12 Super Common Mistakes New College Graduate Job Seekers Make

So you've graduated college, now what? You could go work in a fast food joint or you could get out in the world and find a real job. But is it as easy as just applying and trying your luck? Not exactly. There are actually quite a few mistakes college graduates make...

1. A crappy resume

Resumes are like gold, you gotta make sure they show off your talents and aren't just full of references to primary school achievements and in Times New Roman. Sites like Canva have awesome editable templates that are fresh and will make you stand out.

 

2. Submitting the same resume for every job

Rookie mistake = sending out hundreds of copies of the same resume. Your CV needs to be flexible and change with every job you apply for, especially the objective section.

 

3. Not bringing anything along to your interview

There's nothing worse than looking ill-prepared for an interview, and a sure fire way of doing that is by bringing along nothing. Not even a pen. Make sure you bring a clean, new notebook, a nice pen and a few copies of your resume at the very least.

 

4. Pretending you've done your research

Picture this: you're in your dream interview and it's going amazingly until the interviewer asks: so what do you know about our company. You go blank... you don't know anything about the company. You're gonna need to Jesus to get out of this one. Instead, make sure you go in with some notes about the company and relate your questions at the end to what you want to know more about.

 

5. Slagging off your old boss or work

It feels great to have a bit of a bitch sesh about your former boss but there's a time and a place. Read: not at your job interview. If you had a negative experience, turn it into something positive such as that you learnt a lot of valuable lessons.

 

6. Asking typical questions

At the end of your job interview, you might be asked if you have any questions. Things to avoid are asking how much you'll be paid, what holidays you get, and if they check your social accounts. All big red flags!

 

7. You applied just for the sake of it

A lot of college graduates make the mistake of thinking more resumes sent out = more responses. Actually no. A hiring manager will smell a serial submitter a mile away - it'll be written all over your generic cover letters and resumes. Make sure you know why you're applying and don't just say it's 'cause you want a job.

 

8. Failing to network

Networking isn't just one of those things people in corporate jobs do - it's for students and graduates as well. You can network in many ways and LinkedIn is one of the easiest ways to grow your network.

 

9. Assuming you didn't get the job

If you don't hear back after an interview, don't just assume you didn't get it. This goes for sending applications as well. If enough time has elapsed, show your eagerness by calling up. What's the worst that could happen?

 

10. Unprofessionalism

Arriving late, looking unkempt, asking about money straight away, being rude or pushy - these are all massive dont's in an interview. You need to look your sharpest and dress to impress. They don't say that for no reason! You are trying to get a job not a bus ticket. Look alive!

 

11. Thinking you're worth more than you are

Chances are if you've just graduated college, you don't have a heap of experience. That's not a bad thing but don't turn away an amazing opportunity just because it doesn't pay as much as you hoped.

 

12. Avoiding your college's career guidance office

A career counsellor outside of college costs a pretty penny, so do not waste that service! All Irish colleges should have a career officer who can help you out with job searching and give you invaluable tips. Good luck!

 

Also read: How To Survive And Have Craic While On Minimum Wage