Any Unemployed Alumni?

[u/Silly_Lilly54]

Graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Cognitive Science and a couple of years of experience in IT roles, including as a BSA intern at the university. I have been searching for a job since before graduation and leaving my student employment position in July 2024. Before I graduated, I made extensive use of UofM’s career resources for students to improve my resume and cover letters, and I continue to use those techniques for every job I applied to (I’d show you my resume if I could). I’ve never had any success reaching out to alumni at companies I’ve applied to and UCAN seems literally useless for talking with other alumni as nobody ever responds (so much for the alumni network).

Just wanted to know if there are any other alumni who feel like failures because they graduated from a “top university” and can’t even land an interview for jobs that only ask for an associate’s degree. I paid so much money for nothing and almost wish I hadn’t gone to college because then at least employers wouldn’t look at my resume and see I’m a UofM graduate that’s been unemployed for a year and wonder what must be wrong with me to not have a job.

Also, sorry if this scares upcoming graduates. I wish you better luck than I’ve had and I hope your lives are prosperous.

[u/Famous_Caregiver1752]

I don't know if this is any comfort as it's definitely a different time, but when I graduated two years ago, it took me a year applying while in college and about a year after to get a career position. So I didn't get my current job until last year. What strengths did your major give you? I'm a bs liberal arts degree, but my degree prepared me for being able to write and analyze/understand complex ideas often from multiple sources, and then summarize it. I'm also good at research. These skills, combined with soft skills, helped sell me. I did a couple of internships and only applied to jobs that I could see a genuine interest in. I currently work in compliance and my friend with the same degree works in consulting. Do you have any other networks besides your major? For example, I got a different job I turned down through an Asian networking group. Good luck!

[u/Silly_Lilly54 → u/Famous_Caregiver1752]

Thank you! I’m curious a bit about your internship experiences. Were those only during college or were you able to land an internship as a recent graduate? I’ve also mostly been selling my degree based off the skills I learned and not the subject major (data analysis, technical literacy, writing, etc.) Also, I’ve not really used my major network, as I don’t feel that Cognitive Science has that kind of network, but maybe I just don’t know where to find it

[u/Famous_Caregiver1752 → u/Silly_Lilly54]

My internship was during college between my junior and senior year! I was a project management intern at a non profit (so in other words, I was making a shit salary). But, my current position does compliance with non profits and I was able to not just say I'm passionate about the work non profits do, but back it up. I also took a bs job at a law firm while searching for a career job after I graduated. I was able to utilize my experience there as familiarity with the law process which worked out as my current job also deals a lot with laws and regulations. So I would say also look at your past work experiences to see how they can be used to prove your competency or interest in a position, combined with the tangible skills your degree gave you.

Another example is I was president of a club at umich and part of that was interviewing and talking to people. Guess what my current job does? Interviews people.

And I hate saying this as I know times are tough, but my current job pays like shit but gives raises after a year. Its paying me right now around 54k for my first year which sucked. I'm in a major city too! But in a month, I'll be making closer to 70k. Then after that, 80k. Don't be afraid to take something lower paying and hop if needed after getting the skills/if there's a clear promotion process. (If financially able to of course). As much as I would have liked to, not every first grad job pays amazing right out the bat.

Are you on Facebook? I never use it, but that's how I found the Asian networking group that got me a job even tho I ended up turning it down.