What Is the Value of a College Degree in 2017?

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published October 24, 2017 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published October 24, 2017 / Updated March 19, 2026

“If you go to school, you can get a good job, and make decent living”. For decades, it’s always been this same narrative. The common dialogue is that all kids go through high school, pick a topic that interests them, study that topic heavily during college, graduate, get a job, and retire in their 60’s with a stack full of savings. As times have changed, this dialogue is becoming more and more outdated as the value of having a bachelor’s degree changes.

Does a bachelor’s degree hold as much weight as it did 20 years ago? We don’t think so. Don’t get me wrong, it does hold value, but pretty soon, we’re going to have more 15 year old digital nomads preparing to take over the world than people graduating college.

This is something to look at.

Kids are told as they are growing up that if they take the safe route and attend college, they’ll get a great job when they graduate. This isn’t necessarily the case anymore. This is a common narrative though, isn’t it? I was also told as a kid that if I played basketball every day and worked very hard, I would end up in the NBA. That didn’t happen, clearly. Let’s examine a few reasons why jobs aren’t coming as easy to degree holders.

The Internet Has Democratized Education

Before the internet, different channels of education were a lot more difficult to access. Sure, we had libraries with access to millions of books, but the effort to look up a simple statistic, let alone learn a whole new subject, was immense. Someone would need to curate the right books, read them in the right order, and make sure they are applying what they learn at the same time. This was doable, but the barrier to entry was so high.

If in today’s day and age, getting people to download another app is enough of a struggle, imagine if we needed to ask them to go to libraries for all their information. Scary thought.

But in reality, the internet has changed things.

With the rise of the internet, it has been a lot easier to learn new things and even learn about new subjects in a matter of months. Sites like Udacity let people learn computer programming online. Other sites like Udemy let people learn about the latest trends in digital marketing. There are thousands of other resources like books, masterminds, and online classes that are making the process of learning almost any topic much easier.

Suddenly, education is widely accessible and instead of paying thousands of dollars a year to learn from a teacher, people spend fractions of that and learn new topics at home or at their local coffee shop. This has avidly affected the hiring landscape.

Degrees matter less to employers

Companies like Facebook, Google, and other tech giants openly hire people without a college degree, as long as they have the skills and abilities needed to thrive in their role. This is an interesting development. The companies of the 21st century are putting less weight on where someone learns skills and more on what they’ve learned and the subsequent skills they possess. This is what is called skills-based education.

The direction of hiring in the future is moving away from degrees and towards skills. Knowing what skills someone has and how they acquired them tells a lot more about a person’s potential than “where did you get your degree from.” I’m not saying degrees have no use. They ARE necessary, especially for fields like law and medicine. But with that, those degrees require extra schooling past a bachelor’s degree. This puts people with bachelor’s degrees in a weird position.

How can they compete with the growing demand for skills and not degrees? The answer is simple. They should actively acquire new skills and not rely on their degree to get them through to their dream job. While in college, it’s crucial to get ample experience outside of the classroom because employers care about real-world experience. Whether that’s getting an internship, running for leadership in a club, or working on a side project, skills get developed by learning something then applying that knowledge. Heck, you can even become a professional cup stacker! As long as you’re working on something that gives you real world experience.

In a world where anyone can set up an E-Commerce store from their bedroom or build a swiping-based dating app that millions of people use (cough, tinder, cough), hungry young people need to know that a degree helps, but doesn’t guarantee success. At the end of the day, employers want people who have skills and the ability to make an impact. Many of them don’t care if those skills were acquired in college or not.

A bachelor’s degree is still a useful tool

Circling back to the value of a bachelor’s degree, one thing that College does a good job of and in particular a liberal arts degree is known for, is teaching graduates how to think and how to learn. Getting a degree means showing the ability to learn a variety of different subjects and can be a great training ground for learning how to think independently. Knowing how to learn is an essential skill that is highly valued in the workplace. Combine that with real world experience, and the bachelor’s degree can be a great investment.

In summary, if someone is going to enter a profession that doesn’t require heavy schooling, know that the bachelor’s degree may not be the only route that is needed to get there. As long as people know that employers care about your ability to do the job well and not just a fancy degree, most routes should lead to a great job. Good luck!

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Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

10 GIFs Any Job Hunter Can Relate To

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

4 min read • Originally published December 14, 2017 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

4 min read • Originally published December 14, 2017 / Updated March 19, 2026

Being a recently graduated job hunter can be a stressful time in one’s life. In times of stress, we like to use gifs as a coping mechanism, Here are 10 situations, as told by gifs, that any job hunter can relate to!

1. Realizing you need a job…

You finally realize that you’re 22 and actually need a job. The harsh realities of life come bulldozing in like a train. Because you don’t want to move back to your parent’s house, you face the reality of being a recently graduated job hunter. It appears much gloomier than college life. You take your sadness out on a glass of wine… or 4.

2. Applying for jobs.

After a while, you realize that you need to start applying for jobs because one isn’t just going to pop up out of nowhere. You drag yourself to your computer and look for jobs that suit you. After scrolling for two hours on LinkedIn (or snapchat…don’t lie), you decide to stop messing around and start applying for actual jobs. You find a few that you like, save their applications, and fill them out all at once. It takes you four hours and A LOT of typing.

3. Frustration sets in.

Looking for a job that you like is hard enough. Once you find one, some companies make their resume process miserable. When on the job hunt, you probably wish it was the same process that the common app gives to college applicants. Nope, it sure isn’t that easy. In fact, it’s much harder. Filling out applications can be grueling, and of course, you’ve felt the same frustrations this chimp feels.

