"Sometimes having all the lemons in the world doesn't mean you'll make lemonade."

I found this quote on a blog I was reading about a graduate who was still looking for a job and talking about how hard it was to find a graduate job, even though she graduated with a 1st and had a lot of work experience and a bulky CV.

I really enjoyed this quote, although some might say it isn't very inspiring. But I think it is very true, and especially applies to me being a third year at university and getting ready to try and apply for graduate jobs. What makes you stand out from the crowd?

The idea of a 'graduate' job implies that you need to be a graduate to get it. But just because you are a graduate doesn't mean that you will get it... and this is the point that is made in the quote about the lemons. Something that is needed, or that I feel this quote is trying to tell us, is that you need something different and inspiring that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Yes you may be a graduate applying for a graduate job but what else have you got to show for yourself? What makes you stand out from the crowd? I guess this is why a lot of people try to involve themselves in extra curricular activities, especially in university, volunteering and societies. This tries to show employers that you are trying to be different and do something that shows them you are willing to do what it takes to get what you want.

This does however make this quote seem quite positive... that we are trying to make ourselves stand out from the crowd to achieve what we want. But it is in some ways very un-inspiring. You can do everything you think you need to get that job or to try and reach for the thing that you need but it still might not mean that you are able to reach it. It is hard to think that although we might try and gain work experience and go out of our way to make ourselves look different and 'special' on our CV's... is this really enough?

Is this really enough?

I think that is what we have to ask ourselves when we are trying to reach our potential.

What else can we do?