This is the second post in our series called “My First Year Out” featuring alumni just like you and their story of the 12 months (or more) after graduation.

Trevon is a Class of 2014 graduate who shares the ups an downs of his job search in Vermont.

Ryan: You just recently finished your first year out of school. What was the year like for you?

Trevon: My first year out of UVM was all over the place. It was stressful and full of unknowns.

My biggest struggle was finding a position in my field (environmental engineering), in the location where I wanted to live.  My girlfriend is also a UVM alum and a year older. She had already established a job/career in her field in Vermont, so I wanted to work nearby, while doing something that furthered my career.

At first I moved home with my parents. This wasn’t my original plan — but, in trying to finish-up my last semester and say goodbye to friends, I realized I had not spent adequate time researching job prospects.

I ended up getting a telecommuting job that was not in my field. So, I spent the next 5 months at home, working this job, and researching jobs that were in my field and close to my girlfriend.

I applied to every job I could find. And for every 10 applications I put in, maybe 1 of them replied back – usually in the form of “thank you for your application, we have all the applications we need but will keep your resume on file if anything comes up.”

After months of this I ended up finding a job as a receptionist at the Trapp Family Lodge. It was definitely not in my field, but it allowed me to move back to VT and in with my girlfriend.

Right around that time, the telecommuting job let me know that it no longer had enough work for me so they let me go, which significantly impacted my income.

Then, out of the blue, one of the companies I had talked with at a job fair and applied to months ago contacted me and asked if I was interested in a job with them.

The job was in my career field and close to our apartment – I could not imagine a better outcome at this point! I accepted a job at IBM and I’m still there, though the Vermont plant is now owned by Global Foundries.

And, just after landing the job, I got engaged to my girlfriend!

You could say it was quite a year — job hunting, working a couple crummy positions, living with my parents, moving to two different apartments, starting a new job in my career field, and getting engaged.

There was no way I could predict all that could happen in one year, but I’m glad I went through it.

Ryan: Looking back, what’s one thing you wish someone told you during your first summer out?

Trevon: “Don’t give up on your dreams.”

A lot of people will tell you do this or do that or you need to find a job no matter what it is. Everyone puts a pressure on what you should do with your life.

Stick to your guns, even if you take that “crap job,” keep your eyes on your goal and keep taking strides (even if they are just baby steps) towards it and eventually you will be there.