Top 3 Reasons Why Fresh Graduates Do Not Get Hired

These qualities may sometimes work to your advantage, but they are not enough. After all, relevant experience is one of the most important things employers look for when shortlisting candidates. The best thing you can do is to familiarise yourself with how potential employers manoeuvre the hiring process. What do they look for? What are their pet peeves? How can you capture their attention? Knowing these can help you optimise your application for better chances at success.

Here are three of the common reasons why fresh graduates fail to get the jobs they want. By acknowledging these challenges, you will be equipped to get over these hurdles and finally land that interview.

Fresh graduates often lack relevant skills

Even if you are fresh out of the university, you should have acquired important skills that will help you bring value to the organisation you are applying to. For example, you may be highly familiar with modern technology and how you can use these innovations to accomplish various tasks. You may have had experience as an efficient coordinator in the various student programmes you were part of. These are relevant soft skills that you can highlight in your job application.

Also, most fresh graduates do not know how to craft a decent resume. Therefore, brush up on resume writing skills so you can stand out from the pool of other applicants. If it is your first time to get a job interview, do your research so you will not appear before your interviewer without any clue.

Fresh graduates face steep competition

As the number of college graduates and degree holders has increased during the past years, so has the number of job applicants vying for the same position. This means tough competition in the job market, specifically for entry-level posts.

To make sure you get noticed by hiring managers, arm yourself with more than just a college degree. You need to gain relevant professional experience even before you graduate.

Take part in internship programmes, volunteer for non-profit organisations, or mount passion projects that will help you hone soft skills. You can also take part in different student efforts in your university, particularly those that are aligned with the industry you want to be part of.

Fresh graduates often have little or no work experience

It may be disheartening for you to see job ads that highlight junior roles requiring at least a year of work experience. Internships may provide you with the experience you need, but since many applicants have the same internship credentials, employers are no longer easily impressed.

This does not mean internship programmes are useless; you just need to choose wisely. With the right internship, you will be able to create valuable contacts and gain relevant experience.

If you do not have any internship experience yet, start scouting for internship openings. If this is not your cup of tea, try your hand at part-time or freelance opportunities. These will also give you the professional experience you need to nab that job.

Being a fresh graduate in the middle of a pandemic is doubly challenging. Do not be discouraged. With the right attitude and sufficient credentials, you will soon get a job that will jumpstart your career.

Begin by updating your Jobstreet profile to include your latest skills and accomplishments. Then, start searching for #JobsThatMatter on JobStreet. For more expert tips on career development, log on to our Career Resources Hub.

At JobStreet, we believe in bringing you #JobsThatMatter. As a Career Partner, we are committed to helping all jobseekers find passion and purpose in every career choice. And as the number 1 Talent Partner in Asia, we connect employers with the right candidates who truly make a positive and lasting impact on the organisation.

Discover Jobs That Matter. Visit JobStreet today.

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