1. Denial and Isolation
“No, it’s nowhere near over! I’m far too busy with finals,” you say as you hole up under your covers and pretend to study (while secretly looking at pictures of puppies to ease your anxiety).
2. Anger
Should you have chosen a different major? Done more internships? Travelled abroad? Now’s the time that those doubts will creep in. Don’t worry, it’s natural to be thinking these things, just don’t let the worries overwhelm you. Work with what you’ve got – if you’ve made it this far, there’s a good chance you’ve got it handled.
3. Bargaining
“If I can get a good job before graduation, I’ll go back and write letters of recommendation for all my professors and donate thousands to my alma mater. Just please, let me land a six figure entry level job…” Hey, maybe it’ll work! Or maybe you should spend that time polishing your resume and getting in touch with your network.
4. Depression
This is where you begin to worry that you’ll never get a job, never pay off your student loans, will live with your parents forever…yes, not landing a job is a scary thought, but you don’t have any reason to get down. This is only the beginning of your career path, and your future is bright! Channel these concerns into job-search progress.
5. Acceptance
By now you’ve realized there will be challenging aspects to your job hunt, but it’s really nothing you can’t handle. This is an exciting time! All your hard work is about to pay off. Moving on from college can be scary and bittersweet, but it’s totally manageable. Now get out there and start searching. You’ve got this!
