Job Hunting

Being on Spring Break right now makes me feel relaxed, not stressed out, and feeling free...not. Not only does Spring Break mean a break from school, it means that once it's over, it's petal to the medal. College will pick back up all at once with deadlines galore, and summer will be right around the corner.

And with summer almost here means jobs are going to be opening for summer help. For someone like me, who has to have a job over summer, it can be a race against time.

Most of the time you have to start looking for a job way before summer begins. I sent in my first application for a job for summer in January. Yeah, it begins that early.

But for most of us, we can't be guaranteed a job just because we apply to it. Placing all your eggs in one basket is a dangerous thing to do, especially if you don't end up with the job. Keeping your ideas and options open is key for getting a good summer job or internship. Once you know what job/internship you want to apply for, the real work begins.

While some jobs have the convenience of having their own application you fill out and then turn in, other jobs have more complicated application processes.

Some have an initial application, then an online interview process, an actual interview, and so on and so forth. Some require a letter of introduction, a resume, recommendation letters, and things of that sort. Some require a resume then go straight to the interview process.

Getting your resume in order to match your strengths that apply for the specific job can be a challenge, and writing your introduction letter can be just as hard. If you're like me, asking people to write letters of recommendation for you is an awkward process because you just don't like asking people for things. But you have to do it if you want the job.

Knowing about the company you're applying for and the people you're talking to is a big help to, and requires a little research so you have common based knowledge.

All of these things come together when applying for a job. They are necessary to make you look professional and seem like you know what you're doing. While there's always things you will learn, telling people about what you already know is going to help, especially if it applies to the job/internship.

It's very stressful too. You have deadlines, time limits, and restrictions on what you can or can't do. And the more you put it off, the less likely you have of getting it.

I've learned this the hard way. It's much better to apply sooner than later. Even if you're applying three days before the deadline, it gives you better chances than someone applying two days before.

Every day, hour, and minute counts. What you say, how you say it, the words you use, and the effort you put into these applications count.

But what happens if you put all you have into an application and still don't get it?

Take it in and let it out. Move on to the next one. Don't let one big refusal stop you from moving forward to find the job meant for you. It may not be the job you initially wanted, but in the end, it's the job you needed. For college kids, it's hard for us to be picky. A lot of jobs require experience, and we need experience. So going to smaller jobs at first may seem tedious and unwanted, but it's definitely needed. The jobs we don't want usually end up being the jobs we need in order to grow and succeed.

So give your all when hunting for a job or an internship, never give up, and keep striving towards the end goal, and don't get dragged down by the now. Think of how everything is going to help you in the future, and take that as your motivation to push through all the difficult processes along the way.