Hi friends. I’m stressed. I’m usually stressed, but this week’s anxiety is coming from a new source: job hunting. No, not “looking for a part-time job” job hunting. More like, “I graduate from college and start my career in two months, so I need to find a big girl job ASAP” job hunting.
As anyone who has tried to find a job in the past year knows, COVID-19 has not made this frustrating task any easier. On top of that, I want to get a job at a nonprofit organization during a global pandemic. I’m not sure if you need me to tell you this, but nonprofits don’t really have much expendable income to be hiring inexperienced college graduates right now. So, I’m stressed.
But, instead of incessantly scrolling through Indeed.com and LinkedIn all night long, I decided to take a break and compile what I have learned so far while hunting for my first real job.
- You probably won’t have your dream job right out of college (and that’s okay).
-
You may get a job in your ideal field. You may get a job in your dream city. You may have the best coworkers ever. But chances are, your first job may not check all the boxes. And that is 100% okay. Getting your foot in the door with plans of working your way up in a company or industry is not settling. You have time to work for your dream. Don’t lose hope!
- The “Experience Conundrum” is the worst.
-
One of the most infuriating parts of job hunting is a phenomenon that I have coined the “Experience Conundrum.” Basically, most jobs require experience, but to gain experience, you have to have a job. Are there truly any entry-level positions if everything requires experience? And if not, what’s a 21-year-old gal to do? Lie? (Seriously, where is the line in the moral gray area of lying on a resume? Asking for a friend.)
- You need to learn to sell yourself.
-
On your resume, in an interview and in your future career, you will have the task of selling yourself. The best way to land a job is by providing a snapshot of how absolutely amazing you are. This starts with reminding yourself of your talents, gifts and strengths. When job hunting, keep in mind what you bring to the table and the skills that make you stand out in a crowd.
- Treat your hunt like the new beginning that it is.
-
If you’re like me, starting your career feels like an ending. It feels like the final step out of adolescence into full adulthood. But, at the risk of sounding cliché, when one door closes, another one opens. You are entering a new, exciting chapter full of new possibilities and opportunities. Get excited! You’ve worked hard to get here. Celebrate your successes. Welcome to the next chapter. I bet it’ll be a good one!
So yes, job hunting is terrifying, but it doesn’t have to be a daunting, fear-driven task. Remember that you are a rockstar who is going to do amazing things (and even if you don’t, your worth isn’t defined by your productivity). Get out there (or hop on the world wide web) and find a job that makes you happy. Good luck! We’ve got this!