From campus to career: practical advice for post-graduates facing the job market

“If you get a degree, you will have trouble finding a job,” said no parent ever; but, that seems to be the reality for many new Canadian graduates. We were always told to graduate high school, go to college or university afterward, and study more to succeed in the real world. Or if you really didn’t know what to do, take that gap year to figure out what to study at university, but make sure you go at some point. Why is this so normal? Why is it so ingrained in our heads that without a degree, we will not be successful? 

Education is helpful for making connections, learning new skills, and pursuing internships and practicums, but after speaking with friends and family and doing a little research, I began to realize that work experience is more important than education. 

Now I know it might be counterproductive to argue against education in a newspaper run by university students, but I’m not here to speak against education because I do see its value. I am a university graduate myself, and although I think education alone is important, gaining work experience during education is that golden snitch you need to catch. 

I graduated in June 2024, with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English and minoring in Philosophy. Yeah, it’s a pretty vague degree, and if you’re not planning on becoming some kind of teacher, it’s just another line on your resume and a piece of paper on your wall. But what did make my education valuable were the experiences I had and the people I met during my time at university. When I graduated, I spent six months applying for jobs, and I am not kidding when I tell you I was ghosted for six months. 

Graduation looming on the horizon for you? I’m going to let you in on a couple of secrets of what not to do, and what to do as a fresh graduate to stay away from the post-grad limbo of questioning your existence and worth. Why should you listen to me? Because, using the strategies I’ll explain below, I went from hearing nothing for six months to landing five interviews and three job offers in one day. 

I conducted a Google survey with my personal friends and family aged 17-37 from different walks of life, asking them to give me insight on how to increase my chances of employment and to find out what their biggest struggles have been while job hunting. All the participants I included currently reside in the Lower Mainland; some were recent graduates, some were about to finish school, others had growing careers, and some never attended university at all. There was discussion on life after graduation, concerns about the job market and how they aimed for success despite the odds. 

Two of my survey respondents had very different experiences in the employment world. One is a high school graduate working as a self-employed cleaner, and the other is a nurse with a degree from the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO). Would you believe me if I said they both make the same hourly wage? You probably wouldn’t, but the reality is that they do. So, let it be known that you do not need a super fancy degree to make it in life. 

Almost every single one of my survey respondents has or is currently struggling to find a job in their field of study. Some participants expressed a deep frustration either at themselves or at the world, but mostly I got a sense of overall disappointment from everyone, including those with a fresh bachelor’s degree under their belt. Why? It could be that the one-size-fits-all approach of rote learning and standardized testing in education leaves many post-secondary students feeling unprepared for the real dynamic, skill-based demands of today’s workforce.

After dealing with my own experiences of trying to find employment post-graduation, and listening to the stories of those I surveyed, it seems that the majority of recent graduates and those who do not have formal education are frustrated with the lack of accessible resources, potential employers that fail to respond to their application, long and tedious application processes, low wages, the fact that landing a job is too connection-based (for example, you have to know a friend of a friend of a friend to get you in), and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). 

An ATS is a software screening tool that organizes information from applicants and uses AI to filter through each one to identify the best candidates. The downside is that these automated screening tools disqualify potentially qualified candidates over simple formatting issues. For example, if your resume includes images, tables, artistic fonts, or anything other than simple, readable text, the ATS will leave your profile with missing data. While a human can decipher these details, the system cannot grasp these nuances, effectively disqualifying qualified applicants.

When I was applying for jobs fresh out of university, I was on Indeed and LinkedIn each day sending out the same generic application and tailored cover letter to each company. It was radio silence for months. Then, I got one message from a potential employer on Indeed asking if I had a vehicle to get to and from work. Unfortunately, I don’t own a vehicle; I share one with my fiancé to go about our daily lives. Little things like this are deal breakers for companies regardless if you are qualified or overqualified. Radio silence once again. 

I took a break from applications to review my strategy. I came back two weeks later with a new resume tailored with all the keywords that an ATS might flag to put me through to the next round (I was mostly applying online … rookie mistake). My survey respondents and I speculated that if employers don’t see your face, they will feel less obligated to respond. My applications were now getting reviewed more often, but I was still struggling with not getting any further than an email that began with ‘Unfortunately…’. After some more radio silence, I had a conversation with a family friend who reminded me that if my current strategy was not working, I really needed to switch it up, and not just by adding keywords to my resume. As author and coach Tony Robbins says, “All growth starts at the end of your comfort zone.”

I received some advice from my survey participants with full-time jobs as well, whether they are living their dream jobs or are currently working up the ladder. Some of that advice was not to be afraid to take big risks, even if that means looking beyond your hometown for work; the unknown is often where the most valuable experiences are waiting. Don’t pursue general knowledge in different fields — pursue what you are passionate about and perfect it. Make sure you are genuinely interested and you’re not only motivated by money because that will give you a higher success rate and you’ll feel happy to work in that position. Choose a field that needs people, like healthcare and teaching. Contact real people instead of applying solely online; genuine face-to-face or voice-to-voice connection can go a long way. Lastly, you are worthy of finding your dream job, and sometimes that means working four jobs that you only half-like at first. This is all brilliant advice to consider, but I know you’re also here because you want some tangible tips to try right now. So without further adieu, here is my advice.

