Question:

I'm graduating with good work experience and grades, but can't find a job. Everyone says that this is the worst time to be graduating in a decade. I could probably work flipping burgers, but that's not exactly the career path that interests me. Should I go to grad school? Take a year off and travel?

First Answer:

Despite what you might hear about "no jobs" for graduates, there are jobs opening everywhere, every day. If you want to go to grad school or take a year off and travel, you should only do it because you'd be doing it regardless of the job market. Your defeatist attitude worries me - you've doomed yourself to failure before you've even started! When the job market is tight, you have to be even more focused on what you want and what you've got to offer. Change your attitude and assume that if anyone graduating is going to get a job, it's going to be you. Then, keep trying. You will find a job you want that doesn't require burger-flipping (unless that is really what you want in the first place - smile!)

-- Alison Blackman Dunham, life & career expert, columnist, personal public relations consultant, half of THE ADVICE SISTERS®, and the author of the ASK ALISON career advice column

Second Answer:

Let's start - as Steven Covey is fond of saying - with the end in mind. Do you have some idea of what kind of work you intend to do when the employment market swings back to a seller's market? I would strongly advise you to work by yourself or with a career coach to unpack what kind of activities and skill sets you get the greatest fulfilment from - and come up with a career plan that leverages those. Once you have a pretty good idea what sort of career path you're looking for, that's the time to decide what you should do right now to prepare yourself for reaching that long-term goal.

Depending on what career you decide to focus on, you might investigate the benefits of going to graduate school - particularly if there are qualifications you are currently short of. Would your career goal become derailed by not having a masters or doctorate? What kind of graduate programs are the best entryways to what you eventually want to do? These are the kinds of questions you need to ask yourself before investing two or more years and tens of thousands of dollars on school.

Alternatively, you may find that networking and gaining experiencing in the non-profit sector by volunteering your skills is a good first step to take towards realizing your ambitions. Or, if the road you intend to travel in your career would benefit from your wider experience of the world (particularly if your intended career would involve some sort of international perspective that requires cross-cultural understanding and the ability to work well with folks from different backgrounds) then plan your travel itinerary around the markets you would be called upon to work in. Then, while abroad, nurture the level of business contacts that may come in handy when you're working for an employer!

There are lots of things you could do now - all of which will take you one step closer to realizing your dream job. The trick is to know what that is in the first place - then, and only then - to plan your short- and medium-term objectives around that ultimate goal.

-- Elizabeth Barnes, motivational speaker, workshop leader, author, journalist, and forum panelist.

Third Answer:

If you have the means, by all means, I would say travel or go to graduate school. Possibly both. The timing couldn't be better, and once you're involved in a career, both of these things will be that much more difficult to do. Once you do figure out what career path you want to take, you'll be better prepared to take your career seriously.

-- Tracy Laswell Williams, certified job and career transition coach, accredited resume writer and founder of CAREER-Magic.com

Fourth Answer:

Yes, we're in a tough economy, but even without knowing much about your job-searching strategy, I suspect you're giving up too easily. The inability to find a job should not be your reason to go to grad school. There's something to be said for taking a year off to travel, but you might also find it even harder to find a job after doing so, like a previous inquirer of this Ask the Experts column who found it very difficult to land a job after a 20-month layover after college.

But bottom line, any college grad with experience should be able to get a job with a little persistence. Are you networking? That's the most effective way to get a job. Network especially with recent grads. Get names from your college's career services or alumni office. If you're in a greek organization, look up sorority/fraternity alumni in your field. Join a professional organization in your career area.

Are you following up after sending out resumes? After interviews? Have you had your resume critiqued so you know it's effective? Are you spending enough time job-hunting? It's difficult if you're still in school, but job-hunting can and should be nearly a full-time job in itself. Are you using a mix of methods in your job search -- not only networking, but responding to ads in print and online, cold-contacting employers, going on informational interviews, attending job fairs, signing up for on-campus interviewing? If you want results, don't limit yourself to any one or two methods; mix it up. For more about these suggestions, see my article, Ten Questions to Ask Yourself if You Still Haven't Found a Job.

-- Katharine Hansen, former speechwriter and college instructor who provides content for the Web site, Quintessential Careers, edits QuintZine, an electronic newsletter for jobseekers, and prepares job-search correspondence as chief writer for Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters

Fifth Answer:

My advice is to not give up and look hard for the right positon. It is true that we are facing a different job market that ever before. That means that as job seekers we must be diligent in our search and willing to work hard to find the right position.

Going to graduate school or traveling -- There is nothing wrong with doing either of those but my question to you is...what is your motivation for doing one or the other??? If it is a last ditch alternative to entering the job market, the you would be doing either for the wrong motivation.

We know that finding a job is a full time job and it is very easy to get discouraged in the process. To be successful you must make a concentrated daily and weekly effort to continue your job search. It may take awhile to find what you want -- but it is out there.

