“You should consider yourself lucky to be stuck inside on a sunny day. You have a job and at the moment, I do not.”

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I sat at the bus stop on my way to school for an MBA group project meeting. Here in San Francisco, it’s very common to make small talk with people sitting at the bus stop with you. At least for me. Most of the time these topics range from the weather to the SF Giants to whatever strange event is happening in downtown that day. However, sometimes you have conversations with people that stick with you for much longer than your bus commute.

While at that bus stop, I had started making standard chit-chat about the beautiful weather and how I had been stuck inside all weekend working. The woman turned and said to me “You should consider yourself lucky to be stuck inside on a sunny day. You have a job and at the moment, I do not.”

Wow. Talk about a powerful bus stop. Being that I recently joined the SmartRecruiters team, this very personal, revealing statement hit me hard. There are STILL so many people out of work, and this should not be the case.

This woman, in her 50’s I would say, had been laid off from her financial services job more than 6 months ago. She had sent out countless resumes, been on dozens of interviews and still was having no luck. She had decades of experience, professional certifications, was well spoken- the works- but still could not seem to fit what companies were looking for. Where was her job opportunity? She sounded tired, discouraged and a little angry. It was heartbreaking. She continued:

“I will go to an interview, spend an hour there and then find out the position was nothing like it sounded in the job description. It’s so frustrating!” 

It turns out that the main problem she was having seemed to be at the job description level. She would often apply and interview for a position, only to find out it was very different from what the job posting originally entailed. She would find that these job ads would mention exciting duties that aligned with her qualifications and even chances for collaboration and promotion, but when she got into the interview, it seemed as if they were just trying desperately to fill a vacant spot, often not living up to the promises made in the job descriptions. She then said to me:

 “The job sounded like a good fit, but this is where I live. I love the city.”

She casually mentioned that this particular company did happen to have an opening that would probably work for her, but it was outside of the city and she wasn’t willing to commute. Although, after hearing her story, this statement struck me as a little odd. Here she was, a great candidate with a good set of marketable skills with an opening in her field, but she did not want to settle on the location. Granted everyone has their personal non-negotiables in a job search, but it got me thinking about compromise on both sides of the employment line.

I believe it is the responsibility of companies to write honest, compelling job descriptions and conduct truthful, helpful interviews. Candidates deserve that level of respect. It’s about working together. However, I also believe that the candidate has a responsibility to consider all of their options. I am not advocating “settling” in your career by any means, but it cannot always be up to the employer to fix the unemployment situation. Both employers and potential employees need to be able to work with each other, honestly and respectfully, to really end unemployment.

Brandi Cole is the new social media intern at SmartRecruiters. She is finishing her Master’s of Digital Marketing at Hult International Business School and is a social media lover, tech nerd, political junkie and networker bee. Photo Credit: Frugal-Cafe.com

“We block social media sites in the office.”

Recent grads are always connected. Social media has become such an integral part of their lives, that most of them could not imagine not being able to access social media at work. Granted, you do not want your new employees spending all of their time on Facebook instead of working, but a study by Vivian L. Kim proposes that employees who are allowed to surf the web for small periods during the day are more productive, since employees feel refreshed and less stressed due to the break. Besides, think of the benefits of having someone to help set up your company’s social media presence.

“We have a strict dress code policy.”

What? You mean I can’t wear pajama pants and flip-flops to work every day? Granted, dress code policies will vary greatly based on industry and geographic locations, but most recent grads aren’t looking forward to donning a suit and tie every day (and the ones that are looking forward to wearing suits don’t need to be told about a dress code). Being able to dress freely is more than just a demonstration of fashion sense; it’s also a form of self-expression. If you are comfortable in your skin, you do better work. However, recent grads will need to get over the fact that you can’t roll into the office in pajama pants, a hoodie and flip-flops, since it isn’t biology class anymore.

“I’m not sure if you have enough experience.”

Many recent grads may be interviewing for their first professional job or even their first job period. However, that doesn’t mean that they’re not willing to take guidance and work hard to figure it out. Sometimes, hiring someone with less experience can even mean a more open mind, since they have little else to go on. In fact, recent grads are less likely to have bad work habits that you have to “un-train” from previous work experience. Also (as @Y_U_NOOO points out), how is a recent grad supposed to gain the experience needed for a job, if no one will hire them so they can gain experience?

“Your role in the company may be small.”

