Getting Your Foot In The Door | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Getting Your Foot In The Door

Why every college student needs a job

61
Getting Your Foot In The Door
Now That's Useful

As a college junior with many friends who have just recently graduated college, I have noticed a trend amongst my friends. That is, none of them are having luck getting into the workforce now that they are graduated. Many college students experience this struggle because they have no job experience.

Yes! You have to get job experience before you get experience in your career field in most cases. There are a rare few who have connections and jump straight into the field they wish to pursue for their lifetime career, but those people are far and few. Most people have to start somewhere else and work their way up. As a college student it is important to remember that the job you have in college will not be the job you have for the rest of your life. So if you have to start out as a McDonald’s or Walmart worker, then that is where you have to start. You simply must get your foot in the door somewhere.

When I was in high school, my parents pushed me to get a job when I was a junior, but I did not get one because all of the jobs I thought I would like did not want to hire someone who had never been employed before. Even though I had hundreds of volunteer hours, most jobs I applied for required previous job experience. Finally, when I was a senior in high school I went to a McDonald’s that was doing on the spot hires. I sat down with the hiring manager, and after answering three or four questions; he smiled at me and welcomed me to the team. I was unsure about the job because it had nothing to do with what I wanted to study in college, and I certainly did not want to work in fast food as a career, but once I was at McDonald’s I did not mind it as much as I thought I would. The schedule worked around my high school schedule and in the summer, when I started college, the manager helped me work around that schedule as well. I worked at McDonald’s for a little over four months before I was hired in a position I still hold, and absolutely love! I got my foot in the door at McDonald’s and because of that I was able to get hired by a private elementary school. The principal loved that I had experience in a work environment where I interacted with a diverse group of people constantly. I am studying to be a Special Education teacher, and I have a foot in the world of education. I feel confident that when it is time for me to look for a job as a teacher, I will have the tools, connections, and experience to be able to successfully get a job in my career field.

There is an increase in the amount of college students who believe that they should avoid getting a job because they need to focus on their schoolwork, and limit distractions. There are several students who attempt to get jobs, but fail to gain employment because they do not apply for jobs in industries where they know they will not want a career. An important tip to remember is that no job is beneath you. It is okay to work in a job you hate for a couple months to gain some experience in order to be able to get a job where you might enjoy working. Besides, you never know you will hate something until you try it. I thought I would hate working in fast food, and where I would not say it is a career path for me, I did not mind the work. You would be surprised the people you meet while working in fast food. So maybe you are a freshman or maybe you are finishing your last semester, either way start looking for a way to get your foot in that door!


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

1662
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

4716
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

2905
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

202285
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments