Landing That Job
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