Millennials get a bad rap for wanting to move up the ladder too quickly without paying their dues, but many of them just want to feel like they are making a difference. Recent grads don’t just want to feel like a cog in the corporate wheel , but rather like their voices are being heard and that they are part of the decision making process. Get your recent grad involved, they might even just have a fresh idea or two that can help the company.

“We don’t socialize much in the office.”

Seeing that recent grads just left the very social atmosphere of school, they are used to socializing, working with teams and having a bit of fun while doing their work. Providing an open, fun atmosphere for your employees can help reduce stress levels and help facilitate partnerships and better working relationships. Get creative! We have a Foosball table in the SmartRecruiters office, as well as eat lunch together almost every day. Organize a happy hour or office outing to encourage employee bonding.

“We give annual reviews.” 

Since this is most likely their first working experience, recent grads are very eager for feedback on how they are doing and their job role. Many will want an almost constant stream of feedback, and will be frustrated if they have to wait a year or even half a year to hear from their managers about how they are doing. You can blame it on a lifetime of helicopter parenting, and while it may be difficult for managers who are used to employees who need less attention, it is not a necessarily a bad thing. Providing more frequent feedback can ensure that both the company and the employees are getting the most out of the working relationship.

Recent grads will be taking over the working world by storm in the coming months. As important as it is for them to be prepared for the job, it is equally important that companies are prepared to know how to attract and hire this valuable source of ambitious, driven and fresh talent.

Brandi Cole is the new social media intern at SmartRecruiters. She is finishing her Master’s of Digital Marketing at Hult International Business School and is a social media lover, tech nerd, political junkie and networker bee. Photo Credits The M&M Team, SocialSmart.org, Y U NO Twitter.

• Network.As a recent grad with little or no experience, remember the phrase “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Networking can lead to new connections and new opportunities. There are networking events in many different fields and sites such as Meetup.com and Eventbrite.com can help you find them. Also, make use of your social networks online as well, by following and engaging with influencers in your field. Build that professional network.

• Volunteer: Volunteering is a great way to gain experience and meet new contacts and is great for the community as well! Any kind of volunteering is great and there are opportunities in almost every field. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to be a shadow at their work, even if the field isn’t quite what you had in mind. Being  a volunteer is a great way to be able to attend expensive but important conferences and events, and to practice your networking skills

• Consider relocation.  Ever wanted to experience a new city or country? Job hunting right out of school can be the perfect time to consider that large move. Perhaps there are not enough opportunities in your home-town or maybe you are just looking for more of an adventure. Either way, it’s always a good idea to broaden your search and consider new geographical areas.

• Craft your online image.  Social networks like Facebook and Twitter make it easy and fast to stay connected and share with your friends and family. However, it is important to make sure that the image you present online is one that you would be comfortable showing to a potential employer. According to a survey by Reppler.com, more than 90% of employers will check out a candidate’s social networking pages and 68% have hired someone based on their social media profiles. Having an online presence is important, but make sure you take steps to present yourself in the best possible light, including being mindful of pictures and comments that other people may tag you in. Candidates should Google themselves to see what comes up when potential employers search for you. To make your professional accounts stand out, make sure your LinkedIn account is fully up to date, post some industry knowledge and even consider starting a blog about your field or industry.

• Do your homework. You thought you were done forever with homework? Nope. Finding that perfect job requires time and preparation. Blindly sending carbon copies of your resume to every open position is not the way to get noticed. Be sure to tailor your resume and cover letter to each specific job. Check out the company’s website to gain insight on their core values and mission. Make sure to check out the company’s career page to view open jobs. Stay informed about target companies and your industry by setting up Google Reader alerts for relevant news topics. The more informed you are, the better you will look and sound when responding to interview questions.

• Follow up. A lot of companies nowadays receive hundreds of responses for one job post and may state that you should not contact them about the job. However, if you do receive an interview (phone or in person) it is always a best practice to follow up. Write a thank you letter or quick email after the interview expressing your continued interest in the position. This may seem a bit old fashioned, but it will help the interviewer remember you and will make you stand out amongst the other candidates.

Remember that the job should fit you just as much as you fit the job description.  Following these tips can help ease the stress and better prepare you for the job search.

Brandi Cole is the new social media intern at SmartRecruiters. She is finishing her Master’s of Digital Marketing at Hult International Business School and is a social media lover, tech nerd, political junkie and networker bee. Photo credit Adobemac