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Advice for Students: Speak with Yourself

BY: Ned Khatrichettri is an Internship Coordinator in the College of Humanities at the University of Utah

Speak with yourself

If you’re a college student, you’re probably under substantial mental duress. Anxiety has now surpassed depression, as the most common health diagnosis, for such individuals, whether the stress is from social pressure (from peer groups or family members), finances, fear of missing out (FOMO) or something else.

Of course, job searches and interviews are also inherently stress inducing and draining activities. All stress, unless it’s effectively dealt with over time through healthy practices and routines, can cause numerous subsequent health issues later on. Therefore, I encourage you to ask yourself before you begin the job search:

• – Do I have the energy to take on another item alongside an already intense collegiate situation? Is this urgent or important? The former suggests immediate action and may require you to shift your ladder of priorities; but at what cost?
• – Do I really want to job search, draft and tailor cover letters and resumes for each role … and go through interviews? Or am I succumbing to pressure from peers, faculty, family, and a timeline that isn’t my own? If your instincts are saying “no,” listen to them!
• – How stressed am I to start with? Take a look at The American Institute of Stress’s self-assessment page to check your baseline before you consider how much more stress you want to add to your life.
• – How will I deal with being overlooked? What’s your approach to staying motivated? You may not necessarily get an offer for a position you have your heart set on. I always maintain enthusiasm by working out in the gym. As long as you take care of yourself during this process, it’ll come across in interviews.

There are no right answers or quick solutions to these questions. These are demanding, and oftentimes gut-wrenching conversations you need to have with yourself, maybe even more than once. Outside perspective from individuals you trust, and respect may provide you with helpful insight, but the only right answers are the ones you find yourself.

Ultimately, fulfilling your student obligations alongside job searches and interviews is like walking a tightrope while juggling. Be honest with yourself: are you ready for it?

Author:  Ned Khatrichettri is an Internship Coordinator in the College of Humanities at the University of Utah. He may be contacted at ned.khatrichettri@utah.edu.

Categorized in: Advice for CEIA Colleagues, Advice for Students, Student Development

This post was written by rich@ceiainc.org