I wasn’t sure where I’d end up. I was so nervous that the end of the semester was quickly approaching. And the looming question of what I planned to do with my life after college hit me from all directions as if I had been whacked in the face with a baseball bat. I was scared. But I had to get things done and move forward.

That’s basically how I felt before I was hired for my full-time position as a writer (and I can’t believe it’s been a year since I felt that way!). I began applying for entry-level jobs with various companies. It becomes monotonous and very frustrating after a while when you feel like you’re sending out cover letters and resumes for no reason whatsoever. At least tell me that you’re not hiring or maybe tell me that you’ve found a candidate better suited for the job. It’s so discouraging, however, when you feel like you’ve done so much and it really hasn’t amounted to anything.

Those feelings are completely normal. I know that my friends feel that way a lot and this is what I tell them: you have to apply for everything. Even if you think the job is a bit over your head – apply! You never know what kinds of callbacks or jobs may come out of it. Maybe your interview will go well. Employers want the most experienced workers, but if they see potential in you they might be willing to take a chance. Who knows, right? There’s no real formula. It’s like when you apply to college and you ask an admissions officer what formula they used to decide a student was right for their school. It’s always a combination of factors.

But they won’t hire me if I don’t have an in.

OK, you don’t specifically know that. And although I’ve discussed the grave importance of networking, it’s not the only way to land a job. Not everyone gets their job because they know someone. But because you don’t know someone – that should fuel your desire even more when it comes to perfecting your resume, cover letter, and interviewing strategies. You may need to work that much harder but you need to at least believe that you’ll be able to get a job. I always say, if you don’t believe in yourself, then who else can actually believe in you? Start your job and college search by believing in yourself.

-Amanda Fornecker

The writer’s strike has really put a damper on television as of late. Luckily for me, I have a ton of DVDs to keep me busy in between work projects and until my shows return.

One of my all-time favorite shows is Friends. As I watched season nine last week, I came across an interesting episode. Chandler had been unemployed for a while and finally needed to get moving on some sort of job. He had been unhappy in his previous career (for which most of his friends did not even know what his actual job was). Finally, he secured a job at a marketing firm… as an intern. **Cue dramatic music… Of course, Chandler goes through some funny bouts, especially when on his first day an intern offers to get him coffee and calls him “sir”. He replies to this saying that he’s an intern too and that there’s no need for the formalities. The intern looks at him, laughs at him, and accuses him of being too old for an internship.

Now why would you need to be a certain age to complete an internship? Isn’t the actual definition of an intern, someone who is starting out and learning at a company? Oftentimes, career switching is thought of as not the best of ideas because it is a major life change. In fact, many people decide not to switch their career because it’s too much of a hassle and they have already settled nicely within another career. But why not take the plunge? There are many resources to help you through this venture.

You’re never too old. In fact, my mom was just telling me about a segment she had recently seen on the Oprah show. One woman never did anything in her life and just muddled through a mediocre existence. One day (in her fifties) she decided to start writing and turned into an instant success. She now owns her very own publishing company! Now, while this type of success may not be available to everyone, it doesn’t hurt just to try. What do you have to lose?

I always say that if you don’t have experience, interning is certainly the way to go. And while that may not pay that much or at all, it will give you the knowledge you need to go forward. Make something of your new passion or old interests. And no, interning does not necessarily need to include fetching coffee. So get out there, laugh with them, and make a better life for yourself!

-Amanda Fornecker

“Who are you wearing?”

It’s post-Oscar morning, and what’s everyone talking about? What the stars wore, of course. And their hair styles (or lack thereof — what was up with ready-to-workout ponytail look sported by Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Garner?). There was also that bit about the awards, but I suspect many like myself haven’t even seen any of the nominated films, let alone have a clue what they’re about.

Whether you remember who the top winners were or not, it’s a good day for the celeb fashion designers and stylists whose names were dropped on the red carpet. This was their big moment in the spotlight. And for those lesser known designers who were lucky enough to have a star wear their style, that alone can be a career launcher.

Of course, before making it to the big Hollywood stage, to be successful in the world of glamour, aspiring fashion designers need to develop skills in fashion design programs that teach them about fabrics, sewing, merchandising, marketing, and more.

I wonder if any schools offer a course in Award Fashion? Judging by some of the strange get-ups (Jessica Alba’s feathery gown and Diablo Cody’s animal print, for starters), perhaps they should.

Photo: Jeff Vespa, Wireimage.com

Sick of hearing about the impending recession? Just this morning there was yet another segment on The Today Show (check it out!) about how to recession-proof your job. But my feeling is that even in good economic times, it’s always smart to do a PR push — a public relations campaign, if you will — to promote why you’re an important asset to your company.

Of course, you may not always be able to control your fate when layoffs happen and new corporate visions don’t mesh with your skills, in which case, it might be a good time to assess if you want to make that career change you’ve always talked about. But if you’d like nothing more than to flourish at your current company, take the following tips from The Five O’Clock Club’s book, Navigating Your Career, to heart, you’ll become the kind of employee bosses want to take along for the bumpy ride:

Train your brain. When companies clean house, they first look to people whose skills are obsolete. Take classes, join trade organizations, stay in tune with the industry as a whole. Plus, doing so is good networking anyway in case tough times send you packing.

Take initiative. Don’t let choice assignments go to someone else. Volunteer for critical responsibilities, including tasks that will have you working more closely with higher-ups. Just doing your job well may not be enough if you want to make the cut.

Put on a happy face. Or as the Today Show experts say, “no drama, no diva, no complaining.” If you’re a problem child, a complainer, miss your deadlines, or gossip too much, a staff cut-back may be a good excuse to get rid of you. Work as if Big Brother is always watching, and be a source of support for your co-workers.

Become visible to those above you in the corporate pecking order. Make sure everyone knows about your great work and what you bring to the company. In other words, increase your emails to higher ups about project updates, ask questions, or offer encouragement about initiatives in other departments. Showing a genuine interest in the company as a whole will make you a more likely candidate for a lateral move should your department get the axe.

Keep an eye out. In unstable times, don’t feel like you’re being disloyal by keeping your resume current and your eye on job postings. You never know what tomorrow may bring, and you don’t want to be caught off guard.