As an underclassman, finding a job was the last thing on my mind.
I knew I had plenty of time to enjoy the newfound freedom attending college gave me from my family and from having to work a full-time job.
With no intention of going to grad school, I assumed I would find a job right out of college but never put much thought into how this job would come about.
As an up-and-coming senior, however, I am coming to realize that the search for a job is much more difficult than I anticipated.
Finding, writing and sending out applications is a tedious and often time-consuming process, while waiting for an employer’s response is even worse.
Of course, getting a job is not easy, but there is a point where rejection is inevitable.
One can even get to the point where being rejected is a welcome release after waiting for so long.
In the midst of the job application process, it is easy to take the rejection personally and limit our vision.
The higher the risk, the higher the chance of getting rejected, and because of this people allow amazing opportunities to pass them by in fear of potential rejection and the feelings that accompany that failure.
This means that those fresh out of undergrad are applying for jobs they are overqualified for, and therefore fear rejection even more.
What hope is there if one can’t even land a job that they are overqualified for?
This fear of rejection, coupled with the fact that most post-graduates consider themselves lucky to even be offered a job, mean that when someone is offered a job, no matter their overabundance of qualifications, they will accept it.
In this system, rejection isn’t simply the termination of one possible route, but the loss of the last chance they had. In this system, any job is better than no job.
Rejection is something that can either diminish someone and make them doubt themselves, or strengthen someone by helping them move on and pursue other opportunities.
It is important to treat each rejection like a learning opportunity, and to realize that failures and successes go hand in hand.
Strength is something that comes from adversity, and the more someone can stand up after a rejection the better off they will be.
“Rejection is a part of life, and it’s a really good learning experience,” junior Beth Onaga said.
“It gives you a chance to grow as a person. For instance, in a job interview if you don’t get the job then it gives you a chance to see what you need to work on to attain a job similar to that.”
It is easy to trap oneself into thinking that one aren’t getting a job simply because one isn’t good enough, but often times the most successful people are those who attribute their successes, at least in part, to their failures.
Comparing oneself to successful people, however, is a dangerous habit, and contributes to the sense of hopelessness that can overwhelm new job candidates.
“Yes, you should be comparing yourself to things [qualities] that employers are looking for [in a model candidate]; but no, you shouldn’t feel poorly or defeated about it if you don’t get the job,” Onaga said.
“That rejection just means you have something more to strive for”.
By taking your defeats and using them to hone your abilities, you can learn to overcome any feelings of failure and worry.
Rejection is something that you will have to get used to, and it is always better to practice being rejected than to never apply for anything out of fear. Showing up is half the battle, and as the old saying goes, “one when door closes, another one opens.”
Remember to embrace your skills and talents, and understand that by having attended college, you are already more qualified than you think.