By Madison Baker
Repeated questions surrounding the job search process can be daunting for current seniors and with graduation for the class of 2022 quickly approaching, many are left wondering what their future has in store for them.
Hours upon hours college seniors will spend scrolling through LinkedIn and Indeed searching for jobs, but a common issue many college seniors are facing is not having enough experience.
Madison Baker photo by Payton Stephens
If you’re like me, the job search process has been nothing like I imagined it to be. I feel an overwhelming sense of unpreparedness when it comes to applying for jobs and the interview process.
No one talks about how difficult it is to land your first “grown up” job.
Seniors are constantly under pressure about ensuring they have a job right when they graduate — it’s almost like it’s a requirement to be considered successful. What if we can change this way of thinking?
Not having a job right away after you graduate is not a dreadful thing.
Use this time to relax and enjoy your summer while reflecting on your accomplishments and the memories you made throughout your college experience. Be sure to take in the simplicity and don’t rush the last few moments of not having huge responsibilities.
The perspective I am trying to gain from this process is, I don’t want to take a job just to have one. I want to find a job that I have interest in, and I don’t want to dread going into work every day.
Your first job most likely will not be your golden egg, but it shouldn’t have to be a settlement either.
This group of graduates were just underway in finishing our second year of college when the pandemic hit and forced our college experience to go remote.
This resulted in valuable learning experience opportunities through current and summer internships being cancelled.
Remote learning has now carried over into the workforce. Working remotely has become immensely popular and is somewhat considered the new normal.
While learning remotely during a pandemic was scary, I feel that our class has gained a better understanding of how to work and proceed during stressful situations. We also now have an increased knowledge of technology and how to essentially work from home.
According to Harvard Business Review in their article “11 Trends that Will Shape Work in 2022 and Beyond,” remote and hybrid working styles will increase the geographical radius of jobs people can apply for it. This means, if you live in Ohio, you can apply for a job halfway across the country, even across the globe.
So, could remote and hybrid positions be an advantage for current seniors? This is a question only you can answer.
Findstack.com shared 77 percent of people who work remotely admitted they are more productive at home than working in person. Employers have also admitted their companies saw an increase in profit through remote working.
A question persists: with thousands of job openings being posted, why is it so difficult to land one?
The main reason that I’ve found is that most employers want experience. This is something new graduates may struggle to acquire. Covid-19 had a hand in depleting experience opportunities through internships.
The next question is, how do I gain experience? This is a question I am searching for an answer to.
I encourage soon-to-be graduates to shift your focus to internships during the summer post-graduation. This will allow you to increase your network while taking a break from the stressors of the job-search process.
An unsuccessful job searching process can take a toll on your mental health. Idealist.org released an article focusing on how to cope during this challenging time-period. They advised it’s important to recognize when you’re experiencing burnout during the job-hunt process.
Their article noted that the Center for Disease Control found people between the ages of 18 and 25 were more three times more likely to experience negative mental health if they were not employed.
The identified age range is most commonly college students.
Taking a break from job hunting will allow you the opportunity to revamp your resumé and cover letter, along with sharpening your interviewing skills.
Seniors are embarking on one of the biggest changes in our lives where no path is identical.
It’s important not to stress, worry or be anxious over areas in your life that you have no control over.
Stay calm, the right job will come.
Madison Baker is a senior marketing and sport management — communication major.
