I have applied to over 30 jobs, with about a third of those positions being graduate jobs. I have just graduated from a pretty good University, top 10 in fact, with a 2:2. But it seems that so many positions are judging my abilities on this sole fact, with some companies not even allowing me to apply because of this grade.

I have a wealth of volunteer activities and positions that I have included on my CV, which has been checked by several people and has been completely redesigned and rewritten to include more of my skills and non-work positions.

I am applying for jobs mostly online but keeping my options open with more basic jobs locally that will give me work experience and help me pay the bills while I'm searching.

What leads me to think that my strategy is flawed is the fact that I've only heard back from one job and that was a short "this position is no longer available". Should I keep trying or change my job-search methods?
Seb L

Carl Gilleard from Management Issues.com says:

You are facing the kind of challenge that many graduates emerging into the labour market are facing. Before going on to offer advice it is worth stating that on average this year each graduate vacancy received 29 applications.

Some graduates are lucky and get fixed up with the job of their dreams straight away but your experience is far more typical – don’t be too disheartened and certainly don’t give up the ghost!

You graduated with a 2:2 and you will unfortunately find that some employers use the 2:1 as a cut-off at the screening stage. This may have ruled him out of some jobs he applied for online.

If he thinks that he has the right skills and attitude to succeed in a job where that has happened he might want to make contact with the employer by letter or telephone stating his case.

The 2:1 cut-off, although understandable as a screening tool, is a fairly crude device and rules out some very good prospects. In his contact with employers, you have to stress why the firm should not overlook him by accentuating the positive things he can offer.

In every application it is important to emphasise the other attributes you can bring - voluntary activities and positions of responsibility are good indicators and employers are usually impressed by them. More importantly, such experiences should help you put forward strong applications and have the confidence, should he get an interview, to make a good impression.

You have not mentioned work experience or part-time work. This may be an oversight but employers do rate work experience, particularly relevant work experience, highly.

It is also good that you are keeping your options open and applying for a range of jobs at different levels. Being inflexible is a definite disadvantage at the start of a working life. You does not actually say what career areas he is focusing on and this could have a bearing on his prospects either because it is a very competitive market (such as media work) or his degree is not appropriate to that career area.

Applying for more junior positions within companies you want to work is one way of getting your foot in the door, before climbing the ladder via internal promotions over time.

You ask whether your job search strategy is flawed. From what he has written, I would say definitely not. I suspect you have been very unlucky so far and your opportunity may just be around the corner.