When the job can't wait

Peter finished his studies in the summer of 2024. He had an expectation that he would find a job quickly, but it has turned out to be harder than he thought.

Peter graduated with his Bachelor in Software Engineering in 2024.

What education did you take?

I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering from the University of Southern Denmark in summer 2024.

What were your expectations of getting a job?

My expectation was that it would be relatively easy to find a job after graduation because IT specialists are in high demand. But getting a foothold in the labor market turned out to be more difficult than I had expected.

How have you approached your job search?

In the beginning, I applied a lot for advertised positions, but over time I've changed my strategy a bit and have started to increasingly apply unsolicited. In my experience, there isn't much demand for new graduates, because it's often my lack of experience that prevents me from being hired. At the same time, many people in the industry are hired through networks, and unfortunately I don't have a large professional network that I can draw on.

How was the transition from student to job seeker?

In the beginning, I was a little worried about making mistakes in the transition process, but the self-service system made it easy and intuitive. I also felt really well helped by the contact from the unemployment fund, which gave me a good overview of everything I had to deal with during the transition.

When did you join an unemployment fund?

I joined Min A-kasse at the end of my studies. My brother is a member and has a similar education, so it was an obvious choice. I had always thought that I would get a job quickly after graduation, so I wasn't so focused on joining an unemployment insurance fund.

Have you felt helped by Min A-kasse?

I think I've gotten all the help I could wish for. Ultimately, it's my own responsibility to find a job, but I've gotten good help with strategies for my job search and improving my CV and application. At the same time, everyone I've been in contact with has been very nice and helpful. I don't know what I expected, but it has certainly been positive.

What do you think about the future?

In addition to applying for several unsolicited positions, I've also been working on creating a digital portfolio to showcase my skills. I hope it can open some doors. At the same time, I'm thinking of applying for a postgraduate program this summer. Then we'll see if I can find a job before then.