When we talked to many of you at the happy hour a few weeks ago and asked how the first year was going, we got the feeling that it’s been a tough one.

You’re looking for jobs, working jobs you don’t love, trying to pay bills, moving to new places (or back with your parents) and generally adjusting to life after UVM.

So in our quest to continually support you, we asked other recently graduated UVM alumni to tell us about their first year out. We had the Chatty Cat student callers give them a ring and ask a few questions on your behalf.

We spoke to more than 200 alumni and we hope you find their advice and reflections helpful. They’ve been in your shoes and gone through the same struggles, and nearly all of them have landed on their feet. Here’s what they said.

Question #1: Looking back, what advice would you give yourself?

As you can imagine, there were a lot of different answers to this question, but here are some quotes that exemplify some major themes:

• “Be patient because it will happen eventually.”  Finding a job takes time.
• “Take it slow. Don’t jump into a job just to have a job. Reflect and figure out what you want to do.”  Think about holding out for what you really want.
• “Talk to people and make as many connections as you can.”  Network, then network some more.
• “Take advantage of all the networking opportunities UVM provides.” Use resources like the Career Center, networking events, and the LinkedIn site.
• “Your path doesn’t have to be a straight line.” Try to travel and explore as much as you can in that first year.

Question #2: What do you remember most about your first year out?

Nearly everyone said this first year out is a time of a lot of transitions. And, transitions are hard and full of contradictions. Here’s what everyone remembered about their first year:

• “Starting a new job and the stress that comes with it.” It’s tough getting used to having a full time job.
• “Moving to a new place and staying in touch with close friends.”  The pleasure and pain of moving to a new place.
• “I missed Burlington, UVM and all my friends.” Burlington is home.
• “What am I doing with my life? I felt a lot of anxiety around job hunting, but I was also super excited for a new challenge!” It’s a roller coaster.
• “The disconnect from all my friends at UVM because it had been such a strong network for me.” Making new friends and missing your UVM crew.

The good news is that the year goes by quickly, and you’re left with exciting new jobs, apartments, cities, and friends.

Question #3: What strategy has helped you most in your job search?
Two words came up frequently in the answers to this question: persistence and networking. And most of the answers were variations of the same few ideas:

• ” Get out there and meeting as many people as possible.” Finding a job is about making connections and talking to people.
• “Don’t take no for an answer. Send resumes to EVERYONE. Put in 110% and don’t give up until you find something.” Be persistent in applying for jobs and networking.
• “Be open to things you hadn’t previously considered.” Keeping your options (and your mind) open.
• “Personalize your resume and cover letter for every job.” Make sure you take the time to do them well.

Finding a job, starting a grad program, or moving to a new place all require time and hard work. We hope this post shows you that you’re not alone in what you’re going through.

There’s a whole community of Catamounts out there that have done it and are willing to help you do it too.