Let me just start by saying, I really do try and keep all of this to myself for a few reasons.
First off, I don’t want anyone who wants to hire me to think that I struggled at all to be hired.
Secondly, Mass Communication kids are competitive. We all like to make everyone believe that we have the best internships, that we have it all figured out, that we are far more successful than anyone else around us. Getting a job comes just magically happens because of our incredible talent. We learn the need to look invincible, fearless and most of all - sought after, at all times.
But I really just can’t take it anymore. Lets just all put that effortless crap aside and get real.
Trying to get a job offer for yourself post graduation is a straight up struggle, for all of us.
However, I’m looking at it as a learning experience. Here is a little bit of what I have learned along the way:
1. You are not special.So you have a ballin portfolio website, four killer internships and amazing references? Great, get in line. All of us are essentially exactly the same. Yeah some of us have more legit internships or better skills, but employers see us all the same. You really, somehow, have to “stand out” in a different way. At this point, I’m really just considering sending my resume via edible arrangement.
2. Online applications are not your friend.You need a job, perf. You can use your friend, the internet to find job offers and apply online. Wrong. These things have become the bane of my existence. So you see a great entry level job, degree required, and you begin to apply.
Then you get to the education question where you are suppose to mark “graduated college” or “some college” and thus begins a thirty minute debate with yourself. Which do you mark? If you mark “some college” your application will probably get thrown out. If you mark “graduated college” you are lying, because that hasn’t happened yet. You can’t start right away anyway, you have a degree to finish.
If someone could just get back to me on what I’m suppose to do here that would be great.
3. Rejection is better than some of the alternatives.“We don’t have any open positions right now, but we will keep your info on file incase something opens up.” I think I can recite that one backwards now. However, I have to give major praise to the people that take the time to send me that. It feels a hell of a lot better than just sending your life’s work into total silence. Plus, it lets me know that someone even opened my email. My ego will take anything it can get.
4. Internships aren’t job offers.Back in the old days, like five years ago, people would intern somewhere for a year or so, be really impressive, and get the gift of a job offer upon graduation. Now, these are what I like to refer to as the unicorn opportunities. You can give your heart and soul to an incredible company, work for 2 years, do the best work they’ve ever seen - and still graduate with no offer. The worst part is that most of the time it isn’t even their fault. The effects of the recession are still very real in the hiring business. If there isn’t room for you or you don’t fit into the budget, their hands are tied.
5. Chances are your first job will not be your dream job.When you started college you probably thought you would follow up getting your degree by finding an amazing company with a really cool culture that works with the most epic of giant clients. I’ll admit it, my younger more idealistic self definitely did. Now, I’ve realized that if I just graduate with an offer – practically any offer – I’ll be better off than the vast majority of my peers.
If I had to sum up this experience in one word it would be humbling.Having to realize all of this stuff isn’t easy. It rocks everything you thought you would be and there are times when I do feel like I don’t stand out at all.
However, I have realized that clinging to feeling talented and special is what gives me the drive to keep emailing and keep filling out applications. Call it being a millennial, say it’s the mass comm talking, but I really do believe that I have something special to add to a team. I know somewhere out there is a good space for me. I have to keep reminding myself, mostly for my sanity, that I will get something, that someone will want me, that I will be happy.
So fellow peers, I have a favor to ask. As we all go through this struggle together, cut the crap and be real. Lets let reality hit us in the face together and not be afraid to admit that it sucks. Lets help each other out if we can. I’ll connect you with someone if I can - it’s just good karma.
I’ll keep your secret, my champions of communication. I promise.
Chelsea Bennett is a Communications Intern for Visit Baton Rouge. She is a proud lifelong resident of Baton Rouge and LSU student. A lover of all things southern, she is completely infatuated with the sweet Louisiana life and everything quintessentially “Baton Rouge.” Follow Chelsea on Twitter @GeauxChels
To see more of Chelsea’s work please view her online portfolio atchelseabennett.com