“To be brutally honest, there’s nothing really easy about the job search. It’s a full-time job in itself,” admitted Kimberly Ciesla.
For Ciesla, becoming an architect, hairdresser, or Disney princess were all out of the question—after much debate, of course. She is a senior at Rowan University in New Jersey and serves as the national vice president of chapter development for the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). She weighed in on her current experience with the job search and shared some advice we all can relate to—and sympathize with.
Ciesla always knew she wanted to do something that involved writing and event planning. She listened to her mom’s advice (much to her surprise) and looked into public relations. Ciesla said, “I majored in PR with a minor in journalism. It was the best advice she ever gave me!”
With her background and experience (over three internships!), it made me wonder how her job search is going and what has worked for her. “I’ve had four interviews so far. Most of them have been informational because I want to work at an agency. Agencies have fast turnover rates so they like to hire immediately,” Ciesla reported.
Those informational interviews have allowed her to get her foot in the door—a crucial step in the job search process. She attributes those interviews to networking: “It is the single most valuable thing I’ve done for my career. Every interview I’ve had started because of someone I previously met and established a relationship with.”
When looking for jobs online, it’s important to check sites like LinkedIn to see how you may be connected to anyone at the company—then send your resume off. “The more you network and connect with people early on in your schooling, the more people you’ll have in your network to turn to for advice and help with the job hunt. The important thing is to establish connections before you need them and do things for others so they want to reciprocate and help you,” advised Ciesla.
Beyond networking, she advised getting involved early and as much as possible. “Intern as much as you can. I had three internships (all very different) that exposed me to different aspects of public relations. Any internships or work you can do will help you gain experience and help you learn about what you like to do,” Cielsa said.
It is also important to understand professionalism and ethics. “Follow a code of ethics and always act in a professional manner. When one person messes up, it reverberates throughout the entire industry and we all feel the impact,” she recommended.
Ciesla is feeling the impact of the waiting game aspect of the job search, and she is not alone. Ciesla says she has a type-A personality, and the hardest part is the unknown. She finds it challenging at times to enjoy the process of finding a job. “I am just trying to embrace it and just enjoy the time I have left in school,” said Ciesla.
With about a month until the Class of 2011 crosses the stage at graduation ceremonies across the country, Ciesla couldn’t be more right. Use your remaining time left to find that balance between work (or the job search) and play. Embrace your remaining days while planning for your future.
How do you relate to Cielsa? What is your biggest hurdle in the job search?
