HOUSTON – Five hundred job applications. Rejection after rejection. And still no first job in the career he wants.
That’s been the reality for Dorian Alcantar, who graduated with a degree in journalism and mass communication in May 2025 and hopes to work in film.
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Frustrated by the lack of responses and feedback, Alcantar agreed to let ENOUGH take a closer look at his job search. We brought him to a Houston recruiter who reviewed his résumé and gave him a new strategy for breaking into the industry.
The advice could help other recent college graduates who are struggling to get their first opportunity.
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‘How do I become that candidate?’
Alcantar said the hardest part of his job search has been getting little feedback from employers.
“You get like rejection and rejection and like, you really don’t get like feedback,” he said. “Hey, what am I doing wrong?”
Since graduating, Alcantar estimates he has submitted about 500 applications.
He said rejection letters often tell him he wasn’t qualified enough or that another candidate was a better fit. That leaves him wondering what he needs to do differently.
“How do I become that candidate?” Alcantar said.
The labor market can be particularly challenging for people just starting their careers.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York says the unemployment rate for recent college graduates was about 5.6% in the second quarter of 2026. The underemployment rate was 42%.
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The New York Fed defines underemployment as having a job that typically does not require a bachelor’s degree. Its recent-college-graduate data cover people ages 22-27 with a bachelor’s degree or higher who are not enrolled in school.
For Alcantar, the goal isn’t simply to find any job. He wants an opportunity that moves him toward a career in film.
So ENOUGH took him to meet Robert Vaughn, a regional manager with Robert Half who has nearly 17 years of experience in recruiting.
Start over — but be more targeted
Vaughn had already reviewed Alcantar’s résumé before their meeting.
His first advice was simple: Start fresh.
“What I would just start doing is kind of just go back to, pretend like tomorrow’s a new day and start from zero,” Vaughn said.
Vaughn recommended that Alcantar use LinkedIn to find alumni from his college who are working in Houston.
Those connections could give him a way into the industry that another online application may not.
Rather than continuing to send hundreds of applications into a system without knowing what happens on the other side, Alcantar can focus on making personal connections with people who already work in the field.
Don’t overlook contract or freelance work
Vaughn also asked Alcantar whether he would consider freelance or project-based work.
That flexibility could give Alcantar another way to gain experience and build connections while continuing to pursue a full-time position.
Robert Half’s latest U.S. hiring research found that 56% of company leaders expect to increase their use of contract talent in the second half of 2026.
For someone trying to break into a competitive industry, a contract or freelance position could provide more than income. It could also add recent experience to a résumé and create relationships that could lead to future opportunities.
Tailor every application
Vaughn also had advice about one of the most common parts of a job search: the résumé.
Instead of sending the same résumé and cover letter to every employer, he told Alcantar to customize them for each position.
“I would definitely tailor every cover letter and every resume to the job you’re applying for,” Vaughn said.
That means researching the company, understanding what it does and figuring out how previous experience connects to what the employer is looking for.
For a recent graduate, that experience doesn’t necessarily have to come from a full-time job.
Internships, college projects, freelance work and other relevant experiences can help demonstrate skills.
What happens next?
The meeting did not end with an immediate job offer.
But Alcantar did leave with something he said he had been missing: a clearer strategy.
Vaughn asked him to send an updated résumé.
He also plans to connect Alcantar with someone who specializes in recruiting for marketing and creative positions.
“We can definitely get your information floated into our network to see how we can help,” Vaughn said.
For Alcantar, that means the job search continues — but now with a recruiter in his corner and a different approach.
Three things recent graduates can do now
Build connections. Find alumni from your college who work in the industry you want to enter and reach out to them.
Customize your applications. Tailor your résumé and cover letter to each position, and research the company before applying.
Consider freelance and contract work. Project-based opportunities can help you build experience, expand your professional network and potentially lead to a full-time position.
Alcantar is still looking for that first break.
But instead of simply sending another application and waiting for an answer, he now has a recruiter looking at his résumé, a new industry connection to pursue and a more targeted plan.
That’s the goal of ENOUGH: not just telling you what the problem is, but helping find a way forward. We’ll stay in touch with Alcantar and let you know where his job search leads.
