Welcome back Blue Jays! By now I’m sure we are all back in the groove and have our schedules pretty much set. For some of you it is your second semester of college and for others it is your last. No matter where you are in your schooling, there are some things that you should always remember, but seniors, this one is specifically for you.
Not to make this all about me, but I am a graduating senior and all throughout my Thanksgiving and Winter breaks I was bombarded with the dreaded, “What are your plans for after you graduate?” question.  Unless you have a job lined up already—which if you do, congrats—but if you don’t and are like me, all I could answer with was a simple smile and the excuse that I was just trying to get through my last semester first. This question always provides me with nothing but some sort of feeling and makes me think that I really need to start getting my life together even though I thought I was already getting there. But here’s the thing: you have to do it at your own pace.
Graduation has been the dreaded “G” word for me because as much as I am ready to go out into the real world, it still terrifies me. As seniors we feel all of this pressure thinking that we need to go out and start finding jobs and be ready to start our lives right after graduation. This pressure is unnecessary because we know what will be the best choice for our lives. However, if you’re completely stuck then maybe you should talk about it with someone and they can help you figure it out.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Tina MacKenzie, Assistant Director of Internships and Employer Engagement with the Center of Student Success. We discussed many different topics about when seniors should start applying to jobs and the different outlets that are available for the job search. I’m not going to lie, I was slightly intimidated, but I also found all of the information she provided me with to be very helpful.
The main point that I took away from our session was that now is the time to start applying, seniors. Sure it is only January, and May seems like a long way off, but job searching is time-consuming and you have to go through several stages of the interview process. It is also important to consider the type of job that you are looking for. You shouldn’t settle for anything that does not slightly interest you. Just because it is your first job doesn’t mean you are going to stick with it forever, but it also doesn’t mean that you have to be miserable at it every single day.
If you haven’t begun looking for jobs yet, there are many different resources available to start the search. Jobs for Jays is a wonderful outlet available through Career Services that provides internship and job postings for all majors in all different locations. There is also an array of websites that provide jobs, descriptions of what the position holds and any qualifications they are looking for. The search and application process can be very time-consuming. But, if you take about a half hour to an hour of your time every week to begin the process, you can thank yourself in the long run.
With all of this being said, no matter what, try not to feel the pressure of what happens after you graduate. If you find a job and you are happy that is wonderful news, but if you don’t have a job that is okay too. There’s just something that you need to keep in mind and that is not to give up. Even if you don’t get a job right away, don’t stop trying to make connections and network. These are valuable steps that you can take to get a foot in the door and receive your first interview.
Whether you are still in your first year or you are getting ready to put on your cap and gown, keep in mind that no matter what happens, it’s okay if you don’t get a job right after school. We all have the tools and knowledge that we need to make it out in the real world, all we have to do is put them to good use and be the best we can be.