Not to brag or anything, but I’ve had an internship every summer since after my senior year of high school. I’ve filled out many internship applications and have had many interviews. You’d think that I would beyond prepared for the job search but despite my many experiences I don’t have every company sending me emails begging me to work for them. Shocker, right? Only weeks away from graduation, I’m doing my best to stay calm, cool and collected during my job search process. I will admit, even for me it is proving to be the challenge I did not expect. Every time someone says, “Marissa, you’ll be fine. You’ve done like a million internships and are a great student and love what you do. All you need is 1 offer.” I honestly just want to punch them in the face.
Many of the things below are silly and you would think would be obvious difference when applying to jobs. I never anticipated that job vs. internship application process would be like apples to oranges. Both fruit but different in taste, flavor, color and more. Here are things I noted as incredibly different and tips for adapting to these differences.
Differences
1. Not everyone is hiring right now
When students apply to summer internships the search and application process usually spans from January through April or May. There is this comfort to know that you can visit a companies website during that “season” and apply to an internship if you know they offer one. When applying to jobs there isn’t that comfort. I could visit numerous job boards for dozens of companies and not see a single entry level job posted. No job posted, no chance to apply, no chance to be hired.
2. Many jobs that are open aren’t found on job boards
When you see that there isn’t a job on a companies job board, that doesn’t mean they aren’t hiring exactly. It just might mean they are either going to recruit from a pool of candidates they search for themselves without opening the job to general applicants, or may rely on current employees to find eligible applicants.
3. There are dozens to hundreds of applicants for 1 position
I will admit that some of the internship programs I have applied to can be incredibly competitive. Often there are thousands of applicants trying to capture one of 5-40 spots in a program. In that case of a job vs. an internship, there could be hundreds of applicants fighting for 1 or 3 vacant positions at a company. As great as your experiences and GPA may be, I always worry about my competing applicants, the “other person” they may hire over me.
4. Your resume and cover letter is all you have
This is definitely a double edged sword. I am very grateful to not have to juggle fire for a company any more. Some past internship applications have been absolutely ridiculous. Yes, I know having a 12-step application process weeds out those who are not as interested in the position but to make students to so much to prove themselves worth of a 10-week program is a little excessive. But now there is way more weighing on just your resume and cover letter. Given, you will not be hired based on these two documents, rather they will make the decision whether or not to call you in for an interview. That’s if they are impressed within the 6 seconds they look at your resume.
Tips to Adapt
1. Keep Your LinkedIn Up-to-date
I’ve talked to friends who’ve told me they don’t update there LinkedIn pages ever. (You know who you are.) And I stress this not as someone who works at the Ithaca College Office of Career Services, but rather as someone with first-hand experience. Keep your LinkedIn profile updated! As mentioned above, many jobs are not posted on job boards. Instead of putting up jobs online for people to apply to, recruiters are turning to sources like LinkedIn to find candidates themselves. LinkedIn makes it real easy for them and you’ll increase your chances of getting sought out by a recruiter if they can get a glimpse of your most up-to-date list of experiences.
2. Network Network NETWORK!
To add to the whole “many jobs aren’t posted on job boards” idea, it is important to use your network to seek out vacancies. These people include professors, alumni, friends, family, family friends and more. If you have a company that you are dying to work for search for alumni that work at that company. Email them and ask if they know of any vacancies. Worst case, they say they are not hiring. But at least if a position does become available they may remember you and reach out to you. Plus, “knowing” someone at a company you’re applying to gives you a better chance of 1) having your resume end up in the right hands and seen 2) getting an interview 3) having someone vouch for your competency and abilities.
4. Don’t get hung-up when you don’t hear back
The job search can be a very depressing process. You spend a lot of time searching and applying with little to no return. Stay positive and don’t get hung up when you don’t hear back. It can be very disappointing to demonstrate your passion for a company while applying only to either get no response or worse, be told they hired someone already for that position. Just keep your head up and move on.
5. Take time to consider jobs outside your box
This is probably the thing I struggle with most. As an only child I always get what I want, well most of the time. I have this mindset that if it isn’t going to be handed to me, I will just work my ass of until I get it. Ultimately, I want to work at an advertising agency. Period. I’ve interned at 2 for the past two summers. I’ve worked really hard and have a passion for advertising. Honestly, this narrow-minded approach is hurting my job search. It’s like that high school student who only applies to ivy league colleges and has no back up when they don’t get in. I need to start planning my back up despite my passion to be at an agency. For all I know I may find a job I never expected to like but will be happy I pursed it.
I hope to have some good news in the next couple weeks regarding my future so stay tuned!
Marissa Osowsky 