people have gone through this. Emotionally, it feels like no one understands what you’re going through. This is the worst part, but you can’t feel like a victim.

This is one of those times when the hardest solution is the one you need. You need to feel like you’re making progress, so do something productive. Reformat your resumes, apply for a job, or make a spreadsheet of all of your efforts. When you’re feeling really down, it kind of doesn’t matter you do. The goal is to feel slightly productive, so even the smallest task will move you closer to the right track.

The Universe Is Not Going to Align for You

Just like the universe is not working against you, it’s not working for you. You’ll need to make some decisions and determine what sacrifices you’re willing to make. This means you can’t wait for the stars to align and for the perfect opportunity to come your way. At some point you’re going to have to make a decision. It will come with its rewards, but you’ll also be making sacrifices in the process.

Just make sure you’re working toward something. There are some somethings you’re totally unwilling to sacrifice, and you should remember those non-negotiables. Beyond that, keep your goals in mind and accept opportunities to achieve them. Taking an unconventional path doesn’t mean you’re not going to reach your destination.

After the Class of 2020 Graduates

All transitions in life come with challenges. When your transition overlaps with a major economic crisis, you’re going to have more problems than anticipated. Nobody can fully understand what the class of 2020 is going through, but some experiences share more parallels than others. The people who dealt with economic struggles when finding their first job may be the ones who can relate to this class.

The truth is, some things are going to suck. Some people are going to have a harder time than others. Certain majors and career paths are going to be impacted more heavily, so some graduates are going to be more prepared than their classmates. It’s normal to feel stress when faced with uncertainty, but there are ways to handle these circumstances.

Many thing are out of our control. We don’t know when quarantines will end or if the economy will rebound. Other things are in our control, and it’s important to recognize what we can do. Remaining positive during a crisis doesn’t mean ignoring the negatives. Acknowledging hardships will allow you to overcome them, and exercising control in the right areas will make the best of this situation. This will allow the class of 2020 to hold a healthier perspective as they embark on their next steps. Even if they don’t land the perfect job right away, they have taken the right approach to find their next role.