There’s a running joke at Hillsdale that says graduating seniors have three options: Teach, go to grad school, or do whatever else it is liberal arts majors do. I think the first two options are fantastic. But if you’re like me, you’re probably in the third camp. You want to do something, but you’re not quite sure how to get there. Or maybe you want to take a break before grad school. Regardless, you need to pay some bills.
I was in your shoes a few years back, stressed and uninformed. But I’ve since picked up a few tricks for job-hunting success.
1. Connections are everything. No, really. You’re going to hear this a thousand times and not take it seriously because you’re in college and you think you don’t have many important connections. Listen, I don’t know a single person right now who has a job that they got by just applying for it. Fortunately, your “network” probably extends a bit further than you think. Family friends, relatives, upperclassmen, people you’ve interned with, they’re all there, and even if they don’t work in your desired field, chances are they know someone who does. Hillsdale’s faculty is remarkably well-connected beyond academia. And don’t feel bad about asking people to connect you. As you’ll soon find out, that’s how everyone in the real world operates anyway.
2. Don’t be afraid to take a job. There’s a mindset some fall into where it seems like every choice they make is the most important one of their lives. This is utter rot, especially in the first year out of school. Treat your first year or two as a buffer where you have time to figure things out while paying your bills. If you find you love your current job, great. If not, you’ll have plenty of time to readjust. I started at a think tank. Didn’t like it. Studied in the evenings. Became a software developer. Love it.
3. Your résumé and LinkedIn profile are formalities. They say, “I’m not a lifeless monster and I can spell.” That’s it. They won’t get you that job any more than wearing clothes to class gets you an A; they just allow you to get in the door, so don’t place your hopes and dreams in them. Fill them out well, clean them up, and get a decent picture. That’s it. Do use LinkedIn to access the alumni network. It’s about the only thing it’s good for.
4. Narrow down your choices. I didn’t care what job I got; I just wanted to find something that would make enough money to feed myself. When people would ask what I wanted to do, I’d just respond, “Oh, I don’t know. Monies?” That didn’t help them connect me with anyone. Decide what you want, or at least have a tight list. Take a look at what skills you have and who you can connect with. Go from there.
5. Don’t depend on Career Services. Career Services is great. They help you get your résumé cleaned up and your LinkedIn online. I highly recommend their practice interviews. After that, you’re on your own. While there is an alumni network, connecting to the people in it can be spotty at best. Take matters into your own hands, get on the LinkedIn Hillsdale network, and look through those alums yourself.
6. Don’t get discouraged. I think I applied to 83 jobs before I finally got one. You’re going to get ignored by a lot of people, many of whom seemed like they wanted to help. April and May will creep by and you won’t have anything lined up. You’re getting married in June and have no idea where to live. All of this is normal. Count on the fact that you’re a Hillsdale student: You know how to learn and work hard, which is more than most people do.
Bonus tip: Make friends your top priority. You are going to find that the outside world sucks. Most people our age don’t seem to have read a book and spend all their non-existent money on booze and Tinder dates. You’ll likely get depressed. I did. So find friends. Find a church. It’s where Hillsdale-like people tend to congregate. Seriously consider moving to a city based on whom you know there. Friends really are the most important thing you can have at this stage in life.
