Career Journey
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Finding Your Path as a ‘Twenty Something’ in the 2020s
August 2021 
By Jillian Crocetta
Graduation day came and went. As a graduate, I felt I was in a live-action film in fast forward mode. There was the walk out to the quad (formalized as the “quadrangle” by the commencement ceremony program), the adjustment of my mask with two bobby pins, silence, then clapping, then silence, then listening to speeches, all urging the graduates to embrace the unknown. The hot May sun made these hours feel like days, but the anticipation of popped Prosecco and taking off my heels helped a bit. If you’re a young ‘twenty something,’ odds are you found familiarity with the unknown during the past 18 months. The pandemic was the epitome of the unknown, especially for soon-to-be graduates. Summer internships were cancelled. Graduate school became a question of ‘do I really want to go to college on Zoom again?’ And the job market? Well, that was daunting enough before a global pandemic. The University of Washington reports that it will take recent college graduates about three to six months to find a job. |
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You also probably grew tired of hearing people tell you that the unknown should be embraced. The unknown can be scary. Statistics support your reason to believe that you may not be all set and salaried as soon as you leave your campus green. The University of Washington also reports that 53% of college graduates will either not have a job lined up or will land a job that does not require their specific degree.
I may not be able to ease your post-college anxiety, but as a fellow ‘twenty something’ who has hung up her graduation cap and stepped into that next chapter, I can share some things that have helped me in my journey so far.
Online Job Shop
Just as we’ve gotten more accustomed to online shopping during the pandemic, we’ve also transitioned to online job searches. While this too can be daunting, it is a great place to start, especially in the comforts of your own home or your local coffee shop.
I get it. A LinkedIn listing showing that 106 people applied for the same position is not comforting. Nevertheless, I make this comparison to shopping for a reason: It is okay to be selective.
This is your future. Do not spend excessive energy writing cover letters, updating resumes, and filling out online applications for a position that you will never see yourself thriving in. Graduating college is an early benchmark, and you should be looking forward to continuing to grow.
Look Inward
I get that this subheading oozes with cliché. But I’ve found that knowing yourself helps in all aspects - the job search, the interview process, and post-offer negotiations. With internal reflection comes confidence. If you understand your passions, your strengths, and your values, you’re bound to appear authentic and confident during an interview. You can also apply this confidence when it’s time to make a decision after a job offer.
This is exactly what Alexa Reickert did. As a fellow ‘twenty something’ who recently accepted a nine-month position with AmeriCorps in Maui, Hawaii, she explained that her decision was ultimately due to her belief that the position would bring her fulfillment and happiness. “It’s a temporary step in the right direction because it is a job that aligns with my values.”
How should you begin looking inward? It is different for everyone: journaling, jogging, baking, going to therapy, creating playlists, laying down in the grass and staring at the sky – whatever works. Allow yourself time to reflect on a regular basis, rather than an hour here or there.
Rid Yourself of Unrealistic Expectations
As I neared the end of my senior year of college, I watched my peers and cohorts commit to jobs, particularly in the finance industry, while I was often left in trepidation. I concluded that they had it all figured out, and I did not; therefore, I was doomed for a life as a permanent imposter (perhaps this is something I have in common with other writers and creatives).
If I were to do it again, I would tell myself to keep things in perspective. I should not have been comparing myself to those who were landing jobs in completely different fields. This was counterproductive. Fixating on others’ success stories gave me unrealistic expectations about my own path. I needed to build my self-confidence, not second-guess myself if I didn’t have a job offer in my inbox at a particular point and time.
Set a Time Limit for Discouragement
I think it’s fair to say that the job search process comes with its fair share of rejections. I’ve joked that job rejections were easier for me because I was used to them as a writer who was already well-versed in receiving unsolicited manuscript rejections.
When it comes to jobs, however, the rejection can run deep. A rejection from a potential employer can feel like your dreams have been crushed, that what you’ve envisioned for your future is no longer attainable.
I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t admit that I had my days. But I started to give myself a three-day limit on melancholy. Afterward, I would shove those negative thoughts out of my head. Instead, I would call a friend, read a book, or go for a run. I didn’t want to appear discouraged during the next prescreen phone call. So, I would pick myself back up.
