Graduating College and Getting My First Job

I almost didn’t share this. But something about the quiet moments after a big day—after the celebration and the goodbyes—made me sit with a thought I couldn’t shake: What’s next?

One morning, half-awake and aimlessly scrolling, I remembered a website my brother once told me about: onedayyoullfindyourself.com — kind of a long name for a website, but somehow, it stuck with me. I read until I ended up on the Graduating College section, and it hit a little too close.

At the time, I had just woken up. (Not the best habit to scroll right away, I know.) But that moment made me realize: I’d been in that exact phase.

I had spent almost three years merantau in Bandung. And honestly, I kind of forced myself not to go home. I spent a lot of nights, asking myself: What’s next?

Trying Everything

I pushed myself to find a job. I applied through almost every platform imaginable: job boards, walk-in interviews, job fairs, FGDs, digital interviews, IQ tests, personality assessments—you name it.

Not to mention the countless conversations I had with ChatGPT 😅
“Should I apply for this job?”
“Is my CV strong enough for this position?” I did it all.

Then came my first offline FGD experience. That’s when I realized something: I’m not alone. That scary headline—9,9 juta Gen Z menganggur—wasn’t just clickbait. It’s real. Some participants even had Master’s degrees from top universities in Indonesia, all applying for the same entry-level role.

And though I didn’t get that job, I met amazing people. People who made me feel seen in this confusing stage of life. I’m grateful for those encounters—even if I don’t know where they ended up now.

Finally, A Breakthrough

After about three months of menganggur, I finally got my first job.

Funny enough, I wasn’t even thinking about the company anymore—I was just hoping for something that could support me, help me grow, and offer real experience.

When the acceptance email came in, I was… confused.
The interview barely lasted 20 minutes.
“Wait, that’s it?”
“What do you mean I got accepted already?”

I’ll share more about the job soon.

What I Learned (and What I Hope Helps You)

1. Track Your Progress

A month after graduation, I was still alone in my boarding house. My boyfriend had already left the city—he landed a job even before we graduated. (I’m genuinely happy for him!) But now, I had to continue this journey solo.

I applied to nearly 100 job vacancies and tracked each one of them in Google Sheets. Here’s what I recommend including in your tracker:

• Company Name — the full name, not just the abbreviation
• Job Title — be specific (e.g., “Software Engineer” instead of just “Engineer”)
• Job Type — full-time, internship, freelance, etc.
• Apply Date or Deadline — Add either the date you applied or the final application deadline (or both!).
• Location — Be detailed (e.g., “Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia” instead of just “Malaysia”).
• Job Link — Paste the direct link to the job posting for quick access.
• Application Status / Progress — Track each stage: applied, interviewed, shortlisted, offer, rejected, ghosted, etc.
• Important Date — Add key dates and times, especially for interviews or follow-ups.
• Credentials — Store usernames or passwords for job portals (optional — keep secure!).
• Job Description & Requirements — Paste or summarize key points. This helps you prep quickly — especially if an unexpected interview comes up (a tip I got from a friend in an FGD!).
• Contact Person — If available, list the recruiter or contact person’s name and email.
• Notes — Use this for anything extra: impressions, red flags, portfolio links sent, etc.

This tracker helped me stay organized and motivated. I could see my progress, even when it felt like nothing was happening. It also made it easier to prepare for interviews, as I could quickly review the job details. Trust me, start tracking early. I learned it the hard way.

2. Improve Yourself Along the Way

A TEDx quote I once heard stuck with me:

“Practice makes perfect. Don’t be afraid of over-practice.”

That motivated me to schedule nightly 7 PM “mock interview” prep—even if I didn’t feel like doing it every day. My advice: do it. You never know when that opportunity will come.

3. Update Your LinkedIn

You never know who’s looking. Your network might just open a door you didn’t expect.
Add your latest projects.
Connect with professors, seniors, and mentors.
Follow HR people and industry leaders.
React to your friends’ updates.
Use Easy Apply (it works!).
Say congratulations genuinely.

I’m not saying you should be active 24/7, but a little effort goes a long way. So, keep your profile updated and engage with your network.

4. Watch TED Talks Instead of K-Dramas (Sometimes 😅)

This may sound asbun, but watching TED Talks while eating gave me an unexpected perspective. (Yes, I know—mindful eating is better, but still.)

Some of my favorite topics:

• Communication
• Productivity
• Leadership
• About the brain, health, and human behavior

The feeling of surrounding yourself with high-performance / highly productive people is a good way to improve yourself, too. So, I think watching TEDx just gives me a little sparks of inspiration that goes a long way.

5. It’s Okay to Feel Alone / Confused / Scared

If you’re reading this as a recent grad and feel stuck, I see you.

I know how it feels to scroll through LinkedIn, seeing friends post “I’m happy to share…” and feeling like you’re left behind. That’s normal. That’s human.

But remember: we’re all on different timelines.
So even if you have to do it alone, do it confused, do it scared, just keep going.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in this stage of life—jobless, waiting, confused—please remember:It’s just a phase. Keep going. Keep learning. Keep trying to be better. Your seeds are just being planted, and you are the one who will harvest your hard work.

And one last quote from the book I’m currently reading:

Cheers to progress and lifelong learning ✨
See you on the next post! 👋🏻