5 big mistakes new grads make

I am a college senior who has had multiple internships with Fortune 100 companies and I have read a lot of postings from people who I would assume are in the latter stages of their careers and are now seeing young faces and getting frustrated. To them all I can say is:
1.) Remember what it was like on your first day. Nerves occasionally take over for better or worse.
2.) If you are a parent, teach your child this stuff!! Yes they can learn it the hard way, but is that really necessary?

I’ve been looking for an entry level job in Engineering for 2 years now. I do everything correctly when it comes to resumes and cover letters. The result, very little from anyone. I even heard a couple months ago that doing perfectly on a job interview was a bad thing. I’m disillusioned by the entire process and think complete idiots get offers while I get nothing. Companies don’t want highly talented people who are creative, objective, ethical and use good judgment. They wants drones with zero ethics and will do the company’s bidding without question.

Jennifer and Rich–you’re both right. Completing a four-year degree is horrifically difficult and it’s a total waste of time. I’m a Berkeley graduate, got completely burnt out, and now no one will hire me. I’ve been looking for job for three months while I watch non-college grads scooping up jobs I would give a limb for.

Dressing professionally, not chewing gum, not being late, and bringing extra resumes are things that have been taught since the beginning of time. Since when did putting your best foot forward become “foolish”.

Jennifer you are wrong. Completing 4 a college program is very difficult. It takes a drive to stick with it, especially for the working adults.
My guess is that the new person who you make more money than now will easily lap you within 2 years and then you will have a new supervisor.

I say keep doing what you are doing.
I didn’t go to college and it hasn’t done me any harm. I’m earning 20% more than my predecessor in my current job, she was a grad with years of experience in the local area that I’ve only just moved to. Oh yes and she was older than me too. My non-graduate status actually helps me stand out amongst all the idiots who think they are basically entitled to a corner office and an expense account because they spent the last four years getting drunk, instead of learning how to read and write.

Please read and reread your e-mails. Check your spelling. Don’t use there for their or are for our. I notice errors like that and eliminate those candidates.

I believe society needs to keep there nose out of everyone’s personal business. With the exception of criminal records, and even that needs to be looked at closely. If it’s a misdemeaner (prank gone bad), and they learned from their mistakes becoming a more responsible adult. It shouldn’t be held against them.

As for me, I speak my mind, live my personal life the way I see fit, and work harder AND faster than most I know. If someone does Google me, and doesn’t like what they see it’s their loss. My personal life has no bearing on my work life and ethic. Too many people assume that incorrectly, and it’s a VERY “old” way of thinking.

All that said, I get a lot of work. I Freelance. I refuse to be stifled by Corporate America’s “image” idealogy. They’re old, pretentious, and backward thinking.

Look at the UK, their average work week is 37 hours. 5 weeks vacation is the norm for 1st year employees (we get that after 10 years of slavery). Plus sick days, holidays, etc.

America is working their horse to death, and thankfully Gen Yers have seen it’s NOT worth it.

STAND STRONG Gen Yers! I agree with you wholeheartedly!

Just make sure you have your own retirement investments/accounts in place as you bounce around.

As far as I am concerned, it’s a two way street. They should make a list of how employer’s should conduct an interview and treat the fresh meat in the work force. Some of these pet peeves are nothing but that; somebody thinking so much of their position to make a decision that they get carried away with it. Some students actually do have options, and they have those options because other employers know they are valuable. It’s something to keep in mind. Sure those chewing gum, being unprofessional etc are foolish, but some of these complaints are a little more personal than professional.

One of my friends lied about his GPA on his resume / in the interviews, and got a job he wouldn’t have unless he lied. Don’t they do background checks on grades or what?

Alright, I agree with all the comments left on this site. Ask Annie has always been a good resource. One thing I believe that a interviewee should never be without is an answer to this question….”What do you know about our company and what specifically would you like to do with your skills here” Too often, when I recruit canadiates, our company just seems to be just another company on the list. If you are interviewing for high caliber positions, you better believe that you are not going to get hired unless you have an unprecedentant passion for working at my company…otherwise, I’ll just hire the next guy.