Hang in…it Usually all Works Out
Use those daunting percentages to remind yourself that you are not alone. That’s what I did. And things worked out for me in the end. I now have a full-time job in HR.
Your first job out of college may have you doing something you never expected, and this is great because jobs like these will give you the life experience you need to grow, flourish, and get to know yourself. At twenty-something, the journey may seem strange and disorienting, but it will set you up to be ‘thirty something’ – more wise, more worldly and, hopefully, closer to that person you hope to be when you grow up.
I may not be able to ease your post-college anxiety, but as a fellow ‘twenty something’ who has hung up her graduation cap and stepped into that next chapter, I can share some things that have helped me in my journey so far.
Online Job Shop
Just as we’ve gotten more accustomed to online shopping during the pandemic, we’ve also transitioned to online job searches. While this too can be daunting, it is a great place to start, especially in the comforts of your own home or your local coffee shop.
I get it. A LinkedIn listing showing that 106 people applied for the same position is not comforting. Nevertheless, I make this comparison to shopping for a reason: It is okay to be selective.
This is your future. Do not spend excessive energy writing cover letters, updating resumes, and filling out online applications for a position that you will never see yourself thriving in. Graduating college is an early benchmark, and you should be looking forward to continuing to grow.
Look Inward
I get that this subheading oozes with cliché. But I’ve found that knowing yourself helps in all aspects - the job search, the interview process, and post-offer negotiations. With internal reflection comes confidence. If you understand your passions, your strengths, and your values, you’re bound to appear authentic and confident during an interview. You can also apply this confidence when it’s time to make a decision after a job offer.
This is exactly what Alexa Reickert did. As a fellow ‘twenty something’ who recently accepted a nine-month position with AmeriCorps in Maui, Hawaii, she explained that her decision was ultimately due to her belief that the position would bring her fulfillment and happiness. “It’s a temporary step in the right direction because it is a job that aligns with my values.”
How should you begin looking inward? It is different for everyone: journaling, jogging, baking, going to therapy, creating playlists, laying down in the grass and staring at the sky – whatever works. Allow yourself time to reflect on a regular basis, rather than an hour here or there.
Rid Yourself of Unrealistic Expectations
As I neared the end of my senior year of college, I watched my peers and cohorts commit to jobs, particularly in the finance industry, while I was often left in trepidation. I concluded that they had it all figured out, and I did not; therefore, I was doomed for a life as a permanent imposter (perhaps this is something I have in common with other writers and creatives).
If I were to do it again, I would tell myself to keep things in perspective. I should not have been comparing myself to those who were landing jobs in completely different fields. This was counterproductive. Fixating on others’ success stories gave me unrealistic expectations about my own path. I needed to build my self-confidence, not second-guess myself if I didn’t have a job offer in my inbox at a particular point and time.
Set a Time Limit for Discouragement
I think it’s fair to say that the job search process comes with its fair share of rejections. I’ve joked that job rejections were easier for me because I was used to them as a writer who was already well-versed in receiving unsolicited manuscript rejections.
When it comes to jobs, however, the rejection can run deep. A rejection from a potential employer can feel like your dreams have been crushed, that what you’ve envisioned for your future is no longer attainable.
I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t admit that I had my days. But I started to give myself a three-day limit on melancholy. Afterward, I would shove those negative thoughts out of my head. Instead, I would call a friend, read a book, or go for a run. I didn’t want to appear discouraged during the next prescreen phone call. So, I would pick myself back up.
Hang in…it Usually all Works Out
Use those daunting percentages to remind yourself that you are not alone. That’s what I did. And things worked out for me in the end. I now have a full-time job in HR.
Your first job out of college may have you doing something you never expected, and this is great because jobs like these will give you the life experience you need to grow, flourish, and get to know yourself. At twenty-something, the journey may seem strange and disorienting, but it will set you up to be ‘thirty something’ – more wise, more worldly and, hopefully, closer to that person you hope to be when you grow up.
Jillian Crocetta is a New York City-based human resources professional and freelance writer/editor who enjoys writing in the areas of identity, place, empowerment, and health & wellness. She has always been drawn to creative nonfiction and poetry and has a passion for generating stories. In addition to Sanctuary, her work has been published in New Voices and Spotlight News.
