It’s getting to be that time of year when upperclassmen start freaking out about their future career plans. A lot of seniors I know—especially the ones graduating in December—are panicking and starting to feel desperate to get a job, any job.
The thing is, desperation isn’t going to help you get a job… or at least not the job you deserve and want. Yes, it’s important to have a job, and graduating from Purdue opens so many doors to you, but you shouldn’t limit your job prospects under the pressure of having a job upon graduation. People may keep asking you what your plans are after graduation, and maybe it seems like a lot of your friends have jobs lined up, but if you don’t have a job right now I promise you are not alone! Here are some tips to calm the panic and find the job you deserve:
Take a deep breath
Make sure that you aren’t blaming yourself if you don’t have a job right now. If you let pressure seep into your mind, you are only hurting yourself. The worst interview I ever had was one where I put way too much pressure on myself to get the job. I told myself that this was my chance and if I didn’t get this job that I had no other options. Don’t let that happen to you. Never get into the mindset that if you don’t do well on this one interview, your whole life is over, because you know what? I didn’t get that job because my interviewer could tell how nervous and not myself I was being.
Take your time
If you do get a job offer, you shouldn’t accept it for the sake of having a job on graduation. Make sure that it is a job you deserve and that will make you happy. It can be easy to panic and apply to a job that you are sure you’ll get, but that you’d rather not work at long term, and end up accepting a job offer and thinking, “What the heck did I get myself into?”
Take a trip to the CCO
If the pressure is getting to be too much to handle, remember that the CCO is here for you. Make an appointment to sit down with one of our career counselors and talk about your career path and plans. They can help you figure out how to get where you want to be.
Take a bow
Regardless of your current employment status, you will be graduating with a Purdue degree under your belt. You worked hard to get to graduation and you deserve to be working in the job that you love.
Purdue CCO Blog 
Whether you’re looking for your very first job, switching careers, or re-entering the job market after an extended absence, finding a job requires two main tasks: understanding yourself and understanding the job market. Presuming you’ve already chosen a career and are currently searching for jobs, here are several ways to actually get a job.