By Briana Rossi
At a recent Wellness Wednesday event held by the Health Services Center’s interns, we worked on reducing the stress and anxiety in our lives. It was agreed that finding a job was a major cause of stress. Not knowing where to start, trying to gain experience with no experience, rejection, negotiating salary, feeling underqualified, and the application process are just a few things that cause people stress in their job search. As someone who has experienced this stress over and over, I hope that sharing the advice I’ve been given will help you to reduce the stress and frustration that can come from trying to find a job.
A fantastic place to start your search is to talk to people you know: parents, relatives, friends, previous coworkers or bosses, professors and UP staff are all great resources. When they ask that awful question, “What are your plans for the summer/after graduation/the future?” use the opportunity to let them know that you are in the process of looking and ask them if they have any advice. Letting people know that you are looking for a job gives them the chance to give you insights into the job market or offer help with the application process, and they might think of you if a position opens up in an organization they know. Don’t rely on them to do the job search for you, though. Take initiative and intently listen to the advice that you are given. We are at a time when people want to help and offer their advice because they know what it is like to be a young professional.
Don’t expect that filling out job postings online will be enough. It might be easier to just fill out that application online and send it off without any human interaction, but talking to people is a huge part of actually getting the job. One of the best things that I have done in my job search has been meeting people for informational interviews. You get the inside scoop from employees, expand your network, and get your foot in the door so when you submit your application materials you aren’t as much of a stranger. If you find a job posting online, feel free to contact the hiring manager to ask to learn more about the job to get some of the same benefits.
Between classes, activities, homework, and social activities it might seem like you have no time to search for a job, which can be very stressful. Some great advice I was given was to treat your job search like a class or job in itself. Set aside a specific block of time each week and use it as a time for your search. Assign yourself tasks and goals to make sure you use that block of time efficiently. Knowing that you have a block of time scheduled will help to reduce some stress and manage your time better.
Know that finding a job is a long process. Most people don’t have a realistic timeline and when they don’t see immediate results it is easy to get frustrated or stressed. It takes weeks to months to find a job. Networking, completing applications, reviewing application materials, interviews, and much more goes into the hiring process and all of it can take a lot of time, so start your search before you think you need to. Even if you get an interview, it is important to continue looking and applying. Don’t stop until you have received an acceptable job offer.
One of the most frustrating and difficult parts of the job search is having a great interview and then finding out that you didn’t get the job. Rejection is rough, but don’t take it personally. Know that the organization might be hiring internally and just following protocol, or that they found someone more experienced or a better fit for their office. If you feel like you didn’t present your best self to the hiring manager, reflect on ways you could improve for your next interview.
Job search stress is something that everyone has to deal with, so don’t feel alone in your search, and know there are lots of resources to help you feel more in control of the process. I cannot emphasize enough how helpful the staff at Career Services are with helping students with their job searches. Scheduling a meeting can be that first step in getting your search on the right track. Don’t be a stranger to the office; if you have been struggling with your search for a while or are just starting from scratch, there is help here!