Real World: Job Search #13

Have A Little Faith

I’ll be the first to admit that I was NOT born with a silver spoon in my mouth; I’ve had to work hard for everything I’ve gotten. But no matter how hard my life has been at points, it always seems that things work out in the end. And I have to believe that things will work out this time.

I got turned down this week for a position and it has made me really realize just how different this job search is than anything I’ve ever done. I went straight from undergrad to grad school, so this is my first “job search.” It’s not like applying to be an RA or an Orientation Leader—where you are one of many being selected. In the job search, you are the ONE they are hiring. There’s a lot of competition out there, especially in the present economy.

And of course, schools have different hiring philosophies. Some will always go first to internal candidates. And that makes sense; they already know the culture of the institution, the students, and probably a bit about the job. They may be seeking a lateral move or this position may be an advancement. Other schools—well, they may want to look outside of their current group of employees. And this makes sense too; you want to bring in a new, fresh perspective.

It’s important to remember though, that there is NOTHING wrong with you. You just didn’t fit into their philosophy. You have to keep your chin up and realize that you still have a lot of options in front of you. Have a little faith that things will work out.

Having a little faith means moving on. It means knowing that there is something out there. It means that it’s gonna happen; you just have to be patient. And, well, you just might need to change the picture in your head.