I'm Graduating - Now I need a Job

Dear LYL, I have graduated in a difficult job market.  What can I do to help myself move forward?

Dear Graduate,

Economic downturns are extremely difficult. It is hard to see them as temporary when you are in them, and they are incredibly challenging and scary and come along regularly with time.  In the big picture, this season will pass just like the Great Recession in 2007 and the Great Depression in 1929.  Nevertheless, to get through them requires God, persistence, and perseverance.  Here are a few things you can do to move forward.

Know that God loves you, has you by the hand, and remind yourself of these things often.  It is time to find those scriptures that reinforce that God has you, and his promises are true.  Put them on your phone, put them on your bathroom mirror, and listen to them in your car. Do what you need to do to remind yourself often of God’s truth. There are times in our lives when the promises of God are the primary thing that moved us forward.  Some of our favorites.

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore, he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Is 30:18

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.  Is 40:31

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Eph 2:10

Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Ps 94:17-19

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise—
in God, I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Ps 56:3-4

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Ps 55:22

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; Is 43:1-3

Get help.  Get feedback on your resume. Get advice from people in your field to prepare you with resume review or interviewing. You will interview better and have a better resume if you get help, feedback, and practice interviewing – especially if this comes from someone in your desired job field.

Cast a wide net for resumes.  Think in terms of 100s, not 10s of resumes.  Don’t give up. During an economic downturn, we recommend apply, and apply, and apply.  It is challenging to face rejection with a large number of resumes. Ps 94:14 says, ‘For the Lord will not forsake his people, he will not abandon his heritage’ Prepare your mind for this. Try hard not to take it personally. Trust God. God will open the door and remember that it only takes one open door to move you forward.  If you are willing to look outside of the city you live in, do so.  It just allows for a bigger net.

Craft a resume that can reach a broad job market or craft multiple resumes for different jobs. Think of a wide range of potential jobs that fit with your experiences and credentialing.  For example, a Communications degree could be useful for an HR job or a marketing job.  That would likely require two different resumes.  A Graphic Design degree could be useful with Design Agencies, for-profit, or non-profit employers.  A broad resume that covers this wide space could work well.

Above everything else, please remember that God is Sovereign, God is in control, and God loves you.  His goal is for you to know Him deeply, thoroughly, and to rely on him for your daily sustenance.