Incumbent graduates must reshape and reexamine the job search advice their parents are giving them. Education is as strategic as to where you’ll live. 

Taking more medication than you need is similar to over education. More isn’t better; it takes time, and correct application to work, and what doesn’t kill you makes you regretful. Or is over-educating a thing? There are a career pros who will attest to its reality.

Yep. Since new grads young and old are using education as a bailout, the degree is an eruption and leading factor to unemployment. I can understand why: Parents miscalculated expectations, commercials show the illusions, and people won’t let go of the education romance. Employers care about experience, not promises, which is all new grads offer in many cases.

Older new grads fail to show the relevance of their experience to a new field. They thought the degree auto-translate into new opportunities. Not quite.

In 2017, a degree doesn’t guarantee you a job. It’s a form of success. It’s an accomplishment. Is it worth it? Can you make a job appear by earning a degree? This survey from PayScale last year indicates even JD and MBA degrees find underemployment faster than they do jobs in their fields.

Listen to Underemployment Trends: Your MBA or JD alone is not Enough

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When I earned a Master’s in Education, I can’t say I tested the job market enough to say it’s true. My clients gave me sufficient evidence additional degrees guarantee little to zero difference in many cases. I know I made my parents proud. My dad cried. It was totally worth it for them. For me, I’m proud.

But there weren’t a line of recruiters either to see how they could serve me. I expected it, but not for a job. Although my come-and-go aspirations to teach career development in a college setting continue to haunt me, I knew it wasn’t the answer. But I digress.

A couple of my colleagues and I discussed how a degree is not magic recently. Here are some points we agreed on:

You must consider every possibility

Many people Chris Fields, founder of Resume Crusade states his “…clients are adding extra degrees but see little to no career advancement. Many of them come to a crossroad and the first strategy is to get another degree.” Fields add even before people consider any other options people want to add college degrees thinking it will solve their lack of career happiness. More people need to get involved in professional communities on and offline and connect with individuals who succeed incomparable career paths.

You must research

Janine Truitt, founder of Talent Think Innovations says, job seekers should, ” …find the balance between traditional education and skills to scale your career.” Use LinkedIn to contact professionals in your desired profession to see how people are landing in the industry. You may discover there are less expensive pathways to a new career. Consider volunteer work as a way to gain exposure, viable experience, and useful networking contacts who potentially can refer you.

You must be creative

Strategies such as informational interviews and networking are how many successfully change jobs and industries, and there are other ways to market yourself. See how you can feature your transferable skills other than your resume. Can you write an article for an industry blog? Can you record a training video? Or do a podcast interview displaying your expertise.

Listen to How to Use Your Blog for Today’s Job Search

You must have a personal brand

It’s 2017, and most people are passive about the importance of having an online presence. It takes time to create one. Most people want to be noticed immediately. Where most fail is not creating consistent original content or ideas that stand out. It’s hard work. But there is a return of investment worth waiting for if it resonates with employers or an audience.

Listen to The New (But not So New) Job Search

You must join professional organizations

LinkedIn groups, or private Facebook groups in your industry. Creating value is the goal because people refer those who offer it. The intimate conversations provide the opportunity. Many of these groups often provide a safe environment for the respectful exchange of ideas and sometimes valuable job postings.

If you’re underemployed, and you’re interested in advancing your career, it’s essential to approach your job search aggressively. Presentations are everything and mentors or coaches can help you. What he or she do is put you in the best position. Every stage of your job search post-graduation needs strategies. Without it, only your opportunities disappear like magic.

This article was originally published on the Jobs2Careers blog!

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

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When you’re at a hospital and you the overhead speaker blares “Code Blue,” do your thoughts automatically go to the patient and his or her family? If you’re not familiar with that announcement, it means someone’s the heart rate is at zero and CPR is being performed.

No one else will do it for you.

I’ve witnessed “code blue” in a hospital setting before and I think there are some lessons we can learn about ourselves, job search, and how to revive our efforts.

Read Time for the Job Interview! Are Your Quirks Ready?

1. Call your job search team to help you

Yes, you may be letting everyone know you’re looking for a new job, but only certain people will be helpful. You may have identified those people from your last job search. Your network is the most critical need in your job search. Everyone on the “code blue” team is trained and certified health professionals to perform CPR. During a code lasting for more than 20 minutes, much of them will take turns doing CPR. Similarly, people on your team should help.

2. Every move must move you closer so pay close attention

During a code, vitals are recorded and carefully monitored. Usually, the leader who is either a doctor or nurse. Since you will likely look for a job several times in your life, you should document what is yielding results.

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3. Your job search team must respond quickly

Everyone on the code blue team drops what he or she is doing to answer to the announced code. In some hospitals, they have medical students to help with the code operation in some way. They are often asked to help perform CPR. People who you rely on want the truth so that they can respond truthfully and quickly. Otherwise, they’ll ignore you.

4. Every person has a role

Everyone on the team is educated in CPR. They help with the compressions and wait for the result of the entire team’s work. In your job search, you must facilitate how you are doing to your team. Allow them to inspire you and give you input. It is time to put aside your pride and understand people helping are hoping and cheering for you. They want to see results, too!

Read 7 Ways to Sharpen Your Mind During Unemployment

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5. Time is of the essence

CPR is performed for at least 20 minutes. It is difficult to give your job search a time of how long it will take, but you can reset a goal. Mainly, keeping your team motivated to will take communication to show your engagement is enthusiastic and even short of zeal.

6. Sometimes there is a family intervention

I have seen times when family members are asked to leave during a code blue. When your job search is in code blue, it’s all on you. Hopefully, the family should be ready to support. The family is often the job seeker’s harshest and misunderstood advocate. They are easily confused and impatient, but your team understands the dynamic of your job search. They don’t always know how hard it is to get leads, interviews, and the final offer. Sometimes, family members are the most empathetic. Other times, they are unsure and don’t know how to support. It’s up to you to communicate what you need from them.

7. A little patience is necessary to interpret results

CPR elevates the heart rate, and the monitor will show the numbers go up. If the numbers don’t level off at a certain point, CPR is applied until the doctor sees the heart has sustained a heart rate. After 20 minutes, and the heart rate lowers to 0, the doctor calls the time of death.

Listen to The Yin and Yang of Convincing Job Interviews with Thea Kelley

8. Tell the family

Keeping your family apprised even when it looks abysmal is important. Many job seekers belong to a family who will offer lots of grace. Allow them to encourage and reassure you of the faith they have in you.

The “code blue” is over when either you are revitalized and functioning on your own. It’s also ended when you have given up and have a distorted view of your possibilities. If your job search success is contingent on one strategy, then failure is imminent. We know the job search is hard with moments of frustration and uncertainty. Good relationships with family and others help when it seems hopeless.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

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