With the fresh start of a new school year, there are great expectations: better grades, more time with friends and of course, more time on the beach. One might even expect to secure a dream job before spring finals roll around. But let’s be honest. That takes serious time and relentless perseverance — something college students spare with intense discretion.
Wanting to secure an internship or job is enough to get us browsing Indeed.com or CareerSpace when there is free time between classes. This process, however, takes much more tactful deliberation and thoughtful strategy than most of us may be willing to admit. Finding a job can sometimes be the hardest job you have. It may even require reevaluating your great expectations for the upcoming year. But fear not! Here are three important expectations you should adopt early on in your search to help you feel ahead of the competition.
First, be honest about how much time and effort you are actually exerting. Leisurely browsing the Internet in the Sandbar does not always promise fruitful findings, and it may discourage you altogether by the overwhelming number of search engines and higher-level positions available.
“Post your resume with us!” “Job boards here fitting your every need!” The advertisements can seem exhausting. Instead, be willing to change your initial approach by starting at a familiar place. Call and email those you know, such as friends, co-workers, church members and Pepperdine faculty, and politely inform them you’re looking around for opportunities. This will place your name at the forefront of their minds and may yield some surprising results.
Second, rigorously adhere to a timeline (assuming you outline one). The average job search takes four to six months, leaving ample room for routine resume refinement or some serious slacking. One way to stay motivated and on-track is to record in a log (a spreadsheet, perhaps) all of your activities, points of contact, leads and roadblocks.
It is important that you are constantly analyzing what is and isn’t working so you can more effectively handle reality. This, again, may require adjusting your tactics from casually networking with friends to engaging in informational interviews with professionals. Always be flexible and open to incorporating new strategies.
Third and most importantly, don’t make excuses for yourself. Academics and club involvement constantly demand our immediate attention, which makes it easy to let the job search slip down the list of priorities. It is critical, then, to embrace a positive attitude continuously. Remind yourself that you’re not alone in this process. There are people within your network certainly willing to help, and there are people in the exact same boat as you. A positive attitude coupled with some well-executed strategies is the surest way to keep up with your great expectations for the year and keep you driven in the job search.
