Staying Optimistic During the Job Hunt
By Olivia Pfeiffer
So it begins. We’ve only just stepped onto campus and we’re already receiving Handshake message upon Handshake message about getting jobs and internships for next summer. Parents and academic advisors alike are asking about plans for next summer, and the stress of going onto LinkedIn to see yet another peer proudly announce their internship with Goldman Sachs is a feeling I know all too well. But hey - it’s going to be okay. The stress to get a job is not something that can be entirely avoided, but the tips below might help you to stay optimistic while you’re on the next Zoom info session of the job hunt.
1. Reframe Your Goals
It’s tempting to look at hundreds upon hundreds of job applications on Handshake, and then immediately start panicking while applying to everything that seems remotely applicable to your major. But do you really want to be an accountant at a small time firm in Iowa? Just because a posting lines up with your area of study, doesn’t mean you ‘should’ apply or that it’s worth taking the time to write another cover letter. My best advice would be to make a list ranking what is most important to you—paid or unpaid, location, possibility for a return offer, and long term career goals are all important things to write down and consider. Once you have your items clearly laid out, you can be a little more selective when looking at Handshake; don’t waste time applying to jobs you would not accept.
2. Take Breaks
Do you really need to go to those back-to-back-to-back info sessions for those consulting firms? Do you really want to work at all of them? Obviously it’s important to get informed, but you do not need to run yourself into the ground going to career event after career event. Be sure to take care of yourself throughout the entire process, especially if you are spending a lot of time in front of the computer during interviews. I’ve personally found mixing in my job applications with my regular homework to be an effective way to get both done because the work does not get too repetitive.
3. Don’t Take It Personally
Arguably, one of the worst parts of the entire job application process is the absolute lack of response from companies, sometimes waiting weeks to receive a rejection letter or even worse - radio silence. Last year I applied to 15 internships within a span of two weeks. I got one rejection letter and absolutely nothing from the other 14. It was so incredibly frustrating to not hear back from companies that I had a genuine interest working with. As hurtful and frustrating as it is, accepting that a lack of response is unfortunately just a part of the internship hunt, so do your best to realize it is not you - it's the system - and keep applying from there.
4. Do Your Best Not To Compare
Again this is easier said than done, but don’t compare yourself to your classmates or their own experiences to your own. They might be in a completely different industry with different hiring processes and timelines - as a history major you don’t need to be worried that your friend who is studying accounting already has a job. Your own time will come and you will find a job you are passionate about - and hey, some internship applications will not even be open for another few months! Your worth is not defined by job offers or your job search process.
