My career development progress since my last post…
During the spring semester, I applied for at least eight internships, had four interviews, was rejected by at least four employers and didn’t hear from the others. I also sent my resume to several non-profit organizations and other businesses in hopes that they’d at least keep it on file for future reference. One would think that clearly something was wrong.
A) I really need to develop my PR skills and my portfolio.
B) I’m a bad interviewee.
C) I wasn’t what any of the employers were working for.
D) The job market is tough for soon-to-be college seniors looking for internships.
E) Something better would show up down the road.
I was feeling pretty hopeless. Naturally. Who wouldn’t after so little visible success? Surely something was wrong with me!
My frustration only grew as I examined my portfolio, which was full of writing samples from both the Stillwater News Press and the Daily O’Collegian, a successful program (the Biggest Loser), media organization sheets, an organizational analysis and report for Relay for Life, marketing experience with Universal Pictures, organizational experience from Residential Life, and InDesign samples. What was wrong with me?
Fortunately, my career counselor encouraged me by explaining how the job market was struggling right now and by remininding me that I was doing the best I could and doing it well. It may be selfish, but it’s nice to hear someone other than your mother say that you’ll be fine in life and won’t get a huge “F” in success.
After I almost decided to give up hope, my mom told me about a program near my hometown, Upward Bound, that needed female resident assistants/counselors. The job would consist of working with at-risk high school students on a college campus to give them a college experience. It was an unbelievable blessing.
A) I could be with my family periodically for my last college summer.
B) I’d be an RA, which I’d already been for two years at OSU.
C) I’d work with teens and show them what college was all about – Hello, dream job!
D) I’d get paid to work with my dream non-profit sector!
Of course, I applied for the RA position and one of my ResLife buddies applied. We both were hired on the spot. The blessing has been incredible ever since.
More later. I’ve got to hang out with my teens again!