I must say that I am astonished at some of the antics the new interviewees are pulling. I can not picture myself ever being so clueless! It was great to read through all of your responses, learned a little and laughed a little. I would say the most informative bits I took from everyone were the actual questions asked during interviews.

To also touch base on another topic that was brought up. Cocky ivy league grads. I do not attend an ivy league institution but, I am a student at a private business school and often see the, “you owe me” mentality from the wealthier of the students, a bit frustrating to say the least. I can see where the impatience with the attitude could come to fruition quickly.

I would love to talk more with anyone willing to help a future grad (senior this fall) with resume tips or career guidance in the e-Business Management field. I am very passionate about business, investing, and coming up with new ways to improve business. A bit unclear about what jobs are out there related to my degree (melding technology with business) and what position I should look for. One that would afford me the opportunity to fine tune my ideas with others and implement them into a real world application.

I can be contacted at [ajmoran at gmail dot com]

Great comments… let me add a few of my own. NEVER tell a prospective employer that your long-term goal is to work for another company (or move to another career field). Salary research is absolutely a MUST… just becuase starting salaries are one amount in one city doesn’t mean they are the same accross the country. I’ve seen deserving folks ask for (and get) a fraction of what they could have made becuase they didn’t do their homework. Same holds true for asking the moon (and then hoping they can negotiate down). If you have a BA in history and no experience and ask for $85k to start… the interview is over at that point.

And for crying out loud….proof read your resume. I had one resume where the individual stated that they had been awarded the “Army Accomadation Medal”

I am amazed at the arrogance of some of these employers complaining about the behavior of young twenty-somethings. At one point, everyone that is in a position to hire young people was young and trying to get a break. I am sure that stupidity and ignorance is rampant amongst young graduates, but the fact is, stupidity and ignorance is rampant everywhere. The posts so far suggest that employers are irritated that young grads just want any job and fail to show specific interest in their particular company. Well here’s a clue: with the costs of education absolutely skyrocketing (count on at least a 5% increase every year), it makes perfect sense why young graduates want just any job. After all, what is the difference if Job #1 requires you to slave for 80 hours a week at low pay, whereas Job #2 does the same exact thing? If I were an employer, I would rather have a candidate who was honest and said I want to work for this company because I need a job and I’m willing to work in this industry, rather than a candidate that delivered some hackneyed response about how this particular company is so special… blah blah blah. The fact is, most companies are not special. Young graduates have very little to choose from, and it would be nice if some of these employers that are taking time to not so much offer advice but rather to chastise young graduates, realize that maybe THEY are not so special.

To the person who thought that an employer googling an employee wouldn’t come up with dirt b/c no one posts stuff with their own names OR you wouldn’t know their screen names… let’s put it this way - why take chances? If your real name is in your MySpace page ANYWHERE, it can come up in Google. Screen names be damned! I found a picture of an ex boyfriend and his first wife from 22 years ago that has been posted in the last year, through googling his name. Just google yourself, plus your state or city or school or field (eg John Doe marketing). Make sure of what employers will see if they do the same.

I second the notion of cleaning up the email address. Nasty nasty nasty. I have an email strictly for job hunting, and so should everyone else, since on hotmail and yahoo etc. they are FREE.

Lastly, please oh please, READ your emails and ANSWER your phones (or check your voice mail) DAILY. Being in the job market and not returning emails or phone calls within 24 hours is wrong. You deserve to work “beneath yourself” if you don’t respond within 24 hours as a courtesy, even if you don’t want the job.

To: Unemployed in St Louis,
You have 3 misspelled words in your comment. This may be one reason you are having a hard time getting a job. Have someone proof your resume and job application. It may help.

You may have the degree but there is no room for “cocky” behavior even in requesting an application. Dress to match the work environment you are walking into. “Yes sir” and “yes mam” will take you farther than you might think.

None of these matter in Detroit. No jobs.

I am a mature (married, own my house, no debt other than house) 26yo with an inconsequential Masters degree. I can’t get a filler job - I’m over-qualified, and they know I’ll leave soon. I can’t get an interview, or even a call back, for an entry level job, with any company in any field.

I follow all the rules ever posted online for getting a job: bottom line is that if there are no jobs for you it doesn’t matter.

