Whether this is your first semester at Cornell or graduation is on your horizon, by now you have probably realized it is job recruiting season. For some (like me), the sight of students sporting business attire around campus, resumes strewn across printing centers, and talk of information sessions immediately induces a wave of panic.
In the highly-motivated and somewhat overachieving environment at Cornell, it’s easy to get lost in anxious thoughts about our futures, and feel pressured to keep up with what our peers are doing. But no matter what job industry we are looking at (or if we have absolutely no idea), it is important to remember that the career process is an entirely individual one.
For one, many industries do not start recruiting this early in the school year. However, it’s easy to be drawn to companies recruiting now when so many other students are looking for jobs and internships. But applying to jobs in an industry where you really aren’t interested may not get you a job you’ll be happy in, or any job at all. Looking for a job just for the sake of doing it is not the point of the career-choosing process.
This is not to say you shouldn’t attend career fairs now, work on your resume, or talk to peers and alumni about their careers. It’s always a good idea to start early, and even just listening in on an information session can tell you a lot about the industries and types of jobs that are and are not for you. However, for those of us who aren’t entirely sure what we want to do, or are not ready to look for and apply to jobs, we shouldn’t feel sorry for just taking baby steps before jumping all the way in.
For example, the career fair is not for everyone, both personally and professionally. Some students won’t get much benefit out of such an overwhelming environment, in addition to the fact that not all industries are represented at this type of event. For some industries or specific companies, conversations in smaller settings and personal connections are the way to go. Timelines for interviewing and hiring vary widely for different industries as well, so rushing into the career process this early on may not be necessary for many students.
Simply following the crowd may cause us to lose sight of what we are really looking for in a job or industry. Getting caught up in the pressure of “recruiting season” can also make students feel like it’s now or never–if you don’t apply and interview for jobs at the beginning of first semester, you won’t have one post-grad or for the summer. But, fortunately, this isn’t true. Yes, it’s stressful to not have a job by second semester senior year, or by graduation, but this doesn’t mean you will be unemployed forever. For some people the career process takes a while. Whether this is through their own doing or the work of the system, perhaps the lengthy process is a blessing, ensuring that they end up in the place that truly suits them and their skills best.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to know what you want to do for the rest of your life at this point in your life. There is so much for us young students to see and experience, and it is likely that our interests and plans will change in the very near future. If we don’t get our dream summer internship or job right out of college, we should not lose hope. Many people do not stay in their first jobs indefinitely. However, these entry-level jobs can be designed to leave young adults with the experience and skills necessary to land a better fitting job in the future.
Everyone’s career path is different, starting from the very first step in finding a first job. It’s important to keep an open mind, and keep the focus on ourselves. Doing what we feel is best for us, rather than what we think we should be doing, may help us find a dream job we didn’t even know we wanted.
