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“ Use your network. Tell everyone you’re looking for a job ”

Brianna*, 32



College major: Communication studies

Current job: Executive vice president of a trade association



When I graduated, finding a job was nearly impossible. I had a part-time job at a credit union all through college (where I now serve on the board of directors) and while they were very happy with me as an employee, because of the recession there was not a single full-time job available. Even though it wasn't my planned career, I would've taken a full-time job as a teller at that point, simply because I needed health insurance and the credit union was a fantastic employer.



I started applying to jobs before graduation. I applied to 50+ jobs without a single interview. It was terrible. In the end, I landed a job because my brother was talking to my cousin at a party and mentioned that I was looking for a job. I ended up in marketing for a high-end jewelry store. While I negotiated my salary a bit, I wasn't in a position to play hardball, so I accepted $30K. I left college with more than $40K in debt.



When I started job searching a couple years later, I set my expectations low (remembering my experience from a few years before) and applied to lots of jobs. I undersold myself on salary expectations, thinking about how hard it was before. But I ended up turning down interviews and taking an offer with a medical device company that offered me $1,000 above my asking salary --- proof that I was definitely underselling myself because of the experience I had applying for jobs in 2008.



What’s your advice?



Use your network. Tell everyone you’re looking for a job and what you're generally looking for. But also be open — maybe the job isn't what you had planned but might still be the right fit. Talk to your family members, your friends, coworkers from jobs you had in college, professors, etc. Having someone refer you for a position can be a huge step ahead of the line. As a hiring manager, I always like an opportunity to interview someone that I already know has a stamp of approval.



Also, consider grad school. I really wanted to go to grad school, but the idea of more student loans was daunting. When my career prospects were low because of the recession, it would have been a great time to go. I had minimal expenses and life commitments back then. Now, I still consider going back to grad school, but it's a much harder decision and burden than it would've been. So if you think grad school is in your future in the next 10 years, consider doing it now instead of later.



Are you happy with your job now?



Yes! I'm now the Executive Vice President for a trade association, and I work full-time from my home. After working in marketing for the jewelry store, and then for the medical device company, and then working for a business school, I ended up in this position — through a friend mentioning the job.



* Editor's Note: Name changed to protect identity