Summary: <br> Andrew felt like he was on top of the world when he finished his Master’s degree in History. He had excellent grades, experience teaching, and a willingness to explore new fields.<br> <br> <br> <br> But as he submitted resumes and job applications, he noticed a pattern. Either he didn’t hear back from the employer, or they turned him down due to his lack of experience.<br> <br> <br> <br> “It’s this cart and horse or chicken and egg thing where you can’t get a job because you don’t have the experience, but you can’t get experience because no one will give you a job,” he lamented.<br> <br> <br> <br> Andrew’s job search stretched on for month after month, and he realized he had a problem.<br> <br> <br> <br> “I didn’t know how to articulate my skills,” he said. “I really had trouble figuring out what was transferrable, what was not. And I had a lot of misconceptions about the face value of an advanced degree, and I was emphasizing all the wrong things”<br> <br> <br> <br> That’s when he turned his attention to the study and practice of finding a job.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> What I Wish I Knew<br> <br> <br> <br> This week, we talk with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewdmwebb/">Andrew Webb</a>, a Master’s graduate and creator of <a href="http://employedhistorian.com">employedhistorian.com</a> where he helps humanities students in their own career development.<br> <br> <br> <br> We begin our discussion with a focus on his article titled <a href="https://employedhistorian.com/job-search/masters-degree-cant-find-job/">“I have a master’s degree and can’t find a job!”</a><br> <br> <br> <br> In it, Andrew begins by sharing that he was not alone in his months-long job search. He cites a <a href="https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/despite-low-unemployment-many-college-grads-are-out-of-work-061818.html">Consumer Affairs </a>article that says recent grads take an average of 7.4 months to find a job – nearly double the 4 months an established professional takes.<br> <br> <br> <br> But Andrew emphasizes that this is not due to a lack of skill for the recent grads – their talents and experience are extremely valuable. Instead, he says, it’s due to a limited professional network and an inability to translate their training into the language a hiring manager hopes to see.<br> <br> <br> <br> “The skills are there,” he says. “You need to know how to articulate some of that in real, measurable terms.”<br> <br> <br> <br> Andrew shares a wide variety of tips and tricks you can apply in your own job search, including:<br> <br> <br> <br> * How to leverage your existing professional network even if it’s friends and family.* How to write a resume that catches the attention of a screener.* Why you should create a professional portfolio website to showcase the quality of your work.* What employers ask for in a job description, versus what they actually want from an employee.* Why acting desperate or obsequious in an interview will hurt your chances of getting an offer.* How to track down the email address for a hiring manager so you can reach out directly.* How to find recruiters and have them work for you – for free!* and MUCH more<br> <br> <br> <br> If you’re a Master’s or PhD grad struggling to find a job, you’ll want to check out <a href="http://employedhistorian.com">EmployeedHistorian.com</a> or follow Andrew on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewdmwebb/">LinkedIn</a>. You can also pick up his eBook: <a href="https://employedhistorian.com/how-to-get-a-job/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">7 Steps to Get Hired with a Humanities Degree</a> – we promise it’s not just for humanities grads!<br>
