The famous Lucille Ball once said, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

Most of us are in the same boat, beginning the job search and facing the facts that the days of carefree youth and minimal responsibilities are coming to an end. My first piece of advice is to meditate and self-reflect.  It’s time to grow up and the first step is to figure out what about you needs to mature. By figuring this out, you are able to go into a job search with a clear head and idea of what you’re looking for.

It’s great to know the type of company you want to work for and the position you wish to acquire. After you polish up your resume and create an account on the Marquette Career Manager site, it’s time to begin your search.  If you throw enough dirt on the wall, some of it will stick right? Submit your resume to all companies you have an interest in.  It will take one minute to apply and then you can begin to schedule interviews. Don’t let something like a minimum G.P.A. requirement hold you back from applying somewhere.  Take matters into your own hands — stalk down the representative and send them a professional email expressing your deep interest in their organization and explain how you feel you could be an asset to them despite being just shy of the GPA requirement.

Now it’s time to prepare for an interview.  Never go to an interview unprepared.  Research the company, have your strengths, weaknesses (which are really strengths in disguise) and a story about overcoming an obstacle all in the back of your mind.  Picture yourself as the interviewer.  What would I want to hear or see in a candidate?  Don’t perform a rehearsed script of your stories either because the employer will recognize that.  Be as genuine, honest and nice as possible.  Always be sure to prepare a question to ask them after, too.

I have recently accepted a full time job with PNC Bank in the department of Corporate Banking in Chicago.  I got that internship through the Career Manager the summer after my sophomore year.  At the end of the day, your life is what you make it.  Be proactive in your job search — figure out what you want and go for it.