Arcadia Resources Lessen My Job Anxiety

As a senior set to graduate in less than a month, I am full of mixed emotions. I’m happy to have the chance to prove myself in the “real world,” but sad to end this chapter of life. Yet, as I look to the past, one of the most important things to me is securing a steady job for the future.

One of my biggest triggers for anxiety is trying to find a job. The good news: I have so many options.

The bad news: It can be overwhelming.

Finding a job is much easier said than done. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a tad bit nervous about finding a decent place to work within the next three months. Sure, I have been looking, and applying, and interviewing, but the process has taken a lot longer than I anticipated, and it has been full of bumps along the way. I presume, however, that this is just a part of life; you win some, and you lose some. I refuse to let my (so far) lack of success influence my motivation to secure one.

I find myself in a slightly different, yet highly relatable, situation. I plan on going to grad school, but I will be taking a year off as opposed to going straight into school. This year off presents me a ton of opportunities, but also a lot of gray area. Do I get a basic job and focus on work before grad school? (I currently work at a gym, and while I do love the perks of a free gym membership, I am not sure if I can see myself working there for an entire year after graduation.) Do I apply to jobs in my major (Healthcare Administration) and hope that the company that hires me might pay for me to go to grad school? Do I spend every last penny to my name and take the year off to travel and do more self-discovery? The opportunities I have are endless, but making the right choice is not so easy.

I guess the beauty is that there is no right or wrong choice. Once I toss my tassel from left to right and receive my diploma, my options for where I want to go and what company I would like to work for increase immensely. This is one of the beautiful things that Arcadia has given to me; a respected education which will last for the rest of my life.

For those who may be in a similar situation, my one piece of advice would be to stay calm, take life one job application at a time, and know your self-worth. As long as you know you are trying your best and you have what it takes to get the job, eventually you will get your chance to shine—and having an Arcadia degree sure does help boost those chances.

Arcadia provides so many helpful ways for students to build their resumes and get in contact with future employers. The Office of Career Education (OCE), located on the first floor of Knight Hall, offers resources—from business and networking nights to career fairs—that will help you find a job post graduation.

OCE’s services include Handshake, an online website where students, career centers, and recruiters in varying fields connect, talk, and share opportunities. Arcadia’s annual Internship and Career Fair is the perfect place for people, like me, who are actively seeking employment to lock down a job or summer internship. The more I look into my options, the more support I realize I have. The OCE staff will even edit your resume for free!

My future, while unknown, feels bright. I’m handling the excitement that comes with living a life in limbo one day at a time. Cheers to the good times that Arcadia has given me, and cheers to the future it is helping me set up.