I graduated with a degree in computer scince in 2001 at the age of 42. I’m conviced that age discrimination is the problem. So much for all the companies that have say they are equal oportunity.

Keep your expectations LOW!

-You may think now that college is over it’s time to go for the gusto, but you and your potential employers have different ideas of what ‘gusto’ means. Be prepared to work very hard and learn a great deal, in exchange for very little pay. Take the $12 an hour job as a ‘coordinator’, an ‘assistant’ or even the sub-20K ‘intern’ post. Live with your folks for a year, save some $$ and become a marketable commodity. You’ll be surprised how quickly you move up, if not in your current organization than in a new one that will value you more.

-In the interview, you almost always face the question: “Where do you see yourself heading over the next 5-10 years?” Talk about your career goals in terms of what you hope to learn and achieve, not what position you want to attain or the material benefits you want. The employer wants to know how your goals will help them, not you. “I want to be a Senior VP in five years” shows ambition, but “I want to learn enough about this business to be a terrific manager or executive” implies that they can expect eagerness and dedication from you.

-Be relentlessly positive and enthusiastic. If possible, say nothing bad about anyone or anything, even if they ask you about the worst job experience you’ve had. Tell them you’ve enjoyed your experiences and that you’ve always had a tendency to get along well with others. You respected all your supervisors, and they’ve returned that respect. The only thing you didn’t like about a past job, if part-time, was that you couldn’t devote the time you would’ve liked to learning as much as you could, but now you would be able to do so because you could commit yourself full time.

Gosh, where to start.

Last week, I got resumes with the following email addresses: pimpmyride@, smackthatbutt@ and areyoumyfather@. Am I really going to hire you?

Bring 4-5resumes with you, neatly presentated. Today a guy took out his wallet, unfolded a paper and handed it to me. It was his resume, folded 6 times.

Finally, I know interviews are nerveracking, but please think about what you are saying before you speak. Once, I had a guy who acutally told me that he had a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him. Another lady, when asked about building relationships actually used an example that just happen, about how she met and talked with a women in our lobby. Please!

Just use your brains!

Worst mistake ever - poor response to “why should I hire you.” I’ve heard “my parole officer said I had to get a job” and more commonly “I really need a job” We’re not in the business of employing people who really need a job. Certainly you have more than that as a reason for me to pick you, no?

I find it sad when recent grads earn a degree in History and want to work for a financial company or in the business field. Good luck to all the liberal arts graduates.

I work for a “small company” that is comprised mainly of 20 somethings. We have a great environment that fosters their creativity. But at age 28 I am one of the oldest here and as I watch the new grads come to interview week after week I just want to pull them aside and give them a clue. We are in the middle of hiring a lot of people expecting to expand our company in 2 years to more than triple it’s current size. We have watched Gen Y’ers come in looking like they just crawled out of bed or missing an interview time and calling after the fact to reschedule, falling asleep during an interview (that was funny), doing bad impressions of a dinosaur, and my favorite openly admitting to smoking pot. Some things should be saved for the lunch room conversation and left out of the interview.

I teach a job search class at the local Job Service office. We cover many subjects in that class, those that have already been posted and more. Young people, please remember, you are more than likely not going to interview with someone your own age so cover the tatoos and piercings, we aren’t impressed! Also, make sure your e-mail address is professional, nothing inappropriate or suggestive. I tell folks to create a new one just for the job search and keep it professional, just for that purpose. Also, show up early for your interview, dressed for success, send a thank you note to each one by name that conducted the interview. Be prepared with a hard, clean copy of your resume and a list of references. Most companies will check references, so notify the people you have on the list that they may be called. Develop a network of professional people and contact them with the information that you are looking for work and would appreciate them passing your name on to others they know that might be interested in your skills and talents for a job in their company. You never know who might give you the right referral. 75% of all jobs are obtained through networking, 5% through want ads! Keep your options open. You can always continue looking for a better job, even when you do find that first job.

I would say one of the most damaging mistakes would be in the area of language and writing. Writing with bad form, style or grammar is a quick way to be ignored. From the many job applications I have read over the years, at least half have one or more spelling errors. It may be acceptable to dismiss poor spelling when communicating through the various text-based mediums, but for a job interview, spelling everything correctly and having good form is a top priority.

