My major feels like a superpower

Over the past few days I’ve discovered that my major (advertising and public relations) feels like a superpower. In a world where everyone in my generation is starting their own businesses or building their personal brands, being an advertising major feels pretty amazing. Along with that, we don’t have to look far to get experience.

I was worried that maybe I wouldn’t get enough experience from internships before I graduated. What I didn’t realize, however, was how useful my skills would be to people in my friend group. I’ve already offered help to my friend, who wants to start her own business, with social media and promotion. Another friend I’ve helped just by suggesting that she builds a website for her compositions (she wants to be a composer). If she needs my help, I’m readily available. And while I haven’t done anything for these projects yet, I still feel like I’ll have no issue finding freelance work after I graduate if that’s what I want to do.

And you know what the best part is, besides gaining experience and getting closer to being super successful? I get to help my friends be successful and live their dreams. I didn’t realize how much this made me excited until recently. Hopefully, they take me up on my offers because I really want to help them (and they’d be helping me!).

I know advertising and public relations aren’t the first majors you think of when you think of “super” majors. Usually, my mind goes to people studying to be a doctor, for obvious reasons. This experience, however has made me think about how other majors could be “super.”

So, instead of sweating over getting a job this summer, take a moment and appreciate all that your major can do and all the little ways you can help others with what you’ve learned. One, it might make job interviews a little easier. And two, it’ll help remind you why you chose this field in the first place.

Apply for the jobs you don’t think you’re qualified for

Here’s the deal: I’ve been applying to a lot of jobs. Most of them, I’m not “qualified” for. And by not qualified, I mean I don’t match their description perfectly. I don’t have 5+ years of experience, I don’t necessarily know my way around MailChimp (yet!), and I might not have experience marketing in their particular field. But I’m not letting that stop me. And I know why.

No one applying is going to be the “perfect” candidate 

I mean, sure, there might be people that fit the job description a little better than me. But maybe they aren’t as good at writing, or maybe they aren’t as much of a team player. Maybe, they only look good on paper. Or heck, maybe I’m the closest to the ideal candidate and I don’t even know it!

Men apply for jobs they’re not qualified for all the time (and that’s perfectly fine!)

I’m not going to say it’s the main reason for why the pay gap exists, because there’s many factors that play into that. But we can’t ignore that if all of us women applied to jobs that aren’t “in our reach” as much as men do, it might help a bit. It’s time to take that terrifying risk, because, really, it’s not even a risk. What are they going to do? Say no? Jobs I am qualified for still reject me!

I might surprise myself

Recently, I got an online interview for one of those jobs I wasn’t qualified for, at least, a job I thought I wasn’t qualified for. They looked at my resume and wanted to hear more from me. And I may not make it further than that online interview, but now, I feel a lot more confident with putting myself out there. So I’ll be applying to those scary jobs, and maybe I’ll get one.

I’m ready to be bold

I never was a risk taker. I wouldn’t even show people my writing in high school. We’ll see if I even share this blog post. The thing is, I don’t want that to stop me from truly being successful. So I’m going to take those risks, publish this blog (hopefully), and, no matter what, I’m going to be proud of who I am and what I accomplished (or didn’t). And I hope that you, the possibly nonexistent reader, will join me in being bold.

Fellow college students, let’s enter that workforce with confidence.