Listening to a recent NPR report about the sense of despair that often overtakes soon-to-be college graduates, I learned a new/old word that I’d never heard of before.
Respair.
An Old English word, it’s the opposite of despair and means “the return of hope” or “to hope again,” which likely applies to those of you seeking your first job after earning that prized diploma.
After you’ve heard “no” more times than you can count, that first “yes” takes persistence, strategy, and a willingness to follow the gift of respair.
Here goes …
First, let’s accept the fact that the majority of jobs are filled before they ever appear on Indeed or LinkedIn.
Hiring managers call people they know, ask their teams for referrals, and tap into their networks. That’s just how it works.
Stop waiting for the “perfect” listing to appear and start talking to as many influential people as possible. Reach out to your professors, your internship supervisors, your parents’ colleagues, your alumni network.
Ask for a 20-minute conversation — not for a job, but for advice.
Everyone loves giving free advice. And some of those casual conversations have a funny way of turning into something real.
It’s tempting to send the same resume and cover letter to 50 companies and hope something sticks. Don’t do it.
Treat it like a study guide
Hiring managers can tell immediately when something is generic, and software filters catch it even faster. Read each job description carefully and treat it like a study guide.
Use their language. Highlight what’s relevant to them. And when you describe your experience, be specific.
Saying you “I helped with marketing” tells me nothing.
But “I built an email campaign that increased open rates by 25%” tells me a lot, and I’ll want to know more.
I hear young graduates apologize all the time for not having enough experience, and it drives me crazy.
You do have experience – like those class projects you poured yourself into, or that part-time retail job where you learned how to deal with demanding customers. Or how you tutored a young, struggling math student.
The candidates who stand out aren’t always the ones with the most experience — they’re the ones who show initiative and self-awareness.
Preparation is the key, so research the company. Don’t just do a two-minute skim of the home page.
Know what they do, who their clients are, and what challenges they’re facing.
Practice your answers out loud, using specific stories from your own experience. And ask good questions.
Candidates who show genuine curiosity about the role and the organization leave a completely different impression than those who are just trying to get through the interview.
And remember: You’re evaluating them, too.
Before landing the right one
A successful job search takes time. Most graduates apply to a lot of roles before landing the right one. That’s not failure — that’s the process.
Treat the search like a job itself. Set aside time each day to track your applications. Follow up after a week and keep moving.
When you get rejected, learn what you can from it and let it go.
The people who land well aren’t the ones who never heard no. They’re the ones who didn’t let it stop them.
Your first job doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should teach you something and move you in the right direction.
Go in with your eyes open, work hard, ask questions, and pay attention. The skills you build, the relationships you form, and the lessons you learn will shape everything that comes after.
That’s not a consolation — that’s the opportunity.
Never stop networking, being inquisitive and asking questions about potential career options. When people love their job, find out why.
When they dislike their job, find out why. The average permanent job in America is slightly over four years. The average first job is typically two years. Careers are a life-long journey, not a one-time trip.
Through it all, I wish you the gift of respair.
Blair is co-founder of Manpower West Staffing and can be reached at pblair@manpowerwest.com.