There’s a myth society has struggled to dispel for many decades that keeps college students optimistic about the reality following graduation: having a degree makes it easier to get a good job.

The truth is, having a college education makes you a more competitive candidate for many jobs in different fields. And it is essential for some jobs, like those in education and healthcare, but it doesn’t make it easier to get a job. That is determined by the market and economy, which constantly fluctuate, and several other factors.

When the job search drags on long after graduation, new graduates can start to feel desperate. There are a few steps you can take as a new graduate that can help you stay positive and focused, and boost your chances of getting a job sooner. 

Thanks to rapidly advancing technology over the last few decades, you have access to more jobs and job search resources than could have possibly been imagined before the turn of the last century. Employers now get a better idea of which applicants are the best fit for their open roles. This allows you to show your merit for top jobs by making technology work for you.

Starting a new job should mean a fresh start, but creating new healthy habits for the workplace means breaking out of old ones. Often, we move from one job to the next believing that the shift in our career will make us happy. However, if poor habits picked up in a negative career experience are not broken, dissatisfaction and burnout will follow you from job to job.

Here are 7 common bad habits you need to leave at your former job:

It’s easy to get lost in the excitement and confusion when adjusting to coming back to school.  But, as you know, planning for internships, building portfolios, updating resumes, and looking for post-grad job opportunities can’t wait until everyone is comfortable. In fact, time is of the essence for many students to get their foot in the door in a competitive market.

A common complaint from college graduates today is that employers expect too much experience for entry-level jobs. They have classes to attend and papers to write, social events, and possibly even part-time jobs. So, how can they compete with talent with 4+ years of job-related experience when they go straight from high school to college?

Unconscious bias can creep in on hiring processes no matter how self-aware and educated your hiring team is. Unfortunately, one bias feels more like a ‘resource’ for many employers – looking at their college for new hires. 

Career counselors are an invaluable resource for guidance as you prepare to enter the workforce. As a college student, you have likely stopped in to pick up a few tips for your first college job interview or to grab an application for an internship. However, one thing you may not have considered is how you can use your school’s career service center to grow in your career long after graduation.

The counselors at your college or university can help you identify college alumni resources that will provide guidance as you map your post-college work life. Whether it’s professional mentorship, networking opportunities, or access to job postings, career counselors understand the needs of college graduates and how to connect them with the right people and organizations.

Better yet, they continuously look for ways to help alumni grow in their careers. Your college professors and supporting staff invested a lot of time preparing you for the working world. You better believe they care about your success.

Here are just three of the ways career services at your school can help you down the road:

Seasonal affective disorder affects approximately 5% of the population and as much as 20% of people can relate to some degree of the winter blues or seasonal depression. When your job search has been dragging on for months already, hitting this slump as temperatures dip and colors fade to winter greys can throw off your job search game.

If you require a bit of a pick-me-up as summer fades to fall, you’ll love these tips to update your interview wardrobe and practice self-care:

Building meaningful connections is innate to human interaction. Even the most introverted people require some level of healthy social interaction. We build networks, make friends, and develop a support system throughout our lives. Unfortunately, some milestones can obstruct or create distance in these relationships. College is no exception.

Students commonly start at a new college where everything is unfamiliar. They’ve chosen your school to help them down their chosen career path. Who better to build a strong connection with than their career counselor?

Your list of responsibilities is long as a career counselor, but there are a few things you can do to help build better connections with college students that don’t require too much extra effort or time. Check it out: