Experiencing Just Start
“Start wherever you are and start small.” — Rita Bailey
Applying for a job can be an exhilarating yet intimidating experience. It signifies a crucial step towards fulfilling one’s career aspirations, but it often comes with a mix of uncertainty and self-doubt. For my #JustStart project, I chose to tackle these challenges directly by focusing on securing a position that complements my academic background in Defense and Strategic Studies. My aim was to identify roles that would allow me to utilize my expertise in international relations, security analysis, and strategic planning, while submitting thoughtful, customized applications that showcase my qualifications and ambitions.
The motivation for this goal was clear: I wanted to transition from the academic realm to a professional career where I could make a meaningful impact. After graduation, I recognized that the knowledge and skills I had acquired would only hold true value if I could apply them in a practical setting. Not only would obtaining a job related to my career goals allow me the possibility of this, it also will lay the groundwork for further growth and a foundation in contributing towards what I am passionate about.
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As Winston Churchill said, “”Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
My great weakness in the past was filling out applications for jobs. Because I was afraid of being rejected AND questioned whether or not I really qualified for those opportunities led me to procrastinate a lot. It included: Researching companies Tailoring my resume Writing cover letters…and it was A… LOT. But hey, this week I decided to stop the process. I spent a lot of time looking into job openings, revamping my resume and creating an effective cover letter that would share what I have done in the past that can be applied for other jobs. The moment I started, the pressure was relieved (but also recognized it as manageable) and my interest began to blossom.
Yet, I met many other obstacles along the way. There was a huge hurdle to get over with the initial hesitation of applying, it is daunting when you apply as there are so many strong applicants out in the job market. Organization was another daunting task — dead lining, customizing your applications to reflect each job, and ensuring information is correct on all levels required time management skills nodded with attention. But I know that persistence is everything, and if you are prepared enough for this it can be a lot easier. I learned something from each application, even the ones that were denied.
I will then proceed to continue applying for jobs that are most relevant to my career goal, following in touch with potential employers and growing the network of professionals which I am acquaintances with. I understand how vital it is to remain in the game and so want to further enhance my skills by signing up for additional courses that are more recent, to keep myself certified. And what this taught me in the most profound level of any Learn by doing experience, is that you just need to start doing. I learned, well-directed fear could be a powerful motivator… And making that first step allowed me to start pushing through the discomfort and begin taking noticed steps toward my heart job/date due. The lessons I have learned during this #JustStart experience will surely give me a direction on how to move forward confidently, knowing that one day we all are going meet our goals and make a difference in the field which we decided upon.
