On your mark, get set, send!

Am I some sort of overachiever?  No.  An anomaly? Yes.  Historically, second years have delegated the task of the job search to the second semester of their final year.  However, I feel an eagerness that I don't want to repress.  I want to take advantage of the excitement that I have to get back in the working world.  Even if my early applications don't lead to any interviews or offers, it feels good to get the ball rolling.  

Admittedly, my first application was a struggle.  Fortunately, my resume was in solid form, thanks to the deadline set by Career Services earlier in the semester for the resume book. The cover letter, however, was the challenge.  I put five hours into the one page document, although part of the time was dedicated to reading general guidelines on the Career Services website. It was the first cover letter I drafted since 2005, when I applied to a science teacher position in Washington, DC. Although I have ample experience applying for jobs, my interests and direction have changed significantly since entering graduate school back in August of 2007.  It takes time and effort to articulate the new "you."

I found a great way to start getting jazzed about jobs is to choose a few employment websites and browse them on a weekly basis.  Find which organizations appeal to you and visit their website. Spending 30 minutes to an hour every week can add up to a lot of research over time.

You can also investigate what Nicholas school alumni are up to using Career Services resources (sorry you won't get in without the password) and networks like Linkedin.com  If you find someone who has the perfect job, call or email them and ask them how they got there and if they know of other businesses or organizations that are doing the same thing.