How I Coped With Unemployment as a College Graduate

I graduated college May of 2018 and can finally say, January of 2019, that I will soon start working with an organization that I’m proud of. I can finally say that I have a fulfilling job that aligns with my degree and personal definition of “purpose.”

Did you catch those dates I mentioned? 

May 2018 to January 2019. Let that sink in. 

I don’t know who will find this post and where you may be in your college or post-grad life, but give me ten minutes to share one of the biggest life lessons I will ever learn in my lifetime. One that could only be taught after months, upon months, of self-doubt. 

If you are about to graduate, a recent graduate, or a student that worries for their future career, keep reading to see how I dealt with the many emotions that come with unemployment.

I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology and Business Administration. Originally, I hoped to be that pant-suit-wearing businesswoman that worked in corporate america—helping businesses function effectively with a paycheck that could land me in a downtown Dallas high rise. 

I’m sure you can imagine, knowing how much college changes the best of “us,” I decided one day that I never wanted to see the likes of corporate america.

I realized that my heart yearned to work with at-risk youth.

I desperately wanted to be a safe haven for kids, just as I hope I have been for people over the years with this simple blog. 

Although there wasn’t a bone in my body that doubted this switch, there wasn't ONE BONE that was settled with how I could achieve my new-found goal and career path. 

When I tell you I worried myself sick, I couldn’t function on days when the pressure was at its highest. When I hit that “google search” button, while looking up master’s programs, I would mentally shut down—unable to maintain any ounce of interest.

This anxiety was a result of my internal chaos, brought about by a simple (yet complex) career switch. 

Come May 11th (graduation day), my motivation was still lost in translation. I was still trying to define my next steps in a way that wasn’t overwhelming, all while attempting to make sense of where I could walk without hitting a brick wall. 

By the time I graduated, I didn’t have an internship that gave me experience for this new career path, nor did I become “buddy buddy” with professors that did research in a field I could glean valuable information from. 

I felt stuck, hopeless, and under-qualified. 

the first 3 months

The first three months were transitional, with hints of faux hope and inspiration.

I moved in with my grandparents immediately after graduating, from Denton to San Antonio (Texas). At this point, I had lived in four different cities, in Texas, in the span of five years and could confidently say that "I'm tired."

I was also, as you can imagine, researching every job site known to man. Thinking to myself, 

“how could I NOT get a job? Look at all of these postings!” 

Funny enough, most of those postings were a fluke. Some wanted new “motivated” grads that happened to accumulate 5+ years experience before applying. 

How in the hel—you know what…Nevermind. 

Okay, next step was to narrow down the job postings that didn’t expect me to start working as a 12-year-old. 

Then, my next step was to tweak my resume six to seven times to match the six to seven postings I would apply to within mere days. DAYS. 

The “next steps” ran for miles before reaching a resolution. I was constantly searching, constantly explaining myself to family members, and constantly fighting off mental demons—all at once. 

As many of you have to do on a regular basis, I was telling my family anything and everything they wanted to hear: 

• They wanted to know about my plans to continue my education = I gave them names of master’s programs I had already cried over as I read the long list of requirements.
• They wanted interviews I had set up, after months of “sitting around” (or so they assumed) =  I gave them the positions I had applied to but never heard back from.
• They wanted to see what I’m doing to not fail, go broke, or waste away = I used the last few drops of energy I had left to reassure everyone BUT myself.

I was a fake-hopeful machine. A machine that was about to start repaying her student loans—job or no job. 

the next 3 months

Upon graduating with a degree that took me four tireless years to receive, I had already established myself on a pet-sitting platform called Rover. 

I was a dog-walking, house-sitting, fake smile-wearing prodigy. I was earning a couple hundred per month, watching my money disappear as bad coping habits began to show me who I really was. 

Shopping felt great, but acting as though I wasn’t already in a hole felt even better. 

At this point, Rover was my side-hustle that was keeping me from drowning—and the best excuse that kept me from tirelessly searching for jobs in San Antonio. I had officially given up on that city and knew, deep down, that staying there was out of the question. 

My grandparents may have been saints but when one feels stuck in a dark place, the primary concern is getting "out."

Whether it's up, around, or under, doing everything in your power to gain back control is vital. 

