Let me guess—you just graduated, your GPA isn’t exactly brag-worthy, and your work experience? Mostly restaurant gigs and part-time cafe jobs. Now, you’re staring at job listings, wondering, “Am I even good enough for a graduate job?”

I’ve been there, and it’s a brutal place. You think, “No one’s gonna hire me," but I applied anyway. And I kept getting rejections.

But it's because I was going about it all wrong.

So if you’re stuck feeling like your degree wasn’t worth the ramen-fueled all-nighters, let me show you how to flip the script. Let’s break it down into five practical steps that’ll get you out of the panic zone and into a real graduate job.

Stop Obsessing Over GPA (It’s Not the End of the World)

First off, let’s get one thing straight: no one cares about your GPA as much as you think they do. This is what happened: I was obsessed with my GPA. I thought it defined me. But then I started talking to people in the industry, and they were like, “Yeah, no one cares.” The truth? Experience and skills matter way more than numbers.

But here’s the kicker: you do have valuable experience. You just don’t see it yet.

Some Examples To Illustrate What I Mean

• Highlight soft skills from your side gigs. Did you deal with angry customers in that cafe job? That’s problem-solving and customer service—skills you can apply in any

  graduate job.

• Focus on projects or extracurriculars where you showed leadership or teamwork. You weren’t the captain of the debate team for nothing!

• Use your GPA if it’s a strength, but if not, don’t sweat it. Employers are looking for potential, not perfection.

Tailor Your Resume for Each Job (One-Size-Fits-All? Nope.)

Here’s what most grads do: they whip up one generic resume and send it out to 50 jobs. But guess what happens? Crickets. Employers see through that faster than you can scroll through TikTok.

This is what happened: I sent out my resume to a bunch of places. But I got zero replies. Then I realized: I wasn’t speaking their language. Each graduate job wants specific skills, and I was offering a vague, one-size-fits-all resume.

Some Examples To Illustrate What I Mean

• Read the job description carefully. What words or skills keep coming up? Use those exact words in your resume.

• Change up your bullet points for each application. If one job is heavy on teamwork, highlight your group projects or sports team leadership. Another job emphasizes data skills? Focus on your experience with Excel or research projects.

• Keep it simple. No need for five-page resumes. One page is perfect.

Use LinkedIn Like a Pro (It's Not Just for Old People)

I get it. LinkedIn feels like Facebook’s boring older cousin. But it’s actually the place for scoring a graduate job. True story: I was stuck applying through job boards, getting nowhere. But then this happened—I started connecting with people on LinkedIn, commenting on their posts, and suddenly, I had interviews.

Here’s the magic: people hire people, not just resumes.

Some Examples To Illustrate What I Mean

• Make your profile pop. Use a clear, professional pic (but keep it chill, not too formal) and a headline that tells recruiters what kind of graduate job you're after.

• Connect with people in your industry. Follow up with a short, friendly message—like, "Hey, I love what you’re doing in [insert industry]. Would love to stay connected!"

• Engage. Comment on posts, share insights, or post your thoughts on industry news. You’ll stay top of mind when opportunities pop up.

Ace the Interview Without Freaking Out

Interviews can feel like getting grilled by your high school teacher about homework you didn’t do. But this happened to me: I prepared so much for an interview that I was stiff and robotic. Then this happened—I threw the script out, and the conversation flowed. I got the job.

Some Examples To Illustrate What I Mean

• Practice makes perfect, but don’t over-rehearse. You want to sound natural, not like you’re reciting lines.

• Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to answer behavioral questions. Instead of just saying, “I’m a good leader,” explain a time you led a team, what you did, and what you achieved.

• Research the company. Know their products, their culture, and what they’re looking for in a graduate job candidate.

• Ask questions. It shows you’re interested and helps you figure out if the company is the right fit for you, not just the other way around.

Don’t Be Afraid to Start Small (The Perfect Job Isn’t Waiting at the Finish Line)

Here’s a hard truth: your first graduate job might not be your dream job, and that’s totally okay. I started with a job that wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but then this happened: I gained experience, made connections, and moved on to something better. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Some Examples To Illustrate What I Mean

• Look for roles that might not be glamorous but give you solid experience. Every skill counts.

• Freelance or intern if you can’t land a full-time gig right away. It’s all about building your resume and network.

• Don’t compare your start to someone else’s middle. Your path is your own, and each step gets you closer to the job you want.

The Bottom Line: Your Graduate Job Is Closer Than You Think

Stop stressing about your GPA or lack of experience. We’ve all been there. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being persistent and smart with your approach. The right graduate job will come, but only if you make moves now.

So, get out there. Tailor that resume.