When It Feels Like the Diploma Isn’t Enough (By: Rachel Charlot)

Walking across any stage whether it’s for a high school or college graduation is exhilarating. Your family and the crowd cheer you on, and you feel on top of the world. You look back at all the work, blood, sweat, and tears that went into earning that diploma, and you receive it proudly. The only thing is… why doesn’t anyone prepare you for what comes after? Applying to jobs or colleges may seem simple enough, but I’ve come to learn it’s actually quite the opposite.

Hey, My Tooth Be Told readers! My name is Rachel, and I’m going to share some of my journey of getting a job after graduating college. But before I get into it, can I go on a little rant? I don’t think college has to be the only path after high school. People may disagree, but after high school, everyone’s journey looks different whether that’s going to college, technical school, straight into the workforce, getting certifications, etc. There is no one size fits all in life. If you’re in high school reading this, I encourage you to look into what you’re passionate about, what you enjoy, and how to get there. And for those already out of high school it’s never too late to start over or try something new. I’m a prime example of this, jumping from major to major and job to job. Life is all about trial and error.

Alright, let’s get into this heinous job search. If you didn’t know, the job market is pretty tough right now for college graduates which is surprising since we were always told a degree was this magic ticket. Spoiler alert: it’s not (hence my rant in the last paragraph). After graduating with my bachelor’s, I eventually got a full-time job at a call center while working on my master’s. Side note: it took me FOREVER to find this job, and it wasn’t even in my field. I highly disliked it, and the work itself was mentally draining.

From there, I was on the hunt again applying to hundreds of companies and landing interviews here and there. I started spiraling. This so called “magic ticket” of a degree seemed to be running out of pixie dust. While searching for a job in my field, I left the call center and worked in food service, a school, and a camp (that I love dearly). Disclaimer: I didn’t work all of these at the same time. What I came to notice was that I wasn’t the only one struggling to find a job or even figuring out what to do after college. It feels isolating, and sometimes you’re left thinking, What am I doing with my life? At least, that’s how I felt.

I wish I could tell you there’s some magical plan with all the answers, but sadly, that’s not reality. What I can say is: if you can relate to this, you are NOT alone. Many people are going through the same thing. Okay, enough of the heavy stuff let’s get to some encouragement! If you haven’t heard this yet: you’re doing a great job, and I’m proud of you for continuing to put yourself out there, rejection after rejection. I got more rejections than I could count, but finally, I received an offer for a job in my field by the grace of God. If it wasn’t for God, my family, and my friends, I wouldn’t have made it this far. You need a support system, so I encourage you not to do this alone.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Before I wrap up, here are some tips I used during my job hunt:

● Job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, etc., are great, but apply directly on company websites when you can. There’s a lot of competition, and this helps you stand out.

● Make your resume yourself don’t just rely on AI. You want to stand out, not blend in.

● Writing a cover letter isn’t the most exciting task, but do it anyway.

● Send follow up emails to jobs you’ve applied for. Show them you’re more than just a number and that you’re genuinely interested.

● Keep a reference list ready with people you can count on.

● Don’t be afraid to reach out to connections.

● Don’t lose hope you’ve got this!

● And if you need help or have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me!

P.S. You're allowed to try out different paths in life. You can always change your mind and start again whether you’re in your teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, or beyond. It might not be the most popular opinion, but who cares?

Much love,

Rachel :)

Email: Charlotrachel17@gmail.com

Instagram: @rachelcharlo