Class of 2013: These 4 Things Will Make You Mad

Once the graduation parties are over and the dust settles, you'll face the next challenge of your life: a job search. With it, you should expect some potential anger.

I'm going to read your mind. Actually, I'm going to read your mind in about a month's time. There are four things you may find yourself very upset about:

1) Seeing your lazy, less-talented friends get jobs before you. You know who I'm talking about. Those people who partied through school and took short-cuts. The people who clearly aren't as serious as you about their futures. Yet, they are posting, texting, and basically BRAGGING about the sweet new job they just scored. Yep, that's going to make you mad.

2) Being a Boomerang Kid. You were dropped off Freshman year of school with the idea you'd be on your own after college. Unfortunately, thanks to a lingering recession and double-digit unemployment for recent college grads, here you are; back in your old room, hanging with the family, and even having to ask mom and dad for money. You feel silly, and you really hate the lack of privacy. Not to mention, the "Where are you going?" "What time will you be home?" and, "How's that job search coming?" inquiries. Finally, there's the gut-wrenching look of disappointment in the eyes of your parents who were hoping they'd be bragging to their friends by now about their child's killer new job after college. This is going to frustrate you a whole lot.

3) Realizing you're over-qualified or under-qualified for every job posted. The whole point of going to college was to avoid working in fast-food or at the local grocery store, but those are the only jobs you're technically qualified for. The rest of the jobs expect a few years experience and advanced degrees, which you don't have. Nobody is going to hire you to be a manager when you've never managed. At the same time, you can't bring yourself to apply for a job that doesn't require a degree because you just invested four years of your life under the impression it would save you from ever having to work a job like that again. That's going to really get your blood pressure up.

And last, but not least:

4) Learning your degree isn't worth much to employers, even though it cost a lot. Going to school was supposed to be your ticket to a great career. Finding out it just gets you to the professional starting line (where 3,000,000+ other recent grads are racing - many of whom are more qualified and better at job search than you), makes you say,

"Why didn't anyone tell me it was going to be like this?"

This last one will most likely make you the most angry. Why? You feel taken advantage of. Fooled by those who told you to go to school and things would take care of themselves.

School Isn't Quite Over

I know the last thing you feel like doing is going back to school, but job search is a skill and yours isn't developed properly, yet. Given you've been in school for the last 12 years, the good news is you're a pro at studying. Honestly, you just need access to some comprehensive resources to help you get up-to-speed on what it takes to land a new position. Then, you need to effectively apply what you've learned in order to increase your visibility with employers. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll finish. There's no way around it. Just like getting your degree, you got to get it done. But once you do, you'll kiss the anger good-bye!

P.S. - Something You Should Know

For every $10,000/year you want to make in salary, you can expect a month of job search. The average starting salary for college grads (depending on location) is around $30-$40K. That's 3-4 months of job search ahead of you. Every day you put it off, pushes the start date to your new job off by one.

I hope this post helps you not only anticipate the anger above, but inspires you to get your job search in gear so you can minimize how much frustration you end up experiencing.

Best wishes Class of 2013!

If you want to read more of what I've written, check out my articles on Inc.com.

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P.S. - First time reading my posts? Thanks for taking the time to stop by! Not only do I write for Linkedin, but I'm also founder of a popular career advice site, CAREEREALISM,and currently run the career coaching program,CareerHMO. I hope you'll check them both out!

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CAREEREALISM’s Founder, J.T. O’Donnell is a nationally syndicated career expert and workplace consultant who helps American workers of all ages find greater professional satisfaction. Her book, CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career, outlines her highly successful career-coaching methodology. Purchase her e-book of CAREEREALISM for only $9.95 by clicking here !

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