Hep Hep Hep! I’m Looking for a Job Too – A Working Professional’s Message to Fresh Grads

Hep Hep Hep! I’m Looking for a Job Too – A Working Professional’s Message to Fresh Grads

It’s that time of year again, my feed is filled with graduation posts, proud parents, heartfelt speeches, and a sea of black robes and sablay moments. And to all the graduates: congratulations, you made it. You’ve crossed a huge milestone.

But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a certain kind of kinship with you right now. Because guess what? I’m also looking for a job.

Yup. Not a fresh grad anymore. Not a student trying to “figure things out.” I’m a working professional with experience, with responsibilities, with bills, who’s out here updating resumes, writing cover letters, and waiting for interview callbacks too.

And that’s the reality a lot of people don’t talk about: job hunting isn’t just for the newly graduated. Sometimes, even the “established” ones have to go back to the drawing board.

👀 So What Comes After Graduation?

To the fresh grads: I know you're asking, “What’s next?” The world feels big and uncertain. You’ve spent years preparing for life after college, and now it’s here, but no one really tells you what the manual looks like.

So, allow me, someone who has been there and is back here again, to share a few truths from the other side of the “real world.”

💼 Job Hunting: It’s Not One and Done

Whether it’s your first job or your fifth, job hunting will always be part of the journey. Careers evolve. Passions shift. Workplaces change. And sometimes, despite the loyalty and the overtime, you still end up back in the market, like me.

So, to the fresh grads worrying about their resumes not looking “enough,” or about not having it all figured out—breathe.

Because even those of us with experience still get nervous when HR calls. We still question our worth when a rejection email lands. We still rewrite our objectives a dozen times.

💡 From a Professional to a Fresh Grad: Here’s My Advice

1. Titles aren’t everything.
Don’t chase big job titles right away. Focus on what you can learn and how much you’ll grow in your first role.

2. Keep your humility, but never undersell yourself.
Own your skills. Be proud of your experience—yes, even the unpaid internships or school orgs. They matter.

3. Network wisely.
Sometimes it's not about who’s the most skilled, but who’s seen and remembered. Build relationships, not just résumés.

4. Don’t be afraid to pivot.
You might graduate in one field and find your calling in another. That’s not failure—that’s discovery.

5. Always be learning.
Even now, I’m learning new tools, platforms, and soft skills. Because the job market doesn’t wait. So neither should your growth.

 

🤝 We’re In the Same Arena, Just on Different Levels

So as you step into the world you’ve been dreaming about, know this: you’re not behind. You’re not less than. You’re just getting started—and that’s something to be proud of.

And for those of us who’ve been working for years but still feel stuck or uncertain, it’s okay. Life isn’t linear. Career paths aren’t straight. What matters is we keep moving, keep learning, and keep showing up.

To the fresh grads: welcome to the club.
And to my fellow professionals looking for a new chapter: we’ve got this. 🙌

– A working professional, also figuring things out, just like you