New grads are often woefully unaware of the real world of work. Personal appearance is often too casual - one young woman wore flip flops to her interview. Handshakes, both men and women, aren’t firm enough - dead fish handshakes convey a lack of confidence. Company research is often not completed - interviews that lack intelligent questions from the candidates relay a lack of interest in THIS company. Resumes arrive with no cover letter and a weak ‘objective’ statement - lack of detail in the job search tools indicates indifference to the specific opportunity.

If a new grad wants to differentiate himself in the job market, taking note of these little details will greatly set him apart from others in the marketplace.

Along with the article’s warning about your voice mail greeting, add, “Clean up your email address.” The cutesy or suggestive address that your college buddies found so funny will get your resume tossed without being read.

A mistake I see recent graduates make… displaying the attitude that the world owes them a job and a good salary. The world does not owe anyone anything. You need to work for it. Unless you have prior work experience, accept that you may need to start at the bottom. For many liberal arts graduates, understand that it may take time to get your career started. You may think your history degree from an ivy league school makes you perfect for a corporate position, but don’t be surprised if you have trouble getting that interview.

From the prospective of a graduating senior, my comments come from the mistakes that I currently see some of my classmates making. I see way too many people waiting until the month they’re graduating to start interviewing for their first job. Don’t do it! Some jobs–like those working for the city–can take up to 6 months just to get an interview for. My advice: start making your resume at the beginning of your last semester and start interviewing right after. Don’t wait until you’re about to walk the stage and end up getting stuck working as the night manager for Dominoes. As for those who wanna go back and live with mom and dad for a few months. NO THANKS!

Some Good points for new grad trying to get into the workforce but that employers googling a employee to too far fetched for me. For starters no one is going to use his Actual FIRST and LAST name when posting offensive thoughts. If employers still like to google the employee, good luck with trying to get all his screen names.

1. Not knowing the words “Please,” or “Thank You,” or “May I?” 2. Talking rapidly and in nothing but cliches, not answering the question but talking at length. 3. Personal attire more suited to a disco club than an interview. 4. Displays of rotten table manners if treated to a lunch or dinner. 5. Showing no interest in the company or firm other than just getting a job. 6. More concerned about what perks would be offered than just what the duties and responsibilities might be. 7. Lying (no other way to put it) about ones accomplishments. 8. Acting cutesy or trying to be clever in an interview. 9. Barely speaking above a mumble. 10. Acting very foolish. In one case a young woman got a little “tipsy” when treated to a dinner. I think all of the comments posted here should be collected and sent to all academic advisers and career counselors at the nation’s universities.

Don’t be afraid to ask for the job, if it’s the job you want. Show your potential employer that you want the job and that you are not afraid to step up to the plate and ask for it. No one will hand you anything on a platter. My favorite line to live by . . . You don’t get what you don’t ask for in life.

It’s been a while since I was a new grad, but it bothers me immensely that these newcomers to the working world need to be told to keep their parents out of the process. What is being taught in our colleges, if the average graduate needs to be told not to have his or her parents contact employers?
Why are companies so eager to hire new grads? Because they can work them for 80 hour weeks at relatively low pay, until they burn out and accept a soulless existence. The kids don’t know any better, and are so eager for meaningless status that they’ll do the company’s insane bidding, while their precious youth slips away in a blur of insufferable happy hours and petty office politics.
So, employers, before you start complaining about the kids’ manners, remember that you want them. You need them. Embrace them. And they shall love you back.

For the most part they are clueless about the work world and do not even know it. A lot of the really bright ones fail to get that being really smart is an assett but not the deciding factor in being a success. The ability to work with people, work hard and a willingness to perform the none sexy tasks that need to get done in every operation and at every level is more important. I would tell them that in everything they do just showing up (preferably on time) will get you half way to were you want. I would also tell them to honestly look at themselves and recognize their strengths and weaknesse and then learn how to apply their strengths and mitigate their weaknesses in a team environment. In the end I would also tell them that working hard and having ambition is a great thing, particularly when you are starting out, but that everything has a price or opportunity cost and before they define having the McMansion and BMW as being a success they should ask themselves what price they are willing to pay to have them. Apart from that. 1) Find someone older that you consider a success and emulate them.
2) Find mentors you can trust, use them and stay in touch as you move through your career.
3) ALWAYS respect other peoples time
4) Accept failure and learn from it. At some point we all make mistakes or fail at something. What is important is owning up and doing your best to offset the situation and then not repeating the same mistake. That will earn you more respect than an easy win.
5) The odds are that the “C”levels wherever you end up are as messed up and clueless as the rest of you.
6) %#$@ runs down hill. Accept it.
7) Never loose your cool. It helps you think clearly in a tight spot and empowers you when other people loose theirs.
Because people are friendly does not make them your friend. Get that early.
9) Ultimately it is about the value you add to the business. Most of the old values in the work world have been replaced with just one, shareholder value.

