Surviving Post-Undergrad Unemployment

Graduating college isn't easy. Always referred to as a transition, it’s one that that inevitably includes many bumps along the road. What makes it even harder, in this economy, is that many of us are going from four or more parent-free years of academia, friends and overall productivity to at least a few weeks (if not months) of living with dear old Mom and Dad again, tirelessly searching for jobs.

The transitional road, at present, not only includes a few bumps, but major traffic jams and a few stops for repairs, as well. Luckily, any well prepared young adult can survive those few weeks of post-undergrad and pre-first job, perhaps not entirely pain free, but with as little traffic violations as possible.


How to Survive the Post-Undergraduate Employment Hunt

1) Play nice. If you’re moving back home, be prepared for a major culture shock. No matter how well you may have kept in contact with the parentals, you still haven’t lived under their roof for longer than a couple of breaks. First, set a few ground rules. Explain to them that you are now a grown adult with a degree, and just because you don’t have a job yet doesn’t mean you aren’t searching. Also explain that you’d like to be treated like an equal, not a child, and although you plan to come home at a reasonable hour, you don’t need a curfew. Chances are, they will be impressed by your maturity and far more open to an honest discussion than a full on screaming match.

On the other hand, under stand the fact that they aren’t used to your constant presence anymore, and try and just laugh it off when they still think that what you liked when you were five or fifteen is still what you like as a graduate. And don’t forget how far respect can get you. (Answer: very far.) When you feel like you’re on the brink of going bonkers, take a step back and go on a drive or walk.

2) Become best friends with CraigsList. And CareerBuilder. And Monster. And the entirety of your local job searching sites. And the newspaper. And your own two feet, for that matter. Job hunting should now become your day job, and not an afternoon should go by during your unemployment that you aren’t searching. Make sure your resume is in tip-top shape, compile your list of references (and make sure you have their permission to use them!) If you have a business plan or writing samples, get them together too, and triple-check them for accuracy and professionalism. If you are applying to dozens of jobs every day, you are bound to get interviews. The more interviews you attend, the more offers you are likely to get. This way, you won’t have to accept the first thing that lands on your doorstep, unless, of course, it is your dream job.

3) Catch up. On yourself, on your reading list, on sleep, with old friends. Whatever you’ve been meaning to get done but haven’t for the past four years, now is the perfect time to do it! You’re out of the little bubble of your college campus and are re-entering mainstream society, so go and see those friends from high school that you always “meant” to grab drinks with over winter break, and finish the book that you started two years ago, but never got past chapter one because finals were more important.

And, what the hell, you’re unemployed. No one is going to kill you if you catch up on all that beauty sleep that you missed while you were at school, —what was it that you were doing? Studying? Something like that…—as long as you don’t roll out of bed ten minutes before you get need to be somewhere, and show up to said event in sweat pants and last night’s hoodie, like you would have for class. Or, maybe you can still do that, but the point is you shouldn’t. And when you’re done catching up on all that sleep, take some time to get your look together. The more put-together and professional you appear at an interview, the more likely you are to land a job.


Let’s face it: we’ve graduated during some hard times. But that doesn’t undermine the fact that, here we are, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed college graduates. Celebrate your accomplishments and be proud of the fact that you worked your buns off for four (or maybe five, or maybe six) years and earned a degree! It may be a tough economy, but jobs are out there. If you keep your cool and continue the search, you’ll find one, too. Soon, unemployment will become just a fading memory!