Dear seniors,
I want you take a deep breath. Inhale. Exhale. This year is stressful, probably the most stressful year yet. We have projects, papers and exams. We are finally taking the classes that mean something to our major, but those classes are challenging. We are trying to hold on to what is left of our college career, but in the meantime, we are searching for jobs out there in the great beyond. It doesn’t help that Miami places an added pressure on us fourth years to obtain that coveted real-world job sooner rather than later.
What is it about the Miami culture that makes us feel as though we need a job immediately? Why is it that every time I walk into Farmer School of Business that I feel as though there are 50 pounds of pressure placed on my shoulder? Why is it that every time I hear someone say that they have already have an offer, or even an interview, I feel a twinge of guilt or jealousy?
The most frustrating aspect of this pressure, however, is the notion that we came to school for an education, not a job. We came to Miami to learn, to gain new knowledge and to hopefully find ourselves along the way. We came to Miami to meet new people, to grow and develop our skill sets. We didn’t come to Miami for a job. Miami is a school and we came here to learn about what we are passionate about.
My thought process is this: If I came to Miami for an education, I shouldn’t be stressed about getting a job. If I made the most of my four years here in Oxford, Ohio, by joining clubs, taking on leadership roles and challenging myself, not only academically but also personally, shouldn’t I be confident that I have an abundance of skills, knowledge and abilities to get any job in my field that I want?
I think the right perspective that we should have is, instead of the “OMG I need a job!” thought, we should think, “OMG I want to find the right job for me!” Don’t settle on a job just because it is a job. Play the field. Interview everywhere. Follow your passions and your dreams because this first job, this first attempt at the real world, should not simply be a job, but rather should be the base of the rest of your career. Find an organization that is going to challenge you and allow you to grow your skills further. Find an organization whose culture dynamically fits your personality. Go to the job that your gut tells you to go to, not the one with the biggest paycheck or the first one offered to you. Don’t be afraid to turn down offers if they are not what you want to do. Follow your dreams. Follow your passions.
So take another breath. Inhale again. Exhale again. Work hard and know that we still have so much time ahead of us. A lot of jobs don’t hire until late, so even if you don’t have a job by Thanksgiving, remember, it is okay! You have over half of the school year ahead of you to land that first gig. In the meantime, enjoy your senior year and enjoy the place that gave you such a great education. Continue the job search, but try not to overstress. You’ve got this.
Sincerely,
A fellow yet-to-be-employed senior
