How I got a full-time job two weeks after Graduation

When I was in college, I didn't realize the resources I had that would help me find a job in my industry right out of college, which is a struggle that a lot of new grads struggle with. I started navigating my university website, reaching out to my professors, classmates and just walked around campus looking at different career ads on bulletin boards. My senior year of college was difficult. I was a full-time student working a full-time job. Halfway through my senior year, I had to quit my job for many reasons including finishing my senior year strong. It was the last final stretch of the senior year and I spent evenings, weekends, and even my Spring Break indoors applying to jobs, researching companies and following up with cold calls. Everyone else was out traveling, at the beach, doing spring break activities especially living in Miami but I was in my apartment, in the library, and in the computer lab dedicated to my job hunt. I applied to so many positions, created so many cover letters, sent out so many emails, that finding a job became a job.

If you are in search of your first job or even if you are looking for a new opportunity, job hunting is hard. But if you take the right steps in being proactive, you will succeed. Job hunting is similar to cooking. The first step to the job hunting process or when cooking your favorite meal is to "prep". You need to find all your "ingredients" to make a great meal. But we all don't have the same "ingredients" or resources when making a meal or when finding that perfect job. Imagine if you were on that popular show, Master Chef and they gave you certain ingredients to make a dish. You find they don't have the exact ingredients you need, so you improvise. So when it came to my job hunting during my senior year, I decided to improvise, use my resources and I started "prepping". I sat down, updated my resume, wrote cover letters, prepared my references and looked at additional resources my university had to offer. I met with my professors, made an appointment with the Career Center and just started getting all my job hunting "ingredients" together.

After a few weeks of "prepping" myself, one of my professors and the career center connected me with two separate companies that were hiring and where interested in my background. Since I took the time to prepare myself in having my "ingredients" ready, this part just became easy. I had my resumes, cover letters, references and letter of recommendations ready to submit to these hiring managers so applying was simple. After formally applying to these positions, it was all about being patient, waiting and letting things come together. So now, we are "marinating".

Time passed and I kept applying and following up with other positions I had previously applied for. So what now? Silence.

The week of graduation came and I was done with all my finals and my family was coming into town. I was looking forward to spending time with family and getting ready for the big day, not even thinking about feeling frustrated about my job hunting process. Then, out of nowhere, I got a random phone call. The manager from one of the companies that my university career center connected me with, called me to come in for an interview for the following week! After that time of hearing crickets from potential career opportunities, I finally got an interview!

Interview day was here and it turned out better than expected. It was a back to back interview with the hiring manager and the Assistant General Manager. A few days later, I received an email from the Human Resources sending me an offer letter and asking me when I could start. I honestly was just in shock how things were unfolding quicker than expected.

Throughout all the frustration of submitting application after application and hearing crickets from so many companies, a blessing and a lesson came through. Take a moment and take a look at what you have and use your resources. I had a great community of professors, counselors, and friends that were all rooting for me that I failed to recognize from the beginning. I allowed myself to be vulnerable, ask for help and use my resources and skillsets to make things happen. Without taking the time to look at my resources, taking the time to "prep" and to have the patience to let it all "marinate", I wouldn't be where I am today. Be vulnerable to what is out there to help you and the opportunities available to you. You have all the ingredients you need to make a wonderful meal, as long as you take the right steps to make it. You are the Master Chef of your life. Own it.

I went from no prospects to a full-time job two weeks after graduation. Now we're cookin'.

It's 9 am. First day at your first job. Coffee, Tea or Snooze?

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