1. If you’re a college graduate (or student), most university and college campuses have career centres that help alumni with their resumes, cover letters, and application strategies. You may be able to schedule mock interviews with the career centre to help with the interview anxiety that we all get. UFV’s Career Services offer help to not only current students but alumni as well within one year of their graduation date.
2. Focus on one industry. If you are sending the same resume to all different types of jobs as I did, it won’t work. As impressive as some of your skills may be, they’re probably irrelevant to different industries. Pick the skills you want to use, and apply to positions in the industry that would benefit from those skills. That is where you will find your passion. 
3. Find people on LinkedIn with the job title you want, and the job title you have or had in the past. We call this resume stalking. Look at their profiles, study their job descriptions, and review their skills, certifications, and anything else they have that you don’t have. It is time-consuming but so necessary if you don’t know what to do next or how to improve. If you have spare time and money, get some of those certificates and training. See if your university offers free or discounted certification courses – it could save you money.
4. Make your resume BORING! Scrap the resume with cute borders, a picture of yourself, colours, and pretty fonts. These resumes worked when you were in high school for minimum wage McDonald’s work, but you need to use simple layouts now; these make you look mature and professional. I recommend using an ATS-friendly resume format so the automated resume filing system can scan and understand the text on your resume. If possible, type it out yourself, and avoid using tables, images, or artistic font as an ATS cannot process them. There are many ATS-friendly resume templates online that can save you time! This is a crucial step if you plan to apply online, by email, or in person. I found success using the website Resume Worded for my templates.
5. Use keywords relevant to your industry and the job posting you’re applying to. This can help ATS systems cling to your easily-readable resume and sort you at the top of the applicant list (make sure this isn’t the only tip you incorporate).
6. Compile job postings, set aside a day to go in person, and apply to all of them. Shake hands with the employer and introduce yourself. Even if you are not fully qualified, being confident may get you farther than you think. Don’t cross your arms or keep your hands in your pockets; have good posture, smile, and hold eye contact. Most importantly, use the employer’s name in conversation. It’s more personable and can make you stand out from other applicants. If they go by Mr./Mrs./Ms., Dr., Professor, etc. use that as well. It will show you have done your research on them and the company.
7. Write a list of companies you want to work for that align with your values. Instead of refreshing Indeed and LinkedIn every morning, go to the “Careers” page of the company’s website. The job I have now was not listed on a popular job site. I found it on the career page of a company I wanted to work for. This ensured that I was applying to a place I had a genuine interest in, and it increased my chances when they asked how I found the job posting. 
8. Email the company or go in person if you want to apply somewhere that is not hiring. Don’t ask if they are hiring because they may turn you away when they are not. Instead, introduce yourself, and express your interest in working for their business. List your skills and what you are open to doing. Express that even if they are not hiring, you are more than happy to be considered as a backup applicant when the time comes and that the least you could do is introduce yourself. This strategy got me a second job offer for a business that was not hiring.
9. Time your applications. I have found that when I got responses, it was mostly at the beginning of the week and in the late morning after they’ve caught up on emails and before they go to lunch. When I applied to companies near the end of the workday and/or workweek, they would get piled up when the employer or HR was out of the office for the day, or (even worse) for the entire long weekend. Here is a guideline: Send applications between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. What’s better than having your application right at the top of their inbox when the employer comes in to work for the week, or when they are actively responding to emails? They are the most productive during these hours. This can help you streamline your job hunt to make it more efficient and avoid burnout and disappointment. Some employers would likely have reached out to you, but they saw someone else’s application before yours. Use your other time during the week and weekend to prepare for similar job applications, tailor your cover letter for new positions, and energize yourself for the coming week.
10. Use a good hook and treat your cover letter like a short story. Avoid having AI write your cover letters, too. Trust me when I say we can all tell when something has been written by AI. If you are applying to one industry, chances are you won’t have to change your cover letter very much either, except for the company name, position, and company values. Some examples that got me interviews are: 
    1. My name is ________ and I am an experienced _______ (position) professional with over X years in the _____ industry.
    2. As a passionate advocate for ______ and ______ (company values), I am eager to contribute my skills and experience to be your next ________ (position) at ________(company)
11. Your cover letter should be a page long, and a maximum of four small paragraphs. The cover letter that got me all of my job offers followed this structure:
    1. The first paragraph should introduce yourself, highlight your best relevant skills, and show how you can contribute to the company. Employers want to hear how you can benefit them instead of hearing how they can benefit you.
    2. Your second paragraph should be about a previous relevant role, any achievements or improvements you contributed to your previous company, and what kind of work that achievement was built off of.
    3. Your third paragraph, which is optional, is relatively the same as the last but with a different role, or you can discuss the relevance of your education and the role it plays in being successful at the position you are applying for (especially if there is a gap in your resume due to school).
    4. Lastly, the final paragraph should express why you are interested in working for this company, the kinds of values they have that align with yours, a final closing statement about who you are and what you can bring, and a thank you for considering your application. Sign off with ‘sincerely’ or ‘warm regards’, and call it a day.

If you take anything from my advice and my interviewees’ advice, I hope it’s that all you need to do is change your strategy. An employer’s response or straight As do not define your worth. You are gaining momentum by reading this, even if it doesn’t feel that way. The post-graduation slump is temporary and your career is a lifelong, ever-learning journey. Remind yourself that experience is more valuable than that essay due at midnight, so take advantage of co-op opportunities throughout your time at university.

It was in my final semester that I wished I had done more with my time at UFV. Without getting involved on campus, without the extracurricular activities and fun practicums, I would have thought my education was a joke and a waste of money. But in reality, all the resources are already available to you at UFV. After all, you are paying for them — you may as well take advantage of the opportunities that arise for you to build your portfolio and gain real-world experiences. 

If something is not working for you in the way that you hoped, take a step back, analyze the issue and its cause, and see if there is a better way to go about it. Put yourself in the shoes of the employer; try to imagine how they might go about the hiring process and apply yourself. Overall, remember that there is always room for improvement and we will never reach perfection. As long as you keep learning, keep connecting, and especially keep pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, the most valuable opportunities are waiting for you on the other side.

Cindy Castro

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