Job and internship applications can be incredibly overwhelming and scary. On top of school, work, and other social responsibilities, it can be hard to find the time to also add searching for opportunities to further your career. Have no fear! As a college senior, I have some tips for how you can stay sane and in control of all things applications. While I am no expert, I have had my fair share of experiencing months and months of applying for jobs and internships. To avoid tears and unnecessary stress, here are a few tips to help you out.
Stay Organized
Source: Jille Duffy
The key to not letting yourself get totally wigged out is to stay organized. Create an Excel or Google Sheets document where you store all of your past and future companies you’ve applied to. Create a doc with five or six columns, or more depending on what you need: company name, position title, location, link to application description or the job posting, timeline, and contact. In the timeline column, you can put the date it is due, the date you applied, and then any other dates for interviews or follow up emails. This helps you remember the last time you emailed someone and reminds you to follow up again. You also won’t forget where and when you applied. The contact column is a great place to put anyone you know that works at the company or any alumni for your school.
Here’s an example of what the top of my spreadsheet looked like.
Make Connections
You’ve probably heard time and time again that networking and connections are so important. The truth is, they really are. Having a connection at a company really increases your chances of getting your foot in the door, which could be an interview or an introduction to the right people. One great way to find connections is to use LinkedIn. If you’re interested in a specific company, you can search the company on LinkedIn and use their search features to find people who are at the office you’re interested in, the school you went to, or have other common backgrounds as you. Then you can message alumni from your school and ask to set up a call to chat. People are usually very willing to help and love to have people from their school at their company.
Keep Your Materials Updated
Another key thing to do if you’re in the beginning of the application process is to make sure all of your materials are at their best. Be sure your resume is up to date and well designed in a program other than word, unless your job field prefers more classic styles of resumes. I find resume design and creation to be pretty fun, so this can be a good way to destress but still be productive. Use a site like Canva or purchase a template if you aren’t strong in design. If it makes sense for your career interests, create a website. You can create free websites using templates on Wix, Wordpress, or other sites. These are simple and not too time consuming to create, but having a website makes you appear very professional and allows you to have a place to hold all of your work. Edit your cover letter and rewrite sections you don’t love until it is perfect. Having your application materials at their best will make you more confident in your apps and will allow you to be faster to apply when the time comes.
Take Advantage of Every Opportunity
Every school has a variety of different programs created to help their students find jobs and internships. When you can find the time, try to participate in anything that is offered. At Mizzou, we have the career fair, a variety of speakers, different classes that specialize in career development, and more. Even if something isn’t a direct interest to you, it can be great experience and practice to go to an event or seminar to learn more and ask questions. If your major or school offers mentorship, get involved and use this person as a resource. While your mentor or a professor may not do exactly what you want to do, they can introduce you to the right people and serve you with their connections.
Ask for Help
It can be hard to swallow your pride and ask for help. However it is so important to do so. Ask your friends to read your resume or cover letter one more time for typos. Practice interviews or what you’ll say on a phone call with your roommates or parents. Reach out to a family friend or professor and ask if they know anyone at a company you’re interested in. It takes a village, but you should feel comfortable in asking the people in your close circle for their help or expertise. On the flip side, be sure you’re doing the same. If a friend asks you to look over a writing sample, do it! Be sure you’re giving the same effort you would want from a friend.
Relax
Source: Pexels
Everyone always loves to say, “It is going to work out. Stop worrying.” Of course, you know they’re right. But when you are stressed it can be hard to remember that this is just a job or internship. Take time off of applying to all these places to just relax. It does no one any good to sit at your computer for hours working on this stuff, as it will just make your work a lower quality. If you’ve been doing applications for a couple hours, go watch a movie or hang out with friends. Do whatever you need for self care. Remember that the name of the company or your title or where you go doesn’t define you. Just try to find an opportunity that you think will help you learn more about yourself and your career.