Related Post: The Top 3 Mistakes College Students Make

By the end of September, I was reaching six months unemployed and finally coming towards the pitfalls of “acceptance.” 

I reached a place that many of my peers have already welcomed. A place that tells you, 

“it’s okay to sit here for a while,” or

“there’s nothing left to do, just keep doing ‘this.’” 

I knew that I had left every hope behind me, in the first three months, and was okay with where I was—or ultimately where I was NOT. I had accepted my fate, left my ambition for the birds to scavenge, and completely wasted precious potential. 

The first six months were brutal, but there’s always a way out. Like I said…Up, around, or under. 

the last 3 months

The last two months, before 2019 came through swinging fists, were pure examples of my faith. 

I’m not sure where you are spiritually but, for me, Jesus showed me how little faith I have. He showed me how much can happen within seconds.

How many life-altering minuscule decisions could bring about substantial change and fulfillment. 

As I drove myself to see family in Houston, sometime towards the beginning of November, my called to tell me that she got a new job in Dallas. 

She told me that she was moving from Virginia to my favorite city within two months. 

With this news, an immediate weight was lifted off of my heart. A heart that was already beating to the wrong song after forgetting its own rhythm. 

To me, this news felt like another chance. 

Related Post: 5 Inspiring TED Talks For When You Feel "Stuck"

So, I did what anyone would do when they are gifted a gift-card for one extra ounce of ambition—I re-lit a fire. 

Not only did I light a fire with strands of "leftover wood" (the metaphors are JUMPING OUT today), but I packed up my things and moved my indecisive butt to yet another fresh start. 

I dug myself from underneath the self-hatred and disgust towards San Antonio, and directed whatever positivity I had left towards Dallas—speaking life into this “second wind" I was experiencing. 

One month later, after applying to nearly ten jobs that aligned with my desired career path (counseling in whatever capacity), I got "the call." 

here's my point

We all have something we would want to do, if not for the restrictions and lack of resources that keep us from successfully “doing.” 

For example, one thing I would love to really “DO” is create a fully-functioning online business of my own. 

Whatever your “thing” or interest may be, we all have watched, read, listened to, or spoken with people that are doing this “thing." 

Many of these successful people claim that there was a “lightbulb” moment that catapulted their dreams into reality. Or, more often than not in this digital age, many claims surround the idea that re-planting oneself after a downward spiral / depressive episode is what gives them their "glow." 

I, personally, believe in this “moment” everyone is always talking about.

I believe in radical experiences with the self—that lead to pure joy and success. 

I think my time as an unemployed college graduate was leading me towards my own heroic finale. Leading me to a job that certainly doesn’t pay a lot, but feels like a full-blown introduction to the rest of my life. 

We never know when these “moments” will hit, or when an idea will spark that “second wind” many successful people use to manifest their wildest dreams. 

Since we never know when anything in life will come, it is my belief that moving forward "despite it all" is the most profound thing we could attempt. 

Believing in your ability to disregard perceived exhaustion, doubt, and fear will bring you face to face with your lightbulb. You HAVE TO see yourself out of any moment you think will last forever. 

Trust me, my friends, In-N-Out was looking mighty fine with how much they claim to pay their employees. I could’ve sat happily with $14/hour and put aside my goals of only pursuing what is most fulfilling. 

Because I didn’t jump to conclusions, even when I felt as though I was no longer moving in life, I am where I am—back where I started (LOL). 

Celebrate your strength and resilience. Celebrate your forward-movements, even if they’re movements that are landing you in the most simple positions—like employment.

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I hope this post spoke to you in some way if you are currently, or feel as though you’re about to be, in the same position. 

Unemployment is nothing to be ashamed of, nor is it a rare phenomenon. Nearly 1 in 5 college graduates aren’t working degree-required jobs 12+ months after graduating. 

Please, seek solace in loved ones or professional help if you feel as though you’re depressed—no matter the trigger. 

I could only pray that you remember how profound it is to disregard the naysayers, including yourself. 

Dear unemployed recent college graduates, “Light can be found in a dark place.” Read this post for more encouragement... Share on X

If you feel as though this post can help your peers, friends, or family, share it on social media to calm another soul.  Comment below your thoughts, and connect with me, @themakaylalynn, to continue the conversation. 

Live (and move forward) Intentionally,