Your senior year is here and the worry and stress of not having a job lined up post-graduation is already sinking in. However, this is your year to tackle those fears and get ahead of the game, so come graduation, you’ll either have a job waiting for you, or at least be less stressed about finding one. Here are three things you can do right now to ease the senior spring scaries.
1. Have a vision
Entering your senior year without a plan in place is never a good idea. By now you’re almost done (or maybe finished) completing your major requirements, so begin to craft an idea and plan for yourself.
Mara Hyman, marketing coordinator at WBZ CBS Boston suggests, “The first thing you need to do at the beginning of senior year is to get into the zone and mental state of the job hunt and tune out the noise.” You can do this by writing out your goals for each month or semester and then circling back to them every time you’re in need of inspiration. “You can’t go backwards, so appreciate the experience you do have on your resume, have confidence in your abilities and don’t put too much pressure on yourself,” Hyman adds.
Above all else, make your senior year a dress rehearsal for the real world, so take it in stride, but craft a plan as soon as you can. Make a calendar of deadlines, workshop cover letters with your friends and reach out to career coaches to learn more about how you can approach you desired career field.
2. Network
You have a special opportunity by being in college, because of the connections you can form. Professors, advisers and faculty members are there to help you.
Kristen Perrone, a recent graduate at Siena College adds, “Organize your LinkedIn profile and resume to make both look as detailed and professional as possible! Although I was good at keeping my resume updated throughout college, I didn’t really get into fixing up my LinkedIn until senior year. I definitely noticed so many friends and classmates using LinkedIn more throughout the year.”
Use these conversations with your peers and the adults in your community as educational and networking tools and know that you’re benefiting from them regardless of their relation to your specific future career path. Kristen notes, “In the past few months since graduation, I’ve gotten notifications that several employers who later contacted me for an interview first looked at my LinkedIn profile. It may seem a little daunting at first, but it can be even more informative than your resume because you can easily add links to your clips or projects relevant to your possible career field. I would even look at the LinkedIn pages of my friends within my major for inspiration on how to word things and what to include!”
3. Keep your options open
Entering the workforce is like entering uncharted waters—scary and unfamiliar. Zoe Strickland, a recent graduate of Western Oregon University, has recently experienced this and says, “Keep your options open. You may be set on the dream job, but it’s important to realize that your dream job may not be the one you get straight out of college. You may get something that has the potential to lead there, or you may not.”
Working hard will always pay off, but having a one-track mind about a career you want isn’t always the best idea. Keeping your options open to new endeavors and possibilities will clear more paths for you and ultimately lead you to a career you love.
Remember that your senior year is your opportunity to take advantage of all the world has to offer, but enter into this time with an open mind, an eagerness to connect with those around you and a vision for where you want to see yourself. Good luck, collegiettes!