4. Praying for a response.

Even through the frustrations of being an unemployed job hunter and dealing with applications, you are able to apply for a few jobs that look interesting to you. It’s all out of your control now. Your application is now sitting in a folder with dozens of other applications with people vying for the same position. There’s only one right thing to do in this situation; pray.

5. BAM you get an interview out of nowhere.

After a long two weeks of waiting to hear from the companies, you were minding your own business (on Netflix), when you get an email. YOU GOT AN INTERVIEW. You’re excited, but also shocked, wonder how you got through the application process. Why does job hunting have to be such an emotional rollercoaster!

6. How to dress for the interview…

You land an interview with a tech startup but you aren’t sure what to wear. You see on the TV show Silicon Valley, everyone wears t-shirts and jeans, but you feel like you should be a little more professional than that for an interview. Now you stand in front of your closet for hours deciding.

7. You make some mistakes along the way.

You decide to go professional, head over to the office, get in their elevator, and notice other people on the elevator wearing jeans and t-shirts. You start to get sweaty palms, wondering if you made the wrong choice. The elevator doors open, it’s a t-shirt wearing frenzy, and you feel like this.

8. But you get that second interview!

You finish up, leave the office and think you absolutely failed the interview. You had some spinach in your teeth, forgot your first name, and were laughed at for wearing a suit the whole time. There is no chance you were going to get a call back for a second interview… You go home and cry yourself to sleep… UNTIL YOU GET THE CALL BACK. Speechless? Yes, This calls for a dance.

9. Time to get that job.

You go into your second interview with the utmost confidence, as you know they like you enough to bring you back. Time to wow them with your skills. The elevator doors open again, and you walk in with a swagger.

10. YOU GOT THE JOB!!!

You deliver a flawless interview, answer all the questions with spunk, and even had your interviewers laughing. They excuse themselves from the table after an hour to discuss what the next steps are. 10 minutes later they come back and give you the news… YOU GOT THE JOB!!!!! The only thing left to do is celebrate. You already have you “I’m employed” dance ready for this moment.

Don’t hurt yourself on that backflip though! You’re an employed person now, so you gotta remain healthy.

In reality, we know the job hunting process can be a journey. Sometimes, it’s hard to see the light when you’re at the level of the wine drinking gif, but I promise you that it gets better. Being a job hunter takes a toll, but it’s worth it when you get that offer. Just keep at it and you’ll be doing backflips in no time. We hope this post gave you a somewhat relatable laugh, as we know what it’s like. Best of luck on your job search if you’re on the hunt!

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

Essential TED Talks for Job Hunters

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

4 min read • Originally published December 21, 2017 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

4 min read • Originally published December 21, 2017 / Updated March 19, 2026

Each year, millions of people enter the workforce, hungry and eager to embark on their unique journeys. Many of these young individuals are recent college graduates, who are finally ready to start their career. Although these graduates may be educated, in the increasingly competitive job market, that is simply not enough to achieve success. These 4 TED talks for job hunters explore some of the tactics, characteristics, and habits that will help young adults climb the ranks and get the dream they strive towards.

Simon Sinek: Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe

“I heard a story of some Marines who were out in theater, and as is the Marine custom, the officer ate last, and he let his men eat first, and when they were done, there was no food left for him. And when they went back out in the field, his men brought him some of their food so that he may eat, because that’s what happens. We call them leaders because they go first. We call them leaders because they take the risk before anybody else does. We call them leaders because…”

Watch the full video to find out what else he has to say about true leaders. One of the most common skills or strengths that job candidates put down on their resume is “leadership”, but the reality is that a majority of job applicants are simply not leaders. Leadership is one of those words that has been used so many times that it has started to lose its meaning.

Simon Sinek draws the picture quite well, however, of why leaders are respected and what it takes to become a leader. Next time you are at a job interview and the hiring managers asks you “What does it mean to be a leader?” your response will blow their mind.

Angela Lee Duckworth: Grit: The Power of Perseverance

“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

Intelligence is not everything; it is not even the most important thing. From her extensive studies conducted in a wide variety of people. Angela has learned something that is not only true, but enormously inspiring. According to Angela Lee Duckworth, when it comes to predictors of lifetime success, socioeconomic background, pure talent, and even IQ pales in comparison to pure grit. This also applies to success in education as well as long-term career success. If you ever feel like a particular job might be too far out of your reach, or that you are not smart enough to learn how to do it, refer back to this video. You are capable of more than you think, and yes, grit, is a skill.

Scott Dinsmore: What is the Work You Can’t Not Do?

“What is the work you can’t not do? Discover that, live it, not just for you, but for everybody around you, because that is what starts to change the world.”

Often times, people ask the wrong question when making decisions on the trajectory of their life. We are constantly told to work a job that is secure, pays well, and is not too hard. Then we ask ourselves about the jobs that fit those 3 main criteria. This, however, might not be the best approach.

As Scott alludes to in his TED talk, it is absolutely necessary that we aim towards spending our careers doing things that consume us and pique our curiosity. In essence, do things that attract you, challenge you, and put yourself in the midst of that “thing”. Construct your life around what deeply intrigues you, and ask yourself, “What is the work that I simply can’t not do?”… then do it.

Seth Godin: How to Get Your Ideas to Spread

“The riskiest thing you can do now is be safe. Proctor and Gamble knows this, right? The whole model of being Proctor and Gamble is always about average products for average people. That’s risky. The safe thing to do now is to be at the fringes. Be remarkable.”

In this TED talk by Seth Godin, a prolific author, marketing genius, and leadership connoisseur, he highlights the importance of taking risks and being willing to stand out from the crowd. It is easy to blend in with other job applicants and be “good enough”. Being “good enough,” however, is rarely enough, especially if you want to do anything remotely interesting. Not only does Seth Godin explore the benefits of sticking out like a sore thumb, he explains how it is done by people and organizations all around us. Don’t be black and white; be a purple cow.

At the end of the day, in order to achieve unorthodox goals, it takes unorthodox habits and insight to get there. These 4 thought leaders express that you can be a true leader by eating last, by developing your most valuable skill (grit), and by finding what compels you. Do not be afraid to stand out– embrace it! Good luck on your job hunt, and keep these valuable lessons in mind. Be sure to let us know if you have any other great TED talks for job hunters!

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

Start a Side Hustle to Get Experience and Land Your Dream Job

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

7 min read • Originally published January 18, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

7 min read • Originally published January 18, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

Lack of job experience got you down? Maybe you’re starting to believe you’ll never get your foot in the door and started on the right career path.

Or maybe… freelancing and side hustling might just be the magic potion you’ve been searching for to get you the job you want.

Does this sound familiar?

You’re sitting at your computer staring at a screen and the number of bullet points on it makes you want to hit the back button before you can say “Underqualified.” You’re looking at your current dream job square in the face but each bullet point on that page feels like a reason not to apply for it.

“Must have 3-5 years experience”
- Translated: You have no idea what you’re doing yet, don’t even think about hitting that “APPLY” button.
“Must have MA or MBA”
- Translated: This job is out of your league. Go back to school and try again in 3-5 years.
“Project management experience”
- Translated: You should already have supervisory experience. And, no, being a camp counselor doesn’t count.
“Knowledge of HTML and Java a HUGE plus!”
- Translated: We will actually only hire someone with these skills.

But did you know there’s a way you can literally (actually, figuratively) pull job experience out of your assets?

Get this: Imagine that a few years ago, maybe while still taking classes or at that job you took just to pay the bills, you got a little antsy and decided to take up a hobby. Not long after, a friend reaches out to you because they have a project that’s actually along the same lines of your new hobby. Maybe it’s building computers, maybe it’s budgeting or setting and mapping out financial goals, maybe you love creating websites. After you help them out, they say, “Hey thanks so much for your help! You saved me a load of money by coming over and helping me with this.”

Then it hits you. People pay people to do what you like doing. Huh.

Now it gets interesting.

It’s pretty obvious that you have an aptitude for this stuff, meaning you can pick it up pretty quickly and, not to mention, you like doing it. So how can we turn this around to create something that 1). will generate a bit of side income, 2). get you some experience in the field you’re interested in (AKA: resume gold) and 3). make you sound like an expert in your field?

The answer: get hustling.

Here’s how:

1 | Get better at what you do

So maybe you got a degree in web design and that’s exactly what you want to do, or maybe you were an English major but you think web design is just the best. Either way, you’ve been doing this as a hobby for a little while now and although you have a feel for what you’re doing, it wouldn’t hurt to learn more. Sign up for some e-courses!

The beauty of a side hustle is that no one makes you do it. It’s your choice and it’s what you want to do, so learning about it feels a whole lot different than taking college algebra… unless you’re into that sort of thing.

Being good at what you do is only half the job of having a side hustle. You’ll also want to take courses (or watch Youtube videos, read blogs, listen to podcasts, attend webinars for goodness sake), on how to market yourself and put yourself out there. (More on that later).

2 | Start doing what you’re good at for others

Say you’ve never actually had a client before. Well, everybody starts somewhere and you’re no different. The key here is to just start doing. If you build computers, do that. Create your own little computer portfolio and maybe even make a buck or two selling them once you’re finished with your creation. If you plan budgets and map out financial goals, do this for yourself, your parents, for your friends, for your friends’ parents! Get them to write reviews on how you did and how they benefited from it and then keep those reviews in an excel sheet so you can share them with future clients and future employers. Ever purchase something based on the reviews? This time, you’re the product, now get yourself some reviews (future job references, anyone?)!

3 | Market yourself

So you’re really good at what you do. Who cares? Not the people who don’t know about you. What do people care about? Their problems. Remember that friend you helped out? Why did they reach out to you in the first place? Because they had a problem.

Now apply that same thought to getting prospective clients to hire you. You need to find people with a problem. Some of your future clientele might not even know they have a problem until they talk to you, which can actually be great!

You might be thinking, “If they don’t know they have a problem, why would they want to hire me?”

The thing is, if you’re the person who points out the problem (in a very helpful, “this may be none of my business, but…” kind of way), then you set yourself up to appear like an expert in your field. People also desire to have a quick and easy fix to their problems. Since you’re the one who noticed the problem, why not be the one to fix it while you’re here? You sound like you know what you’re doing after all.

Here’s an example of what this can look like in real life:

Say you’re trying to find clients who will hire you to develop their company’s website. You search the web for local businesses who have websites that could really use a facelift and are in desperate need of a more user-friendly interface. Once you find a couple businesses who look like they’d be great potential clients with websites that you have several ideas for, shoot them an email. In this email you’ll want to include a few things:

Who you are and what you do.
How you found the company and their website (you don’t have to tell them you were searching for new clients) and what you like about their business (you know, butter them up a little).
Show them what you can do. They most likely won’t commit to meet in person if they have no idea what your skill level is or what you can potentially do for their business.
A specific idea or two for how you can help their website (or whatever are you’re looking for work in).
Ask them to get back to you- sooner rather than later. The faster you can get them to contact you back, the more likely it is that they’ll hire you.

This email might end up sounding something like:

“Hello! My name is Taylor Gregory and I first just want to say that I love Your Business because it’s helped me DO THIS. I’m reaching out because I’m a website/UI designer and while I was navigating your website, I noticed a few areas that could potentially be roadblocks for your customers. For example, when I was trying to fill out This Form, it was a bit difficult to navigate. Since this is something I do, I’d be happy to sit down over a cup of coffee and discuss certain areas of your website that could be improved for the user or any other web development needs you might have. Here are a few websites I’ve designed in the past so you can get a feel for what my work looks like.”

*Be sure to hyperlink your work here.*

“If you’re interested in help with improving some UI features on your website, please let me know and we can schedule a call or meeting this week or next.

Looking forward to talking soon,

Taylor”

*Optional depending on your experience at this point*

“PS. I’ve attached my resume to this email in case you care to look over some of my other qualifications.”

Once you actually meet with a potential client, whether over the phone or in person, be sure to have a few actionable ideas tucked up your sleeve and make sure you’ve done your research on what people hiring services like yours typically expect to pay because the question will come up.

And there you have your first client!

Which brings us to our end game:

Use your freelancing or side hustle experience to land an awesome job

Like we said before, the awesome thing about freelancing or having a side gig is that you do the work on your own time. You can do this while in school or on the side of a day job that doesn’t exactly shine when read on a resume. You can even do it while unemployed and searching for the next thing! Our end objectives here are to:

Gain experience
Gain client reviews and references
Create an awesome portfolio
Appear like an expert in your field
Show your future employer that you can do the job, even with only 1-3 years experience.

We’d love to hear from you! Have you ever started a side hustle that ultimately landed you a job? What are your favorite side hustle tips and resources? Share them with us below and *heart* the post to show us some love!

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Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

The Right Way to Work During College Without Wasting Your Time

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

6 min read • Originally published January 26, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

6 min read • Originally published January 26, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

Students working through college go together like students and ramen noodles. The two have gone hand in hand for quite some time now. In fact, according to a report put out by Georgetown University, “For the past 25 years, more than 70% of college students have been taking time from their studies to earn a paycheck.”

With over 70% of students working part or full-time jobs, you can bet that if you weren’t missing the ultimate frisbee tournament on Friday night, you probably knew someone who was.

While working during college is nothing new, the notion of working your way through college is actually becoming extinct.

If you’re a freshman reading this while on your 15 minute break from the Arby’s kitchen and you’re thinking, “Hey, my plan was to work my way through school and now you’re telling me that’s impossible? What’s the point??”

There’s a couple, actually.

According to Anthony P. Carnevale who happens to be the director of the Center for Education at Georgetown University (read about it here), working through college builds character, time management, and will help to keep loan debt down (but not pay for college completely).

You might be thinking, “time management?” “whoopdeedoo!” Even if the grandeur of learning time management skills doesn’t make you wet your pants, we might still be able to convince you that working while in school is worth it- there’s just a better way and a worse way to do it.

[sc name=“Newsletter”]

1 | Don’t overwork yourself

We get it. As a student, you have a lot of pressure riding on your shoulders, especially if the burden of sponsoring your education lands on you. You can probably see the direct correlation between hours worked and the number of books you’re able to afford next semester. Or maybe you choose to live off campus to cut out room and board expenses and you know exactly how many hours will cover this month’s rent.

That being said, you’re in college for a reason. And while it’s true that most future employers probably won’t take the time to dig up your transcript, getting the most out of your education is critical. The whole reason you’re there is to learn and develop the skills you need so that you never have to work at Arby’s again #amiright?

According to that study we mentioned, “working too much can reduce completion rates for low-income and first-generation college students.” So, by all means, work hard, just not too hard. Stay in school, kids.

[bctt tweet=”Over 70% of college students work while taking classes. Make sure you’re getting the most out of your job so it pays off in the long run. ” username=”_scouted”]

2 | Start a side hustle

There are pros and cons to starting a side hustle while in school.

Pro: You work on your own time, making your job perfectly flexible around your classes.

Con: Your income isn’t set in stone. It could vary or be unpredictable.

Pro: You can choose to work as much or as little as you like. If you want to save up for something, work more. If you have a full schedule with 18+ credits of classes, you can take it easy for a semester and your boss won’t hound you to come in more.

Con: This isn’t the type of job where you can just show up, do the same job you did yesterday, and leave. Side hustles take initiative and can often spill over into other areas of life. A client might email you with something “urgent” while you’re trying to get a project done for school. Or they might not.

Pro: A side hustle will not only give you that extra boost of job experience everyone is looking for, but it will show your future employer that you’re that type who takes initiative, is creative, and has enough drive to get something done by yourself if need be.

Also read: How to Use a Side Hustle to Get the Experience You Need for Your Dream Job

3 | Get a stepping stone job

Again, we get it. Finding a relevant job that also fits perfectly with your class schedule (forget extracurriculars) is no easy task. You might be left with no choice but to just take what you can get, which, for now, might be frying potatoes in the back of a kitchen.

Our advice to you? Try try try to get a job that has at least something to do with that major of yours. Or better yet, the job you hope to someday have. According to the same report mentioned above, “Working and learning can result in better education and stronger career prospects for students, especially when they work in jobs related to what they study.”

