1 answer
Hina
Student
Katy, Texas
1
Question
Updated
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How do you obtain your first job ?
I'm a recent college graduate (AA in General Studies) and trying to get into dental hygiene school, but I want to save up some money first. I am a hard worker who performed quite well academically, but I have been unsuccessful so many times in getting even a minimum wage, part-time job. I either get ghosted, or I receive a rejection letter. I even tried to simplify my resume, so I don't look overqualified, but maybe it's because I just don't have experience? I'm pretty stressed about this.
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1 answer
Liam Rielly
Data Center Technician
195
Answers
Manassas, Virginia
Updated
Liam’s Answer
Honestly this sounds like a resume problem and not a you problem, which is great because you can fix your resume!
You are not overqualified for the jobs you are looking for, you are just presenting yourself in a way that isn't interesting them. Maybe your search area is too small, as in the physical distance or you are looking for a specific job that does not have a wide job market behind it. Try different jobs and also consider going further for a job. Be creative for the type of job you are looking for as well. Be willing to try something you maybe haven't yet. At this point any job experience is only going to help you.
If you just graduated from a college, see if there are anything available through your career center at the school. Its often there are positions given to colleges for students and you might be able to pick something up easily.
Do you have a LinkedIn? Have you tried Indeed? Do you have other social media and businesses you follow or are friends with? Add that to the scope as well.
Your resume template. The resume template from five years ago is no longer valid. Resumes are computer scanned and sorted by keywords or by AI now. This means if you have a resume with graphics or creative text columns it is likely being rejected automatically. If you are walking into a business that has a massive outreach and handing it to an associate or manager, it is likely not getting looked at past that. The way people are hired now is completely different. I know some major companies that won't even consider a candidate unless they have a referral from someone at the company already. They want to know you as a person before they bring you on.
At your stage in the game, personal references matter. Get people, not your teachers or relatives, to set aside some time to answer questions from employers and make a letter of recommendation for the job. If the employer doesn't know you but they can get three or four professionals to hop on the phone and say "yeah Hina, yeah she's great! Definite hard worker!!" that means something. Keep trying! I know you got this! This will be trial and error, take notes on what you changed and how it worked. In the end you'll figure it out and help others do the same!
https://www.youtube.com/live/2uFclxPrw5Q - great video on how to sell yourself to employers
https://www.youtube.com/live/JxNp01jim24 - great video on how to make a great resume
You are not overqualified for the jobs you are looking for, you are just presenting yourself in a way that isn't interesting them. Maybe your search area is too small, as in the physical distance or you are looking for a specific job that does not have a wide job market behind it. Try different jobs and also consider going further for a job. Be creative for the type of job you are looking for as well. Be willing to try something you maybe haven't yet. At this point any job experience is only going to help you.
If you just graduated from a college, see if there are anything available through your career center at the school. Its often there are positions given to colleges for students and you might be able to pick something up easily.
Do you have a LinkedIn? Have you tried Indeed? Do you have other social media and businesses you follow or are friends with? Add that to the scope as well.
Your resume template. The resume template from five years ago is no longer valid. Resumes are computer scanned and sorted by keywords or by AI now. This means if you have a resume with graphics or creative text columns it is likely being rejected automatically. If you are walking into a business that has a massive outreach and handing it to an associate or manager, it is likely not getting looked at past that. The way people are hired now is completely different. I know some major companies that won't even consider a candidate unless they have a referral from someone at the company already. They want to know you as a person before they bring you on.
At your stage in the game, personal references matter. Get people, not your teachers or relatives, to set aside some time to answer questions from employers and make a letter of recommendation for the job. If the employer doesn't know you but they can get three or four professionals to hop on the phone and say "yeah Hina, yeah she's great! Definite hard worker!!" that means something. Keep trying! I know you got this! This will be trial and error, take notes on what you changed and how it worked. In the end you'll figure it out and help others do the same!
Liam recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for your help. Much appreciated for you reaching out and answering my question. I will keep the career center in mind.
Hina