Network. Keep all of your doors open. It’s all about the hands you shake. 

I cannot be the only person who is consistently baffled by these ambiguous pieces of career advice. These words of wisdom are somehow supposed to unveil the secret to finding employment, but in reality, they just add to the tornado of confusion and pressure that surrounds a young adult on the cusp of entering the workforce. I am a senior planning to graduate in May, and the frequency at which I hear these phrases and others like them is at an all-time high. However, my understanding of how to execute any of these vague commands is virtually non-existent. 

I have devoted copious amounts of mental energy trying to convert these words of encouragement into tangible actions, but I have yet to be successful in that endeavor. I have recently come to the realization that finding a job is hard. This varies depending on one’s major, desired career field and the job market, of course, but generally speaking, finding a career is no small task. 

My experience searching for a job over the past year has been, in a word, humbling. As with many of life’s chapters, there have been ups and downs. I have accepted many unpaid internships and many salary-paying jobs have chosen not to accept me. I guess I assumed if kept my grades reasonably high and invested in a few resume-building activities, the process of actually searching for a job would be fairly easy. It became frighteningly clear this would not be the case a few weeks ago as I drove past a Subway restaurant and found myself bleakly contemplating the health risks versus the endorsement benefits of pursing a career in inspirational weight loss al a Jared. 

Conversations with peers have cemented the fact I am not alone in this desperation and difficulty. It is because of this oppressive and constant stress my fellow seniors and I are experiencing that I am offering a few pieces of my own advice that will hopefully be more useful than the mysterious remarks we are all so used to hearing. (While I believe these pointers to be useful, I am also openly admitting to the fact that I am currently unemployed, so do with this information what you wish.)

First nugget of knowledge from the Shealy Molpus pamphlet of career advice: make sure that your resume is in order, and once it is, send it to anywhere and everywhere that will take it. I am not exaggerating. Literally, prepare infinite resumes and cover letters and send them to as many places as possible. A large portion of job openings require at least 1-2 years of field experience, but there is absolutely no harm that can come from getting your name out there and creating a relationship with a company or organization. 

Nugget number two: physically reach out to anyone who you think could assist you in the job search. This could be a family friend, a former teacher, a stranger that you spoke to at the DMV; it does not matter. If you feel they could offer useful guidance or connections that could propel you into the workforce, utilize that resource. Contact them over the phone, through email, through a hand written letter or however you feel most comfortable conversing with them. The most difficult portion of this step is not the initial reaching out; it is continuing to stay in contact. Persistence is key. Because the people you will contact are currently employed, it could take more than one attempt to get in contact with him or her. You might feel as if you are being a pest, but odds are you aren’t. Everyone can empathize with a young person searching for a job, and most people are willing to do whatever they can to help. (And if you are annoying them, they will probably make it very clear.)

Lastly, realize the process of finding and applying for careers is going to require an absurd amount of time and energy. People say applying for jobs is a job in itself, and people are not lying, but if the task is done correctly, it is worth the time. 

In the end, searching for a career is mentally, emotionally and physically exhausting. No amount of advice can truly prepare you for your own journey to employment, but take comfort in the fact that you are never alone in this taxing struggle. There will always be students hunting jobs, and there will always be individuals willing to help those students. So, be confident and persistent, and if you hear of anyone hiring, hit me up.