While you are looking, consider working for a staffing agency that places individuals in the type(s) of positions you are looking for. It can give you some valuable work experience, money to live on and statistics tell us that over half of individuals will find full-time permanent positions through placements with staffing services.

Good luck in your search and don't give up!!!!

-- Linda Wyatt, Career Center Director, Kansas City Kansas Community College

Sixth Answer:

Disconcerting time to graduate…

Congratulations! You have done well both academically and thinking about your next steps! Good for you. There are no guarantees, of course, getting a good job-one that is a "fit" between you and your employer takes time-it is a process. There is no reason why your destiny has to include flipping burgers!

I work in a college career center and hear how discouraged soon to be grads are about the economy and almost, a "what's the use?" attitude…I disagree. True, this is not a "boom" economy, but people are getting jobs-it's not hopeless! Networking is always an excellent way to conduct your job/informational interview search. Eighty percent of jobs are found this way. Use your Alumni Network-either housed in your career center or Alumni Relations…go online-post your resume at sites related to the positions in which you are most interested. I know you already are looking on CollegeRecruiter.com!

As for graduate school, does this fit in with your goals? Do you need a graduate degree to achieve to what you aspire? Getting in to Grad School is not a given-and in tougher economic times, Grad Schools are even more competitive…I'd talk to your faculty advisors and also, read information about different programs to see if the deadlines are still open but, more importantly, if the program is right for you.

Travel-please, don't try to "wait out" the economy by traveling. If you can afford to-great! Just make sure you also think of how you'll sell this to a prospective employer-what have you learned-adapting to other cultures, learned about global economy…flexibility…You decide what works for you. Good luck and much happiness!

-- Marcia Merrill, the Assistant Director for Career Development and Placement Center at Loyola College in Maryland

Seventh Answer:

It's impossible to offer you answers to your two questions without knowing specifics about you.

If you want to teach at the college level, straight through to grad school makes sense; if you want an MBA, most schools won't touch you without three years of work experience; if you can't see out from under your undergraduate loans now, grad school probably isn't an immediate option. A year off to travel is great if you are independently wealthy, if you will immerse yourself in a foreign language and come back fluent, or if your career path involves global economics or cultural anthropology or international relations.

It's equally difficult to offer advice re your job search-are you giving up too easily?- without knowing what level of effort you've put in to date. Are you waiting for your college's career services office to post an interviewing schedule from desirable employers? Lots of employers have cancelled college recruiting altogether. It takes a labor-intensive, strategically focused job search campaign to find the openings that exist and outsell your competitors.

Look at Major in Success: Make College Easier, Fire up Your Dreams, and Get a Very Cool Job by Patrick Combs and an older book, never better done, First Job: A New Grad's Guide to Launching Your Business Career by Richard Fein to get a sense of what a fleshed out job search/career planning campaign looks like.

-- Carol Anderson, Career Development and Placement Office, Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy at New School University in New York City

Eighth Answer:

If you can't find a job--stop looking for one. Instead, search for a need. Start networking, getting out and meeting people. Don't think of them in terms of how they can help you find a job--rather listen to them and begin inquiring about their organization's needs. You may find opportunity for contract professional work, or even come across the chance to actually CREATE your own job! Good luck!

-- Keith F. Luscher, Creative Director with Goettler Associates, Inc., a fund-raising consulting firm serving non-profit organizations nationwide, and author of Don't Wait Until You Graduate!

Ninth Answer:

Congratulations on your great grades and upcoming graduation! I'd rather not see you flipping burgers too! Yes, this is a tough job market but like everything else it is cyclical. Without knowing your area of study or your field of interest I am not sure if a graduate degree will help you secure a job any easier or faster. Graduate studies usually serve you best when you know it will advance you in a career or enable you to switch career tracks. For instance - all teachers in my community must complete a master's degree within five years of being hired. Another example, in some firms to move to the next level you must have an MBA. What excites me is two things - you have work experience and the resource of your on campus recruiting. Have you reconnected with everyone you have worked with and expressed your desire to work for them or for their personal recommendations? Have you explored the possibility of contract/consulting work with an option of rolling into full-time/permanent? Have you looked into part-time work? The suggestion I am conveying is to continue gaining experience and making contacts in your chosen field. I have seen substitute teachers go on to become principals and per diem workers go on to become managers. In this job market you need to have at least a dozen irons in the fire, follow-up on every opportunity/lead, and most important - be persistent! Are you working with an on-campus career counselor, going to the job fairs, meeting with alumni in your chosen field? Are you networking with professional organizations and meeting potential hiring managers for informational interviews? You have lots of options before you throw in the towel!

If you are still wondering, work with a professional coach who can guide you through the process easier and faster. I am offering a 20% discount on one month of coaching to anyone who mentions this article.

-- Janine A. Schindler, Professional Coach and owner of the Jas Coaching Company

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