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Clara Boles 
February 23, 2022
Career Guide ArticleThe job hunt can be so exhausting! Being turned down is hard to hear, not being told anything is even harder to fathom. Questioning thoughts come into play, “after all this school, why is it so hard to find a job?”
I have been there! A lot of us have!
So, how can you keep your confidence during the job search, the interview process, and how do you take rejection with grace?
These are some tips I learned from my personal job hunt, AND advice from Brandi Adkins, 2021 Purdue University animal science graduate.
START EARLY
This may be what all of us think coming into the job search, start early, but not necessarily so you can secure a job early, but so you can gain a lot of experience. Adkins explained by doing this she felt like she was able to gain a competitive edge because she had so much more practice not only with filling out applications and writing cover letters, but also practice having professional conversations in interviews.
“This is a good way to set yourself apart on applications because you have had all this practice filling them out,” Adkins said.
If you are not a college senior, you can start early by talking to people in your industry, building your LinkedIn network, applying for internships, keeping your resume updated, and attending career fairs.
KNOW WHO YOU ARE
Now this can sound pretty self-explanatory, right? Know yourself. But this is about knowing yourself on a professional basis because you are now entering a different world. How are employers supposed to get to know the real you if you don’t know yourself? Learn more about yourself by making time for some self-reflection, asking yourself, “What am I good at? Where does my light shine the most?” If you are struggling with this, ask your friends, what qualities they see in you. This is one of the realest answers you will receive. You could find out things that people see in you that you didn’t even know.
KNOW HOW TO PORTRAY YOURSELF
This means on paper, through your resume and cover letter, online through your LinkedIn profile, and in the interview through professional conversation. It shows confidence if you truly know your strong points!
Prepare examples of how your strongest skills have come into play and how you have used them in your professional experience. In an interview this is what employers want to hear! What sets you apart? What makes you different from the person interviewing before you? Also, be transparent and know what your weak spot is because we all have one! But what is more important is to mention how your strengths make up for your weakness.
PREPARE MENTALLY
“I went into the job hunt thinking I was going to get an interview every time,” Adkins said. I thought that too, but we both came to the harsh reality that this process is out of our control. Now as you are going into your job hunt, think about this. Know that unfortunately, you may not hear back every time. Prepare yourself mentally that the job hunt will take a lot time and whole lot more dedication. Go in thinking, “this will be will not be easy, but I have the skills to do this!”
SET GOALS
I love to check off boxes and set goals for myself, so that is what I did! I set a goal for my senior year to apply to one job a week. Once I did that, I put in the work, researched the company, updated my resume, and wrote my cover letter for that one job I applied for that week. I was able to find confidence within myself by knowing I did it and was working towards the end goal. Keep track of these jobs on a spread sheet, or some other way that works best for you, and keep track of if you have heard from the employer. If you are super passionate about a certain job position, reach out to the employer after a while and tell them you are still very interested. This will show persistence and confidence!
RESUME & COVER LETTER PREPARATION
The first way employers learn about you is through your resume, so make it stand out! Do not fabricate yourself, but make sure you are transparent with your skill set and be genuine. Make your resume as “you” as possible! Adkins gives the advice to make sure your resume is constantly being updated. “I always had at least two people look at and read over my resume and cover letters before I attached them to an application,” Adkins said.
You should also know your resume. When an employer brings up your past experiences in an interview, you should be able to know this without having your resume in front of you. This shows a lot of preparation and also a lot of confidence.
THE INTERVIEW PREPARATION
Once you have scored an interview, do not take this lightly!
Adkins mentioned she would not let herself get anxious and worry about the interview until two days before, and then she would prepare and research the company. “I feel like if you come to an interview and you don’t know what the company does, or what their main mission statements are, you are probably not 100% prepared for the interview,” Adkins said. This is a strong way to set yourself apart from another candidate in the interview process.
Connect with your interviewers before the interview on LinkedIn and try to learn more about them. Find some common ground with those who will interview you. This will make you feel more comfortable and make the interview more conversational.
APPLY EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL QUALIFIED
Just do it — apply!
I talked to so many people during school who I would recommend a job to. I would say, “this looks great for you!” However, they would come back saying, “well I don’t have experience in XYZ...” That may have been true for them, and maybe you don’t have one particular skill that is listed in the job description.
Have confidence in yourself and think about it, you might have an additional skill not listed in the description that sets you apart. That employer may think this could add even more value to the team.
Adkins agreed. She applied to several positions in her job hunt where she did not meet all the qualifications. Her advice is to be truthful and transparent, but don’t sell yourself short before you even have a chance. “If they bring up the issue of qualifications, let them know you are a very motivated individual and would love to learn that skill to better yourself and the company,” Adkins explained.
KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS
Talk to your college advisor or find a mentor. I did this all the time while I was a student! This is their job, and they have been in our shoes. They might not be able to hand us the perfect job, but they can give some pretty great advice. Adkins was also very grateful to have a careers specialist in her college’s department who had her back during her job hunt.
Know that your friends and colleagues are going through the exact same thing. Find support from people around you and also support them.
Reach out, vent, and support one another. “Try and find the little rays of sunshine during this process,” Adkins said.
One thing I did with my friend during my job search was celebrating the victories—small victories and big ones! Celebrate that you even landed an interview! Celebrate that your friend found another job to apply for!
TAKE THE REJECTION WITH GRACE
If you are avid about getting a great job and not settling, odds are you are going to be having a decent amount of interviews. Keep in mind you are not going to get it on your first try. If you are applying a lot (college seniors) you may hear “no” more than you hear “yes.” It is unfortunate, and it is hard to hear!
Adkins said she tried to not take it as a personal stab. “Try and let that rejection fuel you to find the next best job,” Adkins said.
Never burn a bridge! Make sure to thank the employer for taking the time to talk to you and learn more about you. You never know what the next 10 years of your life could bring, so take the rejection with grace, be thankful for the opportunity and know something better is coming.
KEEP. THE. CONFIDENCE.
I hope these tips will help you keep your head high during the job search. Remind yourself often that this is not easy!
Keep the confidence and enjoy this journey. Before you know it, your senior year will fly by and you will walk across that stage confidently, knowing your hard work is about to pay off in the career you are beginning!