Even if you’re a freshman looking to earn your computer science degree, instead of finding a job at Old Navy and hoping your future employer makes the connection between your experience as “floor staff” and the “Excellent analytical skills” bullet point under the job requirements, there are way better jobs out there that are flexible, and will show a future employer that you know your stuff. Job experience anyone?? Why not try finding a part-time helpdesk job? Those positions, especially at colleges, can be split into part-time roles working all sorts of hours that could complement your class schedule. If you’re working towards your communications degree, why not start your own blog or be a part-time social media strategist for a local business.

Even if you have to work as a barista for a couple years, if you do your best to be the best darn barista there ever was, maybe you’ll get into a management role. Promotions always look great on resumes, it’ll just take a lot of initiative from you to get there.

Also read: Do finance majors get the finance jobs?

4 | Don’t feel like you have to use your school’s work-study program

Depending on your financial aid situation, you may be excited to see that you were awarded access to your school’s work-study program. Our reaction: meh.

First of all, being eligible for work-study does not guarantee you a job. You might apply to every single job on the work-study list, but so is everyone else who qualifies for work-study with just about the same amount of experience as you. This means that competition is high and chances of actually scoring a job are pretty low.

Second, a lot of work-study jobs boast the opportunity to get homework and studying done during downtime. Don’t rely on this when trying to budget time for it- the promise is iffy at best. You can be sure there’ll be no apologies if you planned on getting a project done during your downtime but, whoops, it happened to be a busy night.

Thirdly, most work-study jobs, although they may work around your class schedule, only pay minimum wage. Think about it this way, if you get a job working 15 hours a week at the federal minimum wage ($7.25), you’ll earn about $435 (before taxes) per month. If you can find a job that pays $9/hour, you’ll only have to work about 12 hours a week to make the same amount every month, making your schedule more open for classes, homework, and ultimate.

So what’s it gonna be, to work or not to work? Well, according to statistics, we already know the answer to that question. Our question to you is, will you make it count?

Are you one of the 70% who are working during college? In the comments, share the job you chose to work and your best tips for managing the work/school balance!

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

5 Things to Do Immediately After a Job Interview

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

6 min read • Originally published February 1, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

6 min read • Originally published February 1, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

So your cheeks hurt from smiling (whether it was real or fake), you just shook your interviewers’ hand, and you managed not to trip on your way out of the office. Nice work. Sure, the hardest part of making a great first impression might be behind you, but don’t breathe that sigh of relief just yet.You might be thinking there’s no more you can do and your career fate is now at the mercy of your interviewer. We’re here to tell you that it’s not over yet. There’s still work to be done! Want to stand out from your competition and make another positive impression? Or howbout set yourself up for another great job if this one doesn’t pan out? Check out the tips below for 5 things you should do after every job interview.

Ask for next steps

This is where you should be able to gain some clarity on the next steps in the interview process, how long the interviewing and selection period might take, and whether there will be a second or third round of interviews. You may even find out how many others are interviewing for the same position. By asking for a timeline or next steps, you’re also giving the hiring manager the expectation that you’ll be following up somewhere along that timeline if they don’t contact you first. At the very least, asking for a timeline will give you peace of mind and a reminder to not freak out if it’s been 5 days and you still haven’t heard from the company. There is still hope! For what to do when their proposed timeline for next steps comes and goes, skip to point #3.

Write down how you felt about the entire experience

It’s likely that you’re interviewing for more than one job and even more likely that the entire hiring process can take some time. If an offer does come your way, you want to be sure you know exactly how you feel about the company and whether or not you feel like you would be a good fit there. Our advice is, after leaving the interview, grab yourself a cup of coffee and write down in your own words how the entire experience was. What did it feel like when you first stepped into the building? Was it welcoming or intimidating (not that feeling intimidated is a reason to turn down a job offer, but it may be something to consider.)? Were you able to connect with the hiring manager or did it feel like pulling nails to try to make conversation? What was the office environment like- busy? Slow? Write down what you observed, what you felt, and what you felt were the strong points and weak points of your interview. If a job offer is later made to you, review what you wrote to remind yourself how you felt about the company.

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Send a thank you note

This is a must after every single interview. Even if you decide that you don’t want the job after all, it’s still polite to thank the interviewer for their time and for considering you. It’s always great to make a connection! If, of course, you do still want the job, sending a thank you note will not only set you apart from your competition, it will show your prospective employer that you are enthusiastic about the job and coming to work for the company. A thank you note may even give you an opportunity to clear the air about any parts of your interview that you felt didn’t go so well or a chance to bring up something you forgot to mention in person. In most cases, an emailed thank you will do the job quite nicely, but if you’re applying to a more traditional workplace, a written thank you may be your best bet. When it shows up a few days later in the mail, you’ll be brought to the forefront of your interviewer’s memory again while making a classy impression.

[bctt tweet=”80% of HR managers say thank you notes are somewhat or very helpful, but only 24% of candidates write them. Stand out from the competition and write a thank you note after an interview.” username=”_scouted”]

Add the interviewer(s) to your LinkedIn network

Following your thank you note, it may be a good idea to find your interviewer(s) on LinkedIn to make a connection. They may view your profile and find out a new bit of information about you that wasn’t revealed in the interview or, at the very least, you’ll be making another point of connection. It’s always a great idea to try to stay fresh in your interviewer’s mind, (job interviews are not the place to play hard to get) just try not to overwhelm your interviewing by making too many efforts to contact them before or after your interview. They may start to see you as overwhelming.

