Congratulations! You're nearing the end of what seems to be an eternity of schooling. Year after year, you've fearlessly enjoyed the summer knowing that you'll be right back in the classroom come fall. Now, it's time to make use of everything you have learned and land a job that will support you in the real world--no pressure.
As I dive deep into this pit of soul job searching, I've found there are a few things that really keep me motivated and on track.
Disclaimer: I feel as though I must place a tiny disclaimer here letting you all know that I have not yet received a full time job, let alone interviewed for one. Still, I've found the following tips extremely helpful for staying organized and on top of my game. Hey, 6 internships/professional roles before graduating has to count for something, right?
1. Cast your net far and wide
I'm sure you've heard this before, so...here it is again. I've been extremely lucky to have had internships in a wide array of industries. From healthcare to publishing, I've learned more than I could have imagined by stepping outside my comfort zone. Your skill set is bound to be applicable to various professional jobs. Never bank on your top pick and never underestimate a company or industry you haven't thought about before.
2. Create a tracking sheet
Ah, Microsoft excel--an old friend of mine. We've had our differences, but it always has good intentions. Once you cast your net to the big, big ocean of hiring companies (shoutout to the flourishing economy), keeping track of your communications will become vital. What works best for me is utilizing the following column headings: Company, Job Title, Applied (Y/N), Date Applied, Response, Next Steps, Notes. And if you're as crazy about detail as I am, color coding and sorting will become your new best friends.
3. Personalize each cover letter
I know what some of you are thinking--duh. I agree! I thought this was common knowledge until one of my friends mentioned he was sending out batches of cover letters like Dumbledore trying to send Harry his Hogwarts letter (there's never a bad time to make a Harry Potter joke). I've been personally told by HR that they can notice right away when a cover letter looks manufactured. Put in the extra time, research and creativity to get rewarded with an interview.
4. Reach out to previous employers
This seems obvious, but I find it the most difficult. I know they are all busy people so I don't want to take up their time and I also don't want it to sound like I'm asking for a lot. A trusted colleague reminded me today that all current managers have been in our position. They enjoy helping us out (as long as we did an okay job working for them). Truth is, we are asking for a favor and that's okay. A quick email letting them know you are searching for a position in x, y, z and attaching your resume is 100% okay and extremely beneficial to expanding your network.
There are a million things to do and not do when starting the career search. These four things just happen to be the ones helping me out the most and I hope they help you too! Class of 2017--here's to landing a job!
