September 30, 2021

By Celeste Gable, Marketing Coordinator

The class of 2020 graduates entered a very different economic future than their predecessors the year before. The recession caused by a pandemic has been especially hard on young workers. Well over a year past their graduation and 45% of the class of 2020 are still looking for work, according to a survey conducted by Monster. The challenges of a pandemic economy are evident in the labor market outcomes for these 2020 college graduates.

What’s the best way for grads to get back in the game?

Keep resume fresh and fine-tuned. Make sure you are presenting the latest and most compelling information to employers. Ask friends and mentors to critique your resume and cover letter and provide feedback. Use the gap between graduation and full-time employment to learn a new skill or volunteer your time.

Contact your college career office. Set up a meeting to explore options and make sure that you have tapped into all the resources available. Most offices have a roster of available jobs and internships. Online job posting sites like Handshake, LinkedIn, and Indeed are good resources too.

Ask employed friends to help you. Perhaps you have a friend or two in your field that would be willing to speak with their own company hiring officials about any upcoming hiring needs. Turnover is at an all-time high, so companies are hiring at increased rates. It doesn’t hurt to ask!

Network, network, network. It is absolutely true that most graduates who find work after they have left campus do so through some form of networking. Ask your career office and/or alumni office for a list of contacts in geographic and industry sectors of interest. Follow and connect with relevant experts on LinkedIn. In addition, contact relatives. Everyone knows someone.

Have a strong online presence.  Make sure you’re LinkedIn profile is complete and up to date. Use your online presence to attract hiring managers and recruiters. Join groups for your college and career fields of interest. Reach out to fellow group members for informational interviews. Nowadays, most companies advertise their open jobs on their social platforms. Make sure you are following them for all their updates.

Consider temporary employment jobs, entry level positions and internships. Once your foot is in the door of a company, meet as many of the staff as you can and try to make a favorable impression. You never know where this could lead.

If you’re about to graduate or a recent grad, share your story on social media. Tag us! @Directrecruiters on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram and @dri_inc on Twitter!