‘Landing a Job Is Not Rocket Science’ Accelerated Learning Resources

‘Landing a Job Is Not Rocket Science’

It’s been a little over three months since I graduated college and left my position at the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce to begin my job as a market analyst in Northern Virginia. If somebody had told me prior to graduation that I would become a market analyst in the government-procurement market-intelligence sector, I would have told them that they were crazy. I have since been exposed to an industry that I barely knew existed, and frankly, the experience has been more than fantastic. I’ve never had so much confidence in myself and in the future.

As a Hire Education alumnus and a recent college graduate who is doing fairly well for himself, I would like to think that I have a pretty good grasp on what it takes to become successful. I’m not saying that I have all the answers, but I do have my fair share of experience and knowledge that may help some of you and I would like to take this opportunity to share some of the things that I have learned along the way.

Hear me out on what I’m about to say: Landing a job after college is not rocket science. You can trust me when I say this because a big portion of my current job is understanding multibillion-dollar U.S. Air Force Space Command, Space and Missile Systems Center programs. Now thats rocket science.

To a soon-to-be college graduate, I would say that there is no need to create an elaborate system for applying to jobs, incessantly researching job markets, or spending hours perfecting your resume. In fact, much of the stuff we’re fed about landing a job after graduation is merely a distraction from what really matters. What matters most is that you understand yourself, know what skills you have, what skills you wish to improve, and that you can communicate all of these in a clear and concise manner. There is no need for an existential crisis when preparing for the transition into the “real world.” You are guaranteed to find your place if you are honest with yourself.

The night before the interview that landed me my current position, I got dressed up a suit that I borrowed from a friend and I stood in front of a mirror. I looked at myself and fed myself the cheesiest compliments that I could think of. “You’re so sexy, Heath. Look at that smile. You’re so charming and so funny. You’re such a likable guy.” I went to sleep that night with a smile on my face and I woke up the next day feeling happy, cool and confident.

The next day, a Friday, I told myself over and over that I was not driving three hours north to go to an “interview.” I was driving three hours north to go to a “meeting.” “Interviews” are daunting, and there’s way too much pressure involved. In a “meeting,” you get to be the expert on something that nobody knows much about, something that you believe in. I told myself that I was going to a meeting to discuss who I was, what I’m capable of, and why I should be hired. I stopped at a McDonald’s just short of my destination and changed into my suit.

When I reached the building that I was to interview in, I made sure to make small talk with the security officer just inside the front entrance. I wanted whoever was coming to fetch me from the lobby to see that I was a likable guy, because I am. When I was retrieved from the lobby, I made sure to tell the security officer, Ricardo, that I would see him later. “OK, good luck Heath!”

I had already left a mark.

I was escorted upstairs and placed in a small conference room where I would soon become target for a barrage of questions. To my surprise, none of the three people who attended my “meeting” could have been more than five years older than me. I immediately felt that I could fit into this organization. Before the end of my “meeting,” I made sure to ask if I could shadow a current analyst for a little while. I wanted nothing more than to see what I would actually be doing (job descriptions rarely capture what a job actually is). I was able to shadow my soon-to-be officemate, and that was it. Almost as soon as my meeting had begun, it was over. I had no idea how I did, but I was considerably happy with my performance. Besides, if this company didn’t hire me, I knew that life would go on and I would find a different company to “fit into.”

The point is this: What matters most in your job search is that you be honest about your skills and you keep your mind open to the many possibilities. It’s not uncommon for a recent graduate to land a position outside of their field of study. Being able to learn quickly and being able to multitask are skills that transcend career paths. So long as you can define your own skills and you believe in yourself, the hardest part about landing a job after college is already done.

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