How to deal with not getting that dream grad job

This one is for all my fellow final year Uni students out there ..

If you’re reaching the final stages of your degree, then you may have just gone through the painful process of applying for grad positions. First of all, if you’ve chosen to put yourself through that grueling procedure you deserve high five

After all that effort, it can be extremely disappointing when you receive that email telling you that “unfortunately this time your application has not been successful”. While it may feel like the end of the world, the truth is it actually isn’t – it could be the start of something completely different.

Here’s what to do if you missed out on your dream grad job.

Think outside the box

There are plenty of other options out there. It may have felt that getting a grad job was the be all and end all and now that you don’t have one you feel like you’re all out of options. However, this is far from the truth.

You’ve been focused entirely on this one position, but it’s time to think outside the box and see what else there might be for you. First of all, you know normal job positions are still a thing right? Just because it doesn’t have the word ‘grad’ in front of it doesn’t mean you can’t apply.

Get on Hijacked’s jobs feed, Seek or Indeed and scour those job listings - you never know what you might find. Alternatively, if you feel there’s nothing suitable out there, be proactive about creating opportunities.

Send out emails to dream companies introducing yourself, outline what skills you have to offer, and why you’d make a valuable team member.

Study more

Maybe your time at uni isn’t quite up. Sometimes as we study we begin to feel an urge to give something else a go or that something else is calling our name.

Been thinking about how psych or musical drama may be your thing instead? Now’s your chance to pursue those dreams. You may just find that expressing yourself through contemporary dance is what you were born to do.

Take a gap year

This might be the world telling you it’s time to take a break. Particularly if you didn’t take time off between high school and uni – as the saying goes, ‘there’s no time like now’.

You have your entire life to work nine-to-five, so why not give yourself one year of me-time. Always wanted to travel? It’s go time now, when you’ve nothing else holding you back.

If the travel funds aren’t quite there, get a casual job and spend some time at the beach, go on nature walks and catch up with people you neglected while studying. Basically, be a tourist in your own backyard.

This could also be an opportunity to give back. Spend some time volunteering at a local organisation, or take it international and help a community abroad.

So remember, not getting that grad job is not the end of the world. In a way, you’ve just opened up a whole other world to get creative in and explore your options.

Originally appeared on Hijacked

This one is for all my fellow final year Uni students out there ..

If you’re reaching the final stages of your degree, then you may have just gone through the painful process of applying for grad positions. First of all, if you’ve chosen to put yourself through that grueling procedure you deserve high five

After all that effort, it can be extremely disappointing when you receive that email telling you that “unfortunately this time your application has not been successful”. While it may feel like the end of the world, the truth is it actually isn’t – it could be the start of something completely different.

Here’s what to do if you missed out on your dream grad job.

Think outside the box

There are plenty of other options out there. It may have felt that getting a grad job was the be all and end all and now that you don’t have one you feel like you’re all out of options. However, this is far from the truth.

You’ve been focused entirely on this one position, but it’s time to think outside the box and see what else there might be for you. First of all, you know normal job positions are still a thing right? Just because it doesn’t have the word ‘grad’ in front of it doesn’t mean you can’t apply.

Get on Hijacked’s jobs feed, Seek or Indeed and scour those job listings - you never know what you might find. Alternatively, if you feel there’s nothing suitable out there, be proactive about creating opportunities.

Send out emails to dream companies introducing yourself, outline what skills you have to offer, and why you’d make a valuable team member.

Study more

Maybe your time at uni isn’t quite up. Sometimes as we study we begin to feel an urge to give something else a go or that something else is calling our name.

Been thinking about how psych or musical drama may be your thing instead? Now’s your chance to pursue those dreams. You may just find that expressing yourself through contemporary dance is what you were born to do.

Take a gap year

This might be the world telling you it’s time to take a break. Particularly if you didn’t take time off between high school and uni – as the saying goes, ‘there’s no time like now’.

You have your entire life to work nine-to-five, so why not give yourself one year of me-time. Always wanted to travel? It’s go time now, when you’ve nothing else holding you back.

If the travel funds aren’t quite there, get a casual job and spend some time at the beach, go on nature walks and catch up with people you neglected while studying. Basically, be a tourist in your own backyard.

This could also be an opportunity to give back. Spend some time volunteering at a local organisation, or take it international and help a community abroad.

So remember, not getting that grad job is not the end of the world. In a way, you’ve just opened up a whole other world to get creative in and explore your options.

Originally appeared on Hijacked

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posted by The Noise in Wonderland . 9/6/16 .