Art by Chris Chen
“So what are you doing this summer?” isn’t an innocuous question.
Despite it only being February, summer is looming. This is not the summer of old, where the days promised ice cream and fun. Now summer feels more like a deadline and less like a destination, because with summer comes the question of the summer internship that may or may not lead into a job, and if you’re a senior, the question of a job period.
There are some people who already know what they’re doing this summer, and if you’re one of them, you can stop reading. But if you’re like me, you’re still looking, and you’re looking hard.
Maybe you’ve applied to multiple companies without hearing back from a single one, or maybe you’ve interviewed with a couple of companies only to receive that rejection email. Wherever you are in that mess of applications, remember that it’s going to be OK.
According to the article “When Should I Apply for Summer Internships” on internships.com, if you still don’t know where you’ll spend your summer in February, that’s fine. Although some positions are closed by autumn, many companies continue to hire until late April.
In addition, if you’re close to any of your professors, it’s important to remember that many of them have connections. If they feel that you’re capable and you let them know that you’ve been looking for positions, their word might be what gets your foot in the door. On top of that, Pepperdine has an alumni network that’s available for students, and career counselors are always ready to help you out.
Lastly, it’s important to remember that whatever happens, it’s not the end of the world. According to the Frequently Asked Questions page of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Baby Boomer generation held, on average, 11.7 jobs from the ages of 18 to 48. And the Millennial generation is expected to jump around even more. So if the job you end up with isn’t the one you dreamed of, or if you’re worried you might have to go retail instead of an internship, just remember that that job isn’t the end of the road.
And for the days you get overwhelmed, try to step back. Read a book, go for a run or watch the sunset. Whatever happens, it’s not the end of the world. We’re young, and our lives are just beginning.
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