This week, I want to dedicate a post to the new graduates.
If you’ve recently graduated, you’ve probably heard the same thing over and over: “It’s a tough job market” and unfortunately, that’s true. We talk to employers, hiring managers, and candidates every day, and we know many talented graduates are sending out dozens, even hundreds, of applications without hearing much back.
It can be incredibly discouraging.
One of the biggest frustrations? Seeing “entry-level” jobs that still ask for one to three years of experience. It feels like an impossible cycle: you need experience to get a job, but you need a job to gain experience.
Here’s the good news: every professional you admire started exactly where you are.
As executive recruiters, we spend most of our time placing experienced professionals. But every one of those leaders has a story about how they got their first opportunity. Very few landed their dream job immediately. Many took a role that wasn’t perfect. Others volunteered, freelanced, interned after graduation, leaned on their network, or accepted a position simply to get a foot in the door.
That first job isn’t supposed to define your career. It’s supposed to start it.
Our advice is simple:
• Don’t eliminate yourself from opportunities because you don’t meet every qualification. If you satisfy most of the requirements and can demonstrate your ability to learn quickly, apply.
• Build relationships, not just applications. Networking isn’t asking someone for a job. It’s asking for advice, insights, and introductions. Those conversations often lead to opportunities you won’t find on a job board.
• Stay curious. Read industry news. Follow companies you’re interested in. Learn new tools. Employers notice candidates who are invested in their own development.
• Be patient but stay active. Finding that first role may take longer than you expected. That doesn’t mean you’re falling behind.
Most importantly, remember that careers are marathons, not sprints. Twenty years from now, no one will remember whether your first job was exactly what you envisioned. They’ll remember the results you delivered, the relationships you built, and the reputation you earned along the way.
I’d love to hear from our network. What was your first job? How did you break into your industry? Did someone take a chance on you, or did you find another way to get your foot in the door?
Let’s share those stories with this year’s graduates. You never know whose career your advice might help launch.
Singh Hecht Executive Search is a national boutique search firm specializing in the areas of public relations, communications, and marketing.