I graduated May 20th of this year; I took a month off to move and relax before beginning to search for a job.



July 18th was my first day of full-time work.

I have a friend who's been out of college for 3 years and can't find a job. I've also got a friend who was offered a job before they graduated. It really depends on your degree and whether it's currently in demand or not.

I also want to comment here that what Annemarie said is correct; what degree you have, your graduating GPA, from where you graduated, where you live and want to work, these all factor in.

The biggest factors, though, I think?

How well you can sell yourself and what you're willing to do to make a paycheck.

One month. It wasn't in the field I studied for though.

I worked through college and then after. No breaks or change in job.

I heard it is pretty bad for college grads now days.

I worked through college and mostly got my degree to say I had a degree. I had a job in retail where my degree in interior design did help me some because I could help the managers with store layouts and pick good colors to put on the mannequins. But my jobs have been all over the place and none really did anything in my field. After that retail job, I worked at a property maintenance company, first in the office and then out in the field mowing lawns and plowing snow. Then I started delivering car parts, then I was hired here. If I leave here, I might go back into retail.

I have a friend who hasn't been able to get a job in her field yet and it's been a few years, but I also have friends who have gotten jobs right outta college or a few months after. I agree with DS that the biggest factors are how well you can sell yourself and what you're willing to do for a paycheck.

Network, network, network! Start asking reliable, reputable people at your school about opportunities that are available with their friends, colleagues and even family members. Sell yourself like you're the best thing since sliced bread and then live up to it. I'm not saying this is your attitude in particular, but a lot of fresh out of college folks tend to think they're going to make bank and start out at a middle position and work their way up and it just doesn't work that way. Everyone has to pay their dues, regardless of education level. In this economy, no job is beneath anyone. Walk dogs if you have to, it will eventually lead you to a place you want to be. Good luck and chin up!

I'm actually planning on finding a job before I finish school so I don't end up having a gap in my employment. I've got a couple years to go, but I'm trying to get my foot in the door asap.

And as for retail, it seems as if that is the easiest field to get into. I'm always seeing places everywhere hiring everyone from sales associated to general managers and everything in between. It'd be a lot harder if you were going to a more specialized field like architecture.

I did not go to college, however I know this economy sucks, it took my husband almost 2years to find a job after being laid off. This is something he had 23 years experience doing, they think that he has too much experience. So hopefully you can find one. My nephew did graduate in architect and took him about a year to find one, he was working at a company loading trucks for grocery stores during this time. And he was very intelligent straight A student all the way. Good luck.