The biggest problem that I see is that new grads don’t look at the big picture. Here is the example, I have a mutual friend who has graduated from a very well known grad school in Phoenix. They wanted to do their own thing and didn’t even look at the big picture of getting experience with a fortune 100 company. Now they don’t have a job (I wish them the best of luck), because they waited and passed up the potential of a perfect job for 3-5 years.

A first job may not be the perfect fit, but experience is the best thing to have when looking for the next job.

Mistakes I have seen by young students and inexperienced job seekers are Email addresses. I recommend any job seeker to have one professional Email for recruiters to use for correspondence. The Email should be the person’s first and last name. You might have to use a middle initial or middle name to make sure you are not conflicting with another Email account. Emails I have seen on resumes which are obviously inappropriate are: 1hotlady4u@… CrazryGRL49@… Scot113456@ I think you ger the point.

As a recruiter.. when parents call me to see how where the child is in the process.. consider yourself out of the running for the position. Face it- you will NOT make 100k coming out of school- don’t negotiate like you are something so special.. there are a lot more of you out there and we can take back an offer. Dress like a professional and take out the GUM!

A lot of the points in this article are DEAD-ON. A lot of college grads do not return emails promptly.. I’ve had over 3 months go by between initial contact and reply email. They do not say thank you or seem to respect or value time. That being said, when I do find one that is responsible, attentive, replies in a timely fashion, etc. they score major points. The most interesting part about this is that I work in an very competitive industry that only recruits at top schools. Needless to say, I was shocked at the a lot of the behaviors these new college grads exhibited.

Being a recruiter for 25+ years in three major markets…I’ve just about seen & heard it all. Mistakes: 1. Entitlement headset..what’s in it for me..big clue…”It’s not what the prospective employer is going to do for you…It’s what you’re going to do for them” period ..the end. 2. Short-term vs Long-term goals..no idea of where they’re going or how they’re going to get there…bottom-line clue..hardwork and peserverence, there are no short-cuts out here in radio-land. 3.Dress well, speak well, act professional and eat some humble pie before you go on any interview… 4.One is NEVER late for an interview or too early for that matter….5. Send a thank you note, even if you don’t want that job…SURPRISE…a better one could come along down the road with the same company.

During interviews (or with interns who we are assessing for full time positions), I will get the ‘Future CEO’. Usually hot shots from Ivy League schools whose parents are very successful, these recruits will focus on their desires to start their own company, be a CEO, etc. That’s great, but they are interviewing for entry level positions at a Fortune 250 company. No matter how talented and driven they are, they still have A LOT to learn, but don’t seem to realize it. If they are focused on the ‘C’ suite, experience on projects has taught that they tend to miss the less glamorous lessons of the junior ranks and become frustrated with the job.

What mistakes do I see from new college grads? Oh, let me count the ways. 1. Not dressing professionally. That would mean a SKIRT for women. OR a Pants SUIT. No pants without matching jacket. Always a tie for guys. White shirt preferred (had a black shirt no jacket last week. 2. Not having hard copy of your resume with you (3 out of 4 last week did not). At least 4-5 copies. 3. Not turning your cell phone OFF before you get in to the interview. 2 of 6 in last 2 weeks had their phone go off during the interview. 4. Not having goals to articulate if you mention “goals” in your resume objective (that happened last week). 5. Not sitting attentively while interviewing. Had a woman last week who kicked off her sandals and sat cross legged in the chair in my office.

Thanks for this opportunity to rant! They are driving me crazy!