Let’s start with the former, confidence. One thing that has bothered me as of late is the excuse by graduating seniors or other professionals that the, “Economy is terrible and that you won’t get a job.” FALSE! Sure the economy has seen better days but as a Greek student, we have trained you for this moment. As a member of a fraternity or sorority, we've trained you to hold yourself to a higher standard. We've asked you to be a leader who strives in the environment of the unknown. We've encouraged you to lead others, to face challenges, and to balance work and play. If we have done our job correctly, we have built you to face adversity head on rather than run from it. So, don’t use excuses as you look for a job, be confident in your skill set. Sure the competition is a little deeper than in years past but would you want it any other way? Maybe I’m one of the few that enjoys competition but if you aren't willing to fight and/or compete for a job, why would a company want to hire you?
This leads to my next point and the difference to you getting a job – persistence. There are people who have been un-employed for over a year who will be applying for the job you are applying for soon. There are people that will be overqualified for the same position you apply for next week. If I must be the one to tell you, you will more than likely be rejected from or turned down for a job during your search. This is the reality of any job search.
The difference in getting over this reality and standing out above those other candidates is persistence. If you want to be ahead of the game, you HAVE to be persistent in your efforts. Are you applying for a marketing position? If so, identify your strengths, identify and understand marketing trends, contact people you know in the field, do your research on the company you are applying for, build and/or hone your portfolio, and get out there and DO WORK! If a job is asking for two years of experience and you just graduated, argue that the body of work you did in college is equivalent to that of someone who has worked for two years. Employers want to see some fight in their future employees, not one that just accepts no for an answer. I’m not saying be rude or disrespectful but don’t roll over and quit at the sheer sign of adversity.
Seniors, it’s time to start walking the walk and talking the talk. Know what you want out of the position you are applying for soon. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Know the area and environment you will be living and working in. Know your worth! Invest in a nice suit. Review your résumé constantly. Practice interview questions. Are you prepared for a formal dinner setting? Will you order a drink if the employer interviewing you takes you out for dinner and orders a drink? What questions will you ask your future employer? Where do you see yourself in 2-3 years?
When it’s all said and done, it comes down to confidence and persistence seniors. You are ready and you are capable. Being a fraternity man or sorority woman has prepped you for this moment your whole collegiate experience and now is your time to shine. Just remember, be confident in YOUR abilities and be persistent in all that you do. Be true to yourself and don’t settle for anything less than what you want. I can’t promise you a job but I firmly believe a confident and persistent candidate is one that I want to interview, one that I want to be around, and possibly one that I want to hire. Seize the moment.
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