When I started my senior year in college, getting a job was the last thing I wanted to think about. Despite my efforts to put it off, I, like most college seniors, eventually had to go through the job hunting process. I tended to see the whole thing as a big project I had no desire to start, but over time I came to realize that's not at all how it is. Most importantly, it's your future.

Below are five of the biggest issues I had with the whole job hunting process, along with some general misconceptions.

It takes up too much time while in school!
Senior year courses are difficult to begin with and I'm sure you want to really enjoy your last year of college with your friends, not off worrying about your resume. The truth is that finding a job does take up some time, but it's not as bad as it may seem. More importantly if you start early and do it a little at a time, you'll barely notice how much work it can be. Eventually, if you keep putting everything off (like I did), it will catch up with you and it'll be a lot more stressful.

If I have no idea what I want to do, how can I start looking for a job?
I actually used this as an excuse to put off the job hunting process for a while, telling myself it would just be a waste to start without knowing what I wanted. This is wrong. It doesn't just magically come to you (even if it may seem like that for some people), and if you don't know where you want to be, now's the time to start looking. Talk to people, try out some personality/career tests, do some research, and get a sense of what's out there. Even before you've narrowed down an area, lots can be done

I need a job lined up by the time I graduate.
There is a lot of pressure to get a job before you graduate, especially when all your friends and peers are going through the same job hunting process. However, a large number of students leave college without a job. And they aren't all staying unemployed, so you're not the only one in the same boat. Therefore, there are several reasons why going through the job hunting process while still in college is definitely recommended. You'll have access to more resources (such as professors for references!) and it's definitely a good idea to get your feet wet in the process while you're still surrounded by people who can help.

I should only look at jobs based on my major or places I've interned.
The general view now is that your major matters less and less, and to an extent that's pretty true (otherwise what would philosophy majors do with themselves these days?). You'd be surprised how many general skills you get from any major. Things you've picked up in one area can be put to equally good use in something completely new, and employers know this too - which is good because otherwise I wouldn't have the job I have now!

To decide the rest of my life right now is way too much pressure!
Just like choosing a college is a huge decision, settling on a job can be an even harder one. Fortunately, unlike college most jobs do not require you to commit for more than a year or two (if at all), so if you end up hating whatever it is you're doing, it's not the end of the world. People change jobs so often these days it's probably a safe bet that whatever you start doing is not going to be what you end up doing anyway. So don't stress too much, and don't be afraid to try something out -- worst, case you'll learn a lot about yourself and what you want.

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