Job search takes student into real world

By Joshua O'Connell
Posted Monday, April 26, 2004

I've grown weary of having people tell me that things will be different when I get into the "real world."

The implied notion is that since I'm in college, I'm not really seeing what it's like out there. Recently, however, I feel like I've been given a suitable taste, even if it's only an appetizer.

I've watched over the past couple of years as people have debated the economy's relative strength or weakness, seeing all the reports of unemployment rising and the length of time it takes to find a job increasing. In the cocoon of college life, it became easy for me to become complacent, and almost feel like I was isolated from this problem.

Instead, reality kicked in, and I was recently laid off from my job due to "changing market conditions." They didn't need as many of us, and I was one of a few to be sent on my way.

They guaranteed us employment for a month, but after that we were on our own.

While the type of work I've done isn't rocket science, and finding another job wouldn't necessarily be difficult, I still sweated this out.

I asked myself the obvious questions, such as: "Why me?" and "What did I do?," but I also realized quickly that a month wasn't going to give me much time to find a new position.

Interviewing for a job, taking a drug test, waiting for the results would take at least 10 days to two weeks, possibly longer. And, then, there's also my college classes.

Fortunately, those real world comments weren't the ones I tucked away. My dad's always been a big believer in connections.

He talks to former co-workers all the time, keeps in contact with old high school buddies, and calls in favors when he needs help. Although I tease him about it, his connections have come through for him at the right time on many occasions.

I decided to take that tack instead of littering my resume everywhere. I ran into two former co-workers, who got me in touch with a former boss of mine, who happened to be hiring. Two weeks later, I worked my first shift at a new job, and was able to do it without any gap in employment.

While I can't say the impending doom of having no job was a fun idea to entertain -- what college student wants less money? - it was a good crash course in getting myself employed when things go sour.

For just a brief moment, I was able to identify with the real world.

This column originally ran April 26, 2004 in the Connecticut Post.

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