If you do find your interviewer on LinkedIn, be sure to send a short message along with your connection request simply restating that you’re thankful for the chance to interview, you’re excited about the company, and you thought it might be helpful to make the connection.

Send sample work

This is something that’s great to do when you send your thank you note or connect with your interviewer on LinkedIn. Again, it will refresh their memory of you while giving them something concrete that says you can do the job and you’re willing to work hard and go the extra mile. In the end, most managers looking to fill a position just want to know if you can do the job and if you’re a good fit for their company. Your interview should have shown them if you’re a good fit, now make sure they know you can do the work, too.

Prepare for a second interview

Sure, you might not have any idea yet whether or not you’ll even be called back for a second interview, but it’s always best to be prepared, especially if there’s not a lot of time between the callback and the interview date. Take this time to look up questions that are typically asked during a second interview and do some digging into the type of work you’d be doing if given the position. This may also be the time when salary and benefits are discussed so it’s good to have an understanding of industry standards and what you would like to make working in this position.

Keep job searching

Even if you feel like you knocked it out of the park during your interview, and while we’re all for being confident, you can’t assume you have the job until you have it in writing. Things happen all the time like HR protocols, department, and directional changes, or maybe there was someone who just knocked out of the park a little further. Not getting a job offer could have to do with 100 reasons other than how you interviewed and in that case, it’s best to give yourself some options. If you’re really excited about the role you just interviewed for, try looking for similar roles at competitor companies. They’re likely to have a similar culture and expectations for the position and if you’re lucky, they may also see you as a good candidate for another interview.

Got any post job interview rituals of your own? What are your favorite ways to make a connection with the hiring manager after an interview? Leave your thoughts in the comments below and share with a pal who’s on the job hunt.

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

Smart Strategies for Job Interview Success

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published February 20, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published February 20, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

If you were given 3 wishes before a job interview (and you weren’t allowed to wish to skip it), what would you wish for? Our guess is that you’d wish:

To be completely prepared,
To knock the hiring manager’s socks off,
And for 0 awkward silences.

Well, your wish is our command!

There’s just one catch.

You have to read this blog post to learn how to get those things and completely ace that job interview. Deal?

Have at it.

Update your LinkedIn profile with work examples and endorsements

The best way to start preparing for a job interview is to nurture and build your network before you need it. If a company asks for your LinkedIn profile on a job application, you don’t want to feel sheepish while providing the URL because you only have 3 connections and one of them is that cousin who looks relatively successful. College is a great place to find lots of connections and endorsements! If you’re on good terms with your past managers, ask them to endorse you. A+ if you’re able to get a previous employer, past professor, volunteer supervisor, or freelancing client to write you a shining review that you can include in your profile description! Nowadays, people always read the review before buying a product and a few extremely positive reviews on your LinkedIn profile can make a big difference.

Beside getting excellent endorsements and reviews, LinkedIn is a great place to show off some of the sample work we’ll talk about later. There’s a chance you won’t know who’s interviewing you until the day of, but they may certainly get the chance to look you up beforehand. Give yourself an advantage by showing them you’d be a rockstar candidate before even opening your mouth. In your LinkedIn profile, add links to past work pieces that you’re proud of or compiled metrics that show how you were able to help a company grow within your sphere of influence.

You may also want to take a minute to look over that job description again. Find keywords, phrases, and possibly even experience that you think will be important to the hiring manager and reference it throughout your bio and job experience section. When you walk into your job interview, you’ll know that they know you’re the perfect fit for the job.

Prepare your own questions

A great mindset to have when going into a job interview is that it’s not an interview at all, but more like a consultation. Pretend you’re a freelancer in the role you’re applying for and the company you hope employs you is the client. You know they’re hiring because they have a need and you know the company also has goals. Of course, at this point you’ve already done a fair share of research on the company and you also have a good understanding of what someone in your role would typically do. To take it a step further, you research the company’s competition and what someone in your role at that company is doing or what they’re putting their money into or who they’re marketing to. You might even research new trends that are happening in the company’s industry or in areas that affect your role/department.

Once you have all this information, it’s time to make a game plan. See, if you want to communicate to a hiring manager that you’re worth it, don’t just tell them that you can help, show them how. Don’t show up to an interview empty-handed. Although an interview is a two-way conversation, you’ll at least want to know what you can bring to the table and how you would improve the company if given free rein. This won’t only show that you’re prepared (like, a lot) but also that you’re valuable and you’ll hit the ground running if given the job.

Now, you did your research and you have your (flexible) game plan, but a big part of being a freelancer involves listening, too. Through your research, you’ve discovered some areas that could use improvement, but where does the company think they need to improve? What have they struggled with in the past? Who do they say their target customer is? Their competitors? This is where a notebook and pen will come especially in handy. Come with your questions written and leave with more writing on the page than when you walked in.

Provide sample work

What are employers looking for when they sift through possibly hundreds of resumes? What do they really want?

Someone who can do the job.

If an employer truly knew that the guy who had 3 years work experience was way better at doing X than the guy with 7 years job experience, they’d hire guy number 1 in a heartbeat. Skills and talent will always give you a one up on your competition. But how the heck do you communicate that you’re the better candidate on a resume when the numbers are against you?

Remember that whole freelancing mindset we talking about? Well, this is kind of like that except in this version you’re pretending you’ve already been hired.

Raghav Haran writes an awesome article on how he used pre-interview projects to get hiring managers to do a double-take and step into interviews with an extremely thorough game plan. By narrowing down a specific job he wanted to apply (and be interviewed) for, he was able to outline key responsibilities that job would have. Then, he actually did those things on his own time, created a detailed analysis and report of the product of his work, found the right person to get the report in front of, and sent it in.

