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Magazine Editor:
Karl Williams
Deputy Editors:
Nabeel Chollampat
Lara Moehlman
Design Editor:
Shane Achenbach
Photo Editor:
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Creative Director:
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Editor in Chief:
Shoham Geva
Managing Editor:
Laura Schinagle
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the statement
Wednesday, October 19, 2016 / The Statement
How To: Achieving Employment
B Y S Y LVA N N A G R O S S
the
tangent
ZOEY HOLMSTROM/Daily
T H O U G H T B U B B L E : PR ID E
“The last time I felt most proud would probably
be about a month ago, when a patient that I was
working with in the hospital for over a month,
stood up and walked for the first time in three
years. I felt proud and humble that I was able to be
there to be apart of this amazing milestone for him
and be able to see the joy that radiated from his
face. It made me radiate with joy.”
– Nursing junior Alexis Valenciano
B
eing a senior in college just means you’re aca-
demically eligible to not take classes anymore
and be given a piece of paper that says you’re
somewhat qualified to work in some capacity in the pro-
fessional world. I made it to that point in three years, oth-
ers may take five or even more. And that’s OK. Because at
the end of the day every senior, whether you are 20 or 65,
now has to make that next step.
I had my first official job interview today. Rather, I had
my first scheduled first official job interview today that
my interviewer forgot about and had to reschedule. So the
takeaway from that is that I am capable of remembering
dates and times.
The job is nothing special; it’s a glorified volunteer posi-
tion canvassing neighborhoods to lobby congressmen to
pass environmental-friendly laws. But, it’s a job nonethe-
less. A job related in some way to my hopeful career path
as an environmental lawyer.
A job I feel wholly unqualified for, sans my ability to
remember appointments.
I am an international studies major, and a double minor
in oceanography and history of art, essentially the quint-
essential liberal arts student. I can spout off random infor-
mation about the “Golden Age” of Dutch art, or the speed
of a wave or political uprisings in sub-Saharan Africa.
Without making this my CV, I have tried to steer the class-
es I take to be oriented to human right and environmental
policy.
But the reality is I will never feel qualified to be an adult
in an adult job when I graduate. And that’s fine. From the
numerous sitcoms and romantic comedies I have exten-
sively researched for the sole purpose of this statement.
Almost every adult feels that way too. And that helps me to
have the confidence to apply to these positions and to try
to convince a recruitment manager that despite my lack
of experience and qualifications for the job, I am a
safe investment.
If nothing else, at least I can say I am an expe-
rienced and skilled verbal and written commu-
nicator, #RushTheMichiganDaily.
my post-graduation plans, I still have confi-
dence. And that’s important. How can you sell your-
self and your skills to someone without believing
that you are capable for the job you are applying
for?
It
sounds hard, I know. Confidence
is hard to achieve especially
when we are bombarded daily
with reminders of how lacklus-
ter we are as people between
social media and advertising
and just comparing ourselves to
peers. But confidence is plausible
to achieve. You, we and I are capable
young adults who are graduating from the
best public university in the world. That counts
for something.
As senior year goes on, I’m finding how irrelevant feel-
ing inadequate for a job is. You are adequate, you are able,
you are as much of a good applicant as the next unqualified
inexperienced college graduate. With that being said, don’t
study English as an undergrad and expect to be employed
as a computer analyst for JP Morgan with a starting salary
of $80,000.
How to apply to jobs:
1. Apply to as many jobs as you feel comfortable with.
2. Shed a tear for every hour spent on writing cover
letters.
3. Learn to hate cover letters with a fiery passion.
4. DO NOT REUSE COVER LETTERS, you will
inevitably fail and use the wrong cover letter for the
wrong company.
5. You will not get hired if you do this.
6. I know this.
7. Remember, you will eventually get hired.
8. Eat lots of food; getting rejected will make you
hungry.
9. Talk to others about your acceptances and
rejections; talking it out will always destress you to
some extent
10. Blast “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor.
11. Because believe it or not, you will survive and
make it in the adult world.