Editorial
Job hunting should be top priority for all students
April 7, 2010
It’s common sense to assume that the odds of landing a job are greater if the number being applied for are greater as well. It’s also common sense to assume that landing a job will be harder if time is taken to apply for two, elite jobs, limited to one geographic area. If these facts appear to be such common knowledge, why do so many students not get it?
Over and over, people’s egos (and resumes) get deflated as a result of the continuous “noes” heard when they apply for internships and/or careers. In fact, these people, the ones that are so crushed when they get turned down, are the same people that are often times only applying for one or two internships; the “perfect” ones. This is unrealistic. If looking for a job or an internship, it’s important to remember to be open-minded, understanding that it won’t be possible to land a job as a sportscaster with ESPN or at General Electric in the accounting office right after graduation or in the summers between semesters in college.
When applying for internships or jobs, it’s important to remember that a ton of other people are potentially looking at the same job, and those people may or may not be better suited for the spot. The Student Voice Editorial Board feels that it’s important for students to remember that they aren’t guaranteed their dream job right off the bat; they, as everyone else looking for a job, regardless of class and age, have to prove that they are worthy of the job they seek. Just because a student completed college with a 3.9 GPA, in less than four years, with a double major, doesn’t mean that they need only apply for one job because, frankly, they haven’t got it in the bag.
Regardless of what qualifications students think they have over other applicants, there will always be someone who is better than them in at least one aspect of their resume. Being humble enough to realize that they must apply for 10, 15 jobs at once (after graduation), hoping to land an interview with a handful is key for newly graduated students to remember when thrusting themselves in the “real world.”
Having a loaded resume and a lot of confidence shouldn’t go underrated, however. It’s important to gain as much experience as possible, getting an edge on the crowd. But, remember, you’re not the only applicant. You’re not the only person with relevant experience. You’re not the only person who went to college and did well. You’re not the only person who deserves the position. Remembering to work for recognition is crucial.