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Editor’s note: Casey just landed a new job in an extremely tight job market. She shares her insights into the job searching process from the perspective of a recent graduate looking to land her dream job in the city.

I had dreams of moving to New York long before I had even set foot in the city, and those dreams didn’t disappear through junior high, high school, or college. It’s been two months since graduation, and I can happily say that I’m settled in the city with a too-expensive-for-my-own-good apartment and pinch-me job. I started pouring over job websites early last spring and applied for jobs here and there leading up to graduation. It wasn’t until I took the leap and came to the city that my road to employment was finally set into motion.

Realities:

Be ready to work: I can only speak from my experience, of course, but a willingness to be in the city (especially New York City, but the same is true for most) is invaluable. I had always heard that you had to be living in NYC to land an interview here. The thought of moving away from my life in the Midwest with no income was enough to send me into a spiral of anxiety, so I was luckily able to schedule a week of searching for jobs and apartments in one fell swoop.

Each of the interviews asked when I was moving to the city, and I always replied August 1 (even though, between you and me, I didn’t have those details figured out yet).

Act like you want the job: Making a good first impression is the same as it was 15 years ago. Dress professionally, smile, be personable, sell yourself… and most importantly, leave your cell phone in your purse. Even when you’re waiting for your interview. Even if you’re waiting a really really long time for your interview.

Sell yourself with your resume and your smile: I also learned that job websites like Monster are absolutely useless. Spend the money to travel to the city in which you want to live, and email people at a few of your favorite companies for informational interviews. We are living in a largely digital world, but companies are getting thousands of faceless cover letters every day. Nothing beats being able to shake someone’s hand and talk face-to-face.

Myths:

There are no opportunities: My top takeaway from my interviews is that there are jobs out there…especially if you have the Gen Y qualities that are appealing to employers. If you can exhibit knowledge in social media, basic web development, digital content — and can quickly pick up on any multimedia skills you lack, which typically comes as second nature to recent grads — a job will surface.

Take the first thing that comes along: According to a recent New York Times article, the members of Generation Y are turning down jobs and adopting a “why worry” attitude towards the job market. Whether or not to take the first job offer that comes along has always been an area of debate among recent grads and their parents (and even more so, grandparents). I did take the first job that was offered, not because my parents were putting pressure on me, but because I thought it would be silly to turn something down in this economy. It was retail. I love fashion as much as the next girl, but I also love social media and digital content and all things web. I didn’t–and still don’t–expect a first job after graduation to be fulfilling on all accounts but if you don’t get satisfaction from your job (more than a killer clothing discount), you’re not at the right place.

Forget your dream job: I graduated with a degree in journalism, with an emphasis in magazines, but when it came time to look for jobs it became clear that magazine jobs were few and far between. Because my dream job was (and very much still is) working on the digital side of a print publication) I broadened my job search to digital media and ended up focusing on the advertising side of things (more opportunities, more money, and every bit as creative). No one gets their dream job right out of college, and for good reason, because what would you aspire to? But there’s no reason to sacrifice the career you ultimately want to settle for a different industry or a dead-end position.

Casey is a freelance writer, longtime blogger, and recent journalism graduate from Missouri. At 14-years-old, she created TeenFashionista.com and continues to write about pretty dresses and pop culture there. (Now 22, she’s no longer a teen, though she often still feels like one.) Casey has written for numerous publications, interned at several magazines, including Teen Vogue, and worked as a Ypulse assistant editor and contributor. Most recently, she wrote a book about turning your dorm room into a stylish dwelling. Dorm Living, published by Globe Pequot Press. She is now happily employed.

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Categorized under: Jobs, Workplace

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