#hired

In short, being able to provide real-life work examples from past experience or ventures of your own is a great way to show an employer that you can do the job they need done. The great thing about this is it makes the number of years of experience under your belt matter a whole lot less and gives you a foot in the door when, before, you may have been filtered out by an automated resume screening process. You’ll also get an excellent chance to stand out from the competition because your sample work will be different from any other candidates’, should they choose to provide any at all.

Have you ever impressed a hiring manager? What did you do and how did it make the rest of the interview process go? Share your thoughts in the comments below and remember to share the love! Or just repost this on Facebook.

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

How to Improve Focus and Reduce Stress at Work

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

6 min read • Originally published February 22, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

6 min read • Originally published February 22, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

Every workplace has busy and slow seasons. Depending on where you work, you might even have to wear multiple hats. To-do lists pile up, email inboxes can get flooded, and, inevitably, you begin to feel overwhelmed. We’re here to teach you a few ways to break through the clutter, banish distractions, knock out overly large to-do lists, and make focus your superpower in the workplace.

1 | Stop thinking about how overwhelmed you are

It’s time to chill, take a second, and slow down. Do what you have to do not have a mental breakdown, storm out of the building, or hide yourself in the bathroom until lunchtime. Sometimes, when the to-do list is a mile high, we can easily get caught up on just how massive it is. The thing is, when we spend time wrapped up in our stress or thinking about a massive to-do list, it ends up doing more harm than good. When looking at our responsibilities as a whole, it can be overwhelming and difficult to know where to begin.

Instead…

2 | Break it down

If you feel like you’re overwhelmed and not sure where to start, it’s time to get organized. Begin by making lists that divide your tasks by when they need to be done. Trello is a great simple app that allows users to create boards of lists. An example of a way to break your tasks down would be to create a list titled “Today,” “This Week,” “This Month” and “Eventually.” Over time, your tasks will move their way up your list as the items from “Today” get checked off. This is a great and simple way to know what your priorities are as well as things to keep on your radar for the future. If you’re looking for a more in-depth took like this, try Asana. Asana is great for creating tasks with subtasks and even assigning those tasks to team members.

Another extremely helpful app is Google Keep which is especially great if you’re already using G Suite. Google Keep is a great way to make short lists on the go that seamlessly sync between your phone and computer. Create shopping lists while working at your desktop and then close the list and forget about it. It’s out of your head now and you can get back to focussing on work. You can set reminders by date/time OR by location! For example, if you’re out and know that you’re probably going to forget to make that important phone call when you get home (but you’re not sure when you’ll be home) then just add a location reminder so that as soon as you pull in the driveway, you get a reminder to make that call right on your phone. Nifty, right?

3 | Clean up your workspace

If you have papers scattered all over your desk and have 1000 tabs open in your internet browser, you are definitely going to feel like you have no idea where to begin. Instead, create a few new folders on your desktop, then create subfolders. Name your files so that they are searchable. Grab a couple of file folders and label those too. Do what you have to to clear your space. The more organized you are, the less you have to remember! Once your place is organized, you’ll be able to look at your lists and know exactly where to begin without getting distracted.

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4 | Delegate

Ever think that the task you’re doing should really be someone’s job? Well, maybe it should be! It’s easy to forget that delegation is even an option when stress sinks in. It can be an especially hard skill to learn for those with a “If you want it done right, do it yourself!” attitude. Instead, try to allow yourself to let go of a couple of small tasks that you can trust someone else to handle and then report back to you once those things are done. You might be pleasantly surprised with how much you can get done in an extra hour.

5 | Understand when you’re most productive

By now, you’ve probably figured out whether you’re a morning or night person. In either case, make sure your most difficult task are done when you’re brain is the most engaged. If you take a while to wake up in the morning, then that might be an ok time to go through your email. However, if you’re a morning person who hits their lull by 2 pm, checking emails when you first come into the office might be a big waste of your morning energy.

6 | Figure out what distracts you

It can be so frustrating when you know exactly what you need to do before 4:00 pm, but you just can’t get your mind to work for you. For some people, listening to instrumental music helps them focus. Some need absolute silence. Our advice? When you find yourself distracted or unable to focus, try to call out what’s distracting you and remove it. Seems too simple but most of the time we just try to power through distractions which can make us end up taking twice as long to finish one task. If that’s not possible, move yourself. If you’re a social butterfly and love the idea of working near your coworkers but have a hard time getting into a flow when everyone is around, it might be time to buckle down. If you have an important task to do, try to motivate yourself by working first, playing later. Lock yourself in your office until all the difficult parts of the task are complete. When there’s lighter or less demanding work to be done, save those tasks for times when you want to work in a group.

7 | Tackle two little things, and then one big thing.

In the moment, smaller tasks tend to get pushed to the back burner because they don’t take much time and can always be done quickly- later. Although it’s easy to procrastinate doing the little things, this could mean that important emails don’t get sent, chains of processes get broken, or even that bigger deadlines get pushed back because little deadlines kept getting pushed back earlier on. In his post “How to Stop Procrastinating by Using the “2-Minute Rule,” James Clear writes,

“Most of the tasks that you procrastinate on aren’t actually difficult to do — you have the talent and skills to accomplish them — you just avoid starting them for one reason or another […] If it takes less than two minutes, then do it now.’

