Article June 18, 2007 Issue

POUND THE PAVEMENT or PRAY?

BY LESLEY VERNON

After graduating from college a few years ago with a degree in studio art, I felt as if I were on top of the world. I was newly married, had just moved to a new city, and was beginning to search for my dream job as a graphic designer in the art field. Fresh creative opportunities seemed to wait just around the corner.

But gradually, as weeks went by without a single job offer, my bright outlook began to fade. I started to realize that each job description I read called for multiple years of experience. As I began to focus on the dreary statistics that there was a shortage of jobs in my field, I wondered how I'd ever compete with professionals who had more experience and better connections.

For me, following the job-hunting techniques that included aggressively "selling" myself to employers through boastful cover letters and interviews felt artificial and uncomfortable. Before even applying for jobs, I often found myself inventing dozens of reasons why potential employers wouldn't want to hire me! Now the possibility of finding the job that I had envisioned looked slim, and slumped into feelings of insecurity, fear and discouragement.