Recent University Grad - Can't find any jobs!!

[mgt111]

I've looked on all sorts of job websites/applied to agencies but I can't find anything and I get next to 0 call backs. Any advice on where to look or who hires recent history grads? Field related would be ideal but I would take anything about now.

[gfunk333]

Go to Alberta?

No jokes.

[azn_dan]

have you thought about going into teachers college? Being a history grad, what are your possibilities? Don't history grads usually go for masters and ph.d's so they can end up teaching it, or do some research? Just a few suggestions.

[nwwong]

Don't think there's many opportunities for a history grad. Only ones I can think of area teaching, research, or working in museums. But it does give you the opportunity to get degrees in other fields like law, business etc.

[azn_dan]

Don't think there's many opportunities for a history grad. Only ones I can think of area teaching, research, or working in museums. But it does give you the opportunity to get degrees in other fields like law, business etc.

I was gonna suggest he work in a library but didn't know if that would be considered insulting ;)

[mgt111]

I was gonna suggest he work in a library but didn't know if that would be considered insulting ;)

it's not insulting but those research and library jobs require at least a master's degree believe it or not.

[xwar]

I was gonna suggest he work in a library but didn't know if that would be considered insulting ;)

Don't kid yourself, Librarians make decent money.

[mgt111]

I don't want to tough it out with no money in school anymore. I was thinking about going to law school but that would be even longer than a master's.

[boyoflondon]

Don't kid yourself, Librarians make decent money.

I've seen head librarian job postings @ $90k a year ....

[Bazooka Joe]

Look for the "we'll take anyone with a degree" type jobs. CSIS comes to mind, but I'm sure there's lots more.

[nwwong]

I was gonna suggest he work in a library but didn't know if that would be considered insulting ;)

O ya. Library is actually a good place too. The pay is pretty good from what I hear.

[mgt111]

I need to find a job where I don't need more school. The internet job sites don't help much and I would try a specific place if I knew where to look. A lot of people told me to get into sales consulting with a reputable company but I have yet to find one. A lot of those jobs on the internet are door to door 'marketing' positions so it makes it tough.

[coolspot]

I need to find a job where I don't need more school. The internet job sites don't help much and I would try a specific place if I knew where to look. A lot of people told me to get into sales consulting with a reputable company but I have yet to find one. A lot of those jobs on the internet are door to door 'marketing' positions so it makes it tough.

Good luck!

More schooling seems to be the norm these days - MBAs, Law, Medical, Teachers College, etc. etc.

For a history grad, I think the best for you to goto Teachers College.

Oh - how is your resume like? You can post your resume on RFD for critique.

[codex]

I've looked on all sorts of job websites/applied to agencies but I can't find anything and I get next to 0 call backs. Any advice on where to look or who hires recent history grads? Field related would be ideal but I would take anything about now.

For most arts and even science disciplines it's pretty much standard that more education beyond undergrad will be required to find a good job. It's a tough market and there's a lot of competition out there... just because a job states that it only needs an undergraduate arts degree doesn't mean that more qualified applicants won't be applying as well. For you to stand out and get an interview you'll need to be just as qualified as the others candidates, either through experience or a higher level of education.

Of course, the easiest way to gain that initial experience would be through personal connections... if you don't have that then unfortunately the truth is that graduate school or teacher's college would probably be your best path in the long run...

After thinking about this a bit more I'm realizing that it doesn't really sound like you know what you want to do... I think the first step should be figuring that out. If you're just looking for any decent job without any motivation or goals then you're not going to stand out as a strong candidate no matter what.

[bmw_xperience]

find out what you want to do

apply to at least 20 jobs a day!

call to follow up

and practice your interview skills even tho u don't have one set up.
practice feeling comfortable speaking (speak to yourself or a friend)

[rockthecasbah]

call to follow up



Problem is, a lot of places tell you not to call *OR* they use that HR system where you submit everything internally via a website and it's not so easy to find a contact number.

But OP, I feel your pain. I can't get my foot in the door into the field I want. However, I can get into other fields that are like call centre jobs or administrative/data entry jobs but unless it's in the INDUSTRY I am wanting a career in, I rather just continue the search.

Now I really am considering a Masters since I did have a course instructor recommend I pursue graduate studies, but I thought "well I'll just try out the workforce for awhile then make up my mind". Turns out to be a bad idea.

[mgt111]

I do want to do something related to history. I took film courses and apparently a realistic option is writing for tv spots/film but I imagine those are hard to come by. Any sort of writing/researching would be a good job for me. My goal is to work for the UN or Canadian government in diplomatic relations. I believe that those positions would require a great deal more of education, coupled with closely related experience. I just don't know where to begin.

[sleepyguy]

A degree is always good...

Teacher?
Law Enforcement? (could be office or dispatch, good starting pay)
English Teacher abroad?

Back to school... postgrad stuff in health care is always in demand.

[Rosico]

I do want to do something related to history. I took film courses and apparently a realistic option is writing for tv spots/film but I imagine those are hard to come by. Any sort of writing/researching would be a good job for me. My goal is to work for the UN or Canadian government in diplomatic relations. I believe that those positions would require a great deal more of education, coupled with closely related experience. I just don't know where to begin.

Foreign service? You'll need at least a MA, and at least one more language. Or, try to get into the gov't at any level and then transfer within.

What school did you go to? Were you involved in any extra curriculars?

[mgt111]

I went to York. I didn't do any extras. What would you recommend for a lower level gov. job that would provide me with a later opportunity to transfer to foreign services?

[Rosico]

sent you a pm on this ...

[Bazooka Joe]

I went to York. I didn't do any extras. What would you recommend for a lower level gov. job that would provide me with a later opportunity to transfer to foreign services?

CSIS as per my previous post.

[mgt111]

CSIS as per my previous post.

I took a look at the CSIS. I saw some you needed your MA and for all of them you needed to speak another language which I don't.

P.S. Thanks to everyone for all of your help.

[Mulder and Scully]

No one realized the obvious? It's July and most companies don't hire in the summer. The main hiring months are Apr-May and September.

[heymikey]

Go to Japan, South Korea, China, or Southeast Asia and teach English for a year or two. Travel extensively while you're there. Then, get a job at Lonely Planet or Rough Guides.

[buy.A.gift]

You can be an english tutor! You can earn big money.

[coolspot]

The OP could be an english tutor, but many programs/schools prefer candidates with a teaching diploma.

I guess he could apply for the JET programme, I think it only requires a bachlors, but the two friends I have who went on this program both had their teaching diploma too: http://www.jetprogramme.org/

[bromance]

well I don't think it's the fact that you have a history degree

I think it's all about luck.....plus if you don't have any "serious" job experience then yea things will be hard


keep trying and hopefully things will happen

[Dimension]

Oh man, sucky situation you are in op. Here's a link that might help http://www.historians.org/pubs/careers/
Good luck.

[oasis100]

you n eed a masters of library science to be a librarian.

[UrbanPoet]

try CSR at a bank and then work your way up the ranks,.

[mgt111]

Well it has been 4 months now and I am still without a job. I have been doing part time work for the time being but have yet to find a career oriented job. September is here and hopefully something will materialize.

[mgt111]

Thank you all for your help a while back. I looked into a few job options but they were a little out reach or they were not the thing I was looking for.

[george benjamin]

Thank you all for your help a while back. I looked into a few job options but they were a little out reach or they were not the thing I was looking for.

Hello ,

You can hire someone to do your resume for you. Maybe thats the problem.

[march9]

teach English in Asia.

[gnunn]

I do want to do something related to history. I took film courses and apparently a realistic option is writing for tv spots/film but I imagine those are hard to come by. Any sort of writing/researching would be a good job for me. My goal is to work for the UN or Canadian government in diplomatic relations. I believe that those positions would require a great deal more of education, coupled with closely related experience. I just don't know where to begin.

What about becoming a military officer as all it requires is a degree. The pay is decent and can be an ideal stepping stone to a government career. Also, you will get a lot of leadership experience that can spring board you into a management position elsewhere.

[Bazooka Joe]

What about becoming a military officer as all it requires is a degree. The pay is decent and can be an ideal stepping stone to a government career. Also, you will get a lot of leadership experience that can spring board you into a management position elsewhere.

This is probably the best advice so far. It's an easy job to get, pays fairly well (actual pay isn't great, but they take care of many expenses that would normally be out of pocket), and you can retire VERY early and enjoy a second career (which could be in diplomatic relations).

[2k4accord]

Some places won't even give you an interview if you don't have any experience. Now a day, experience is everything unless you have connection and get the job that way. If you can't find one teach English in Asia countries is a good choice.

It took me 3 years after graduating, working part time in my field with another full time job and I finally got two offers for good career positions.
So good luck and don't give up!

[rockthecasbah]

Some places won't even give you an interview if you don't have any experience. Now a day, experience is everything unless you have connection and get the job that way. If you can't find one teach English in Asia countries is a good choice.

It took me 3 years after graduating, working part time in my field with another full time job and I finally got two offers for good career positions.
So good luck and don't give up!

Eish, that's not too reassuring (for me). I graduated in 2006, actively started searching for jobs after Nov and I haven't found a "real job" yet.

I did come super close to a dream job, which is what I wanted a career in, but unfortunately, I didn't get it :( (Sadly, I also turned down 2 jobs for the prospect of getting this job that I was confident that I could do and had the ability to get) The thing that is the most depressing about being a new grad, trying to establish themselves in a career (without having the help of university recruitment) is the constant rejection and near-misses -- all due to having no relevant experience.

I did find an interesting internship program sponsored by the government that specializes in IT. You get to go overseas and work with a non-profit for about 4-8 months (which is a lot better than the 1 yr that most teach English overseas programs require). I don't have an IT background but it seems like simple stuff, so I guess I may try that. If the OP is interested in said program, PM me and I'll look for the link.

[mjbryant]

I've looked on all sorts of job websites/applied to agencies but I can't find anything and I get next to 0 call backs. Any advice on where to look or who hires recent history grads? Field related would be ideal but I would take anything about now.

Have you tried diversitycareers.ca? check it out, the job site has postings from Royal Bank and HP....