Five Tips for Graduating Seniors
Today's blog was written by guest blogger & recent GVSU Journalism grad, Carly Simpson. Others interested in guest blogging for GrandPR can contact us via Facebook or Twitter @Grand_PR.
By now, most seniors have probably developed a strong loathing toward the question “what are your plans after graduation?” It’s a seemingly harmless question posed by relatives, peers and the cute guy/gal at the bar. Heck, even my bank teller has asked.
The question really is harmless if you actually have plans, but that might be a pretty big if. For those of you who already have a job lined up, congratulations. Seriously, that’s awesome (however, just know everyone else is secretly raging with jealously). I graduated from Grand Valley in December 2014 without a job already lined up, so believe me I know the feeling.
I can offer a few tips though to try and help you answer that darned question.
1. Take baby steps.
Finding a job takes work, and it can be time consuming. Searching for a job while also attending classes, doing homework, completing internships, working a part-time job and attempting to maintain a meager social life is nearly impossible. Take baby steps.
Update your resume one afternoon. Next week, think about professors, past employers, mentors, etc. who you want to use for references, and contact them to check if it’s okay. Also, make sure you have an outfit that is acceptable for interviews (you don’t want to have to borrow your roommate’s size 9 heels if you’re a size 7. Believe me, you will trip and fall in front of the interviewer. Save yourself the embarrassment).
2. Apply to one job a week.
Chances are you aren’t going to get the first job you apply to, or the second, or the third. You might not even get asked for an interview. Start applying to jobs before you graduate. This probably seems like common sense, but it’s so much easier said than done. On your one afternoon off it’s a lot more appealing to watch Netflix than to write a cover letter and fill out an application. Resist Netflix.
3. Don’t beat yourself up.
It’s okay if you don’t get the first job you apply to. Don’t stress out about it, you already have enough things to worry about. Grab your computer and find another job to apply to next week.
4. Have a temporary backup plan.
If you don’t already have a part-time job, you should think about lining one up for after you graduate. If you are a student worker at GVSU, make sure you have an off-campus job lined up for when you are no longer eligible for student jobs. It can be a serving job, babysitting, retail, pretty much anything to pay the bills. This isn’t your career. It’s just a way to support yourself until you find that awesome job (which might take a month or two, and you want groceries and electricity during that month).
5. Put the pedal to the metal.
Graduation is only 2 weeks away. You really can’t wait any longer to finish that resume and start applying to jobs. I know the end of the semester brings a ridiculous amount of group projects and exams, but you’ll thank yourself later.
(And of course, congratulations on graduating! It is pretty stinking awesome.)
Carly Simpson is an alumna of Grand Valley State University. She graduated in December 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. While attending GVSU, Carly was the associate editor of the Lanthorn and was an intern with UrbanWest Magazine in Holland.