8 | No matter how tempting, leave time for free time

When at work, be at work. When at home (or anywhere else) be there. As with delegation, it can be hard to let go of work if you feel overwhelmed. And while your career might have some late nights built in, they shouldn’t be the norm. Having a great work-life balance can actually help you to be productive because your attitude of work will be more positive overall. Outside of work, it’s a great idea to have a creative outlet and hobbies to keep your mental and physical health in check. According to an article by CNBC, “Research that attempts to quantify the relationship between hours worked and productivity found that employee output falls sharply after a 50-hour work-week, and falls off a cliff after 55 hours—so much so that someone who puts in 70 hours produces nothing more with those extra 15 hours.” So if you’re thinking that if you only had a couple more hours in the office, you could get so much more done, it might just be time to head home and get a fresh start tomorrow.

Let us know what focus tips you would add to this list!

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

8 Things to Pay Attention to When Interviewing for a Job

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

6 min read • Originally published February 27, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

6 min read • Originally published February 27, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

Here at Scouted, we talk with a lot of candidates and help them with interview prep to help them feel ready for the big day. One of the things we always remind our candidates is that in a job interview, they’re not the only one being interviewed. That’s right. Not all the pressure is on you! Of course, you’ll want to put your best foot forward and do your best to convince the hiring manager that you’re perfect for the role, but interviews are a two-way conversation that should help YOU understand if the company is a good fit for you and if you would enjoy working there. Besides asking questions about the office you might work in someday (which you should do) we made a list of some other things to be aware of. Read the post below and keep your eyes open for some telling office “body language” that may tell you if it’s the place for you or not.

(more…)

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

How to Explain an Employment Gap on Your Resume

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published March 1, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published March 1, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

Career gaps happen for so many different reasons. Maybe you took some time off to go back to school. Maybe you were taking care of a child, sick family member, or spent time traveling. In any case, we want to tell you our best advice not only for explaining a career gap, but how to make the most of one as well. If you know that a long period of time is coming up where you’ll be unable to work, there are several things you can do to make the most of your time spent unemployed.

Ready? Let’s show employers you still got it!

How to explain your career gap

The first thing anyone with a gap in their resume needs to understand is that employers are also human. Most will be able to understand that life happens and, in some cases, you’ll need to take some time off work until life gets itself together again. So what’s the best way you can explain your career gap?

Simply be honest.

Explain your situation

Whether it was your choice to take time away from work or not, the best policy when explaining a gap in employment is simply to explain the situation. Robin, one of our Co-founders at Scouted, says that if your employment gap lasts for more than a year, it’s a good idea to make note of it on your resume. This way, any employer has the whole story and the right idea from the get-go. This will also make it so that you can put your mind to rest when it comes to explaining an employment gap during an interview. Obviously the company decided to give you a chance anyway.

Explain why you’re ready to go back to work

If you left the workforce to take care of family or complete coursework, are you finished doing that? Are there thing in your life that may divide your focus from your work? If you’re confident that your life is in a good place to begin work again, touch on that with your employer. You don’t need to go into great detail as to why you had to leave work, but putting a hiring manager’s mind at ease and letting them know that you’re ready to return could help to clear the air.

You’ll also want to explain why your job experience is still relevant. Here’s how to do that:

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Stay busy

The golden rule of career gaps is to stay busy. But staying busy does just mean you should be hitting the gym every day between jobs. You know, unless you’re going for a personal trainer type thing. No, your time spent “staying busy” should be time well spent. What does that mean?

Improve yourself

So you had to take a year or two off work. Sure. Employers actually see that a lot for one reason or another, but can you still offer fresh experience and know-how? Any industry can change rapidly and while 2 years might not seem like much, you’re going to want to make sure you still know and understand everything there is about the job you want to be doing. How can you do that? No matter how busy someone may or may not be during their career gap, most can still find the time to take a course in their line of work. The internet is bursting with resources from free to inexpensive online courses, workshops and local meetups, or just really really informative YouTube videos.

Start a side hustle

So you might not be able to commit to working for someone else at the moment, but who’s to say you can work for yourself for a stretch? Starting a side gig and being your own boss for a period of time can actually be a great way to show an employer how you take initiative, get creative, and solve problems on your own. Doing some freelance work between jobs can be a great way to fill a career gap as it gives you the opportunity to gain relevant experience, make some cash, and the flexibility to work when you can and take time off when you can’t. Read our post on how to use a side hustle to get the experience you need to land your dream job!

Volunteer or start a passion project

Much like starting a side hustle, spending time doing volunteer work or managing a passion project can be a great way to show an employer that, even without a boss looking over your shoulder, you love to work and take action. Doing either one of these can also demonstrate that you’re passionate about things and you’re willing to work hard for the things you’re passionate about. If you’re able to convince an employer that you’re passionate about their company and what they do, they’ll expect those traits to carry over when you come work for them too. Not too shabby.

Build your network before you need it

While you’re still employed, do your best to build up and maintain your professional network before an employment gap comes your way. When it’s time for you to begin working again, your contacts could come in handy when it comes to giving you a recommendation or, hey, even a job.

Consider working part-time

Even if working part-time isn’t your ideal gig, it could be the perfect way to make sure your experience stays relevant and up to date while you’re in between full-time jobs. Like we said, many of today’s industries are changing fast and it’s important to show that you haven’t been left behind when returning back to full-time work. The cash you earn could be a great way to invest in some of those online classes we talked about, too!

Has an employment gap happened to you? How did you handle an employment gap in your industry and what did you do to stay busy throughout? Leave your comments below and share with someone who’s found himself with a bit more free time recently.

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder