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Is it really tough

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Could you please suggest what I should do as a fourth-year Journalism and Mass Communication student to make my career a little smoother?I've been watching my sister struggle every single day because she couldn't pursue the course she wanted. Seeing that is one of the reasons I chose this course. I thought it would give me more career options and better professional opportunities. Since I'm in a four-year program, I came across some internship opportunities through other people. However, I coul

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Ovid

I'd stop worrying about "getting a job" for a second and focus on becoming someone who's obviously employable. One thing I see a lot (I manage software engineers, but it applies to almost every field) is people thinking experience only counts if a company

I'd stop worrying about "getting a job" for a second and focus on becoming someone who's obviously employable.

One thing I see a lot (I manage software engineers, but it applies to almost every field) is people thinking experience only counts if a company gives it to you. It doesn't.

No internship? Fine. Start writing one article a week. Interview local business owners. Cover campus events. Start a newsletter. Volunteer to run social media for a nonprofit. Six months later you don't have "zero experience" anymore, you have a portfolio that impresses hiring managers FAR more than your degree. I tell that from a hiring manager perspective. .

Another thing that stood out is this:

"I don't know what skills I actually have."

You're looking at it backwards. Skills aren't something you discover, they're something you build. Nobody wakes up and realizes they're a great writer or interviewer. They become one after doing it dozens of times.

Also, stop trying to be good at everything. You listed writing, anchoring, video editing... you don't need all three. Pick one and get genuinely decent at it. Someone who's good at one thing is much easier to hire than someone who's "kind of okay" at five.

Finally, your biggest obstacle doesn't sound like a lack of talent. It sounds like overthinking.

You're waiting until you feel confident enough to start. In reality, confidence usually comes after you've done something enough times that it stops feeling scary.

Your classmates already working doesn't mean they're destined to have better careers. It just means they started earlier. Careers are measured over decades, not semesters.

If I had to give you one assignment, it'd be this: publish one piece of work every week for the next six months. Doesn't matter if it's an article, interview, video, or newsletter. Don't wait until it's perfect. Get involved and build an audience, get used to manage it, learn about marketing keywords, online SEO...

At the end of those six months, you'll have something far more valuable than confidence, you'll have proof that you can create value. That's what employers actually hire.

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Could you please suggest what I should do as a fourth-year Journalism and Mass Communication student to make my career a little smoother?I've been watching my sister struggle every single day because she couldn't pursue the course she wanted. Seeing that is one of the reasons I chose this course. I thought it would give me more career options and better professional opportunities.

Since I'm in a four-year program, I came across some internship opportunities through other people. However, I couldn't apply because the companies required 8–9 hours of work every day and allowed only four leaves per month.

Another problem is my overthinking. Every time I want to do something that's outside my comfort zone, my mind stops me. Two of my classmates have already completed their three-year graduation and started working at a company. Meanwhile, I don't understand why I'm not confident enough to take that first step without overthinking everything.

I also have zero practical work experience, which makes me even more anxious. Even companies that are hiring interns expect candidates to have skills. The problem is, I don't even know what skills I actually have. I'm not comfortable with anchoring, I'm not very good at writing, and I can't practice video editing because I don't have the proper setup. Sometimes I feel like I don't have anything to offer.I feel like I'm wasting every day because of this, and I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm pretty sure all of my friends will get jobs, and I'll be the one left behind.

What skills should I focus on? What should I do to make myself employable? Please suggest what I should do?  I feel so helpless.

Thoughts

  • Ovid

    I'd stop worrying about "getting a job" for a second and focus on becoming someone who's obviously employable.

    One thing I see a lot (I manage software engineers, but it applies to almost every field) is people thinking experience only counts if a company gives it to you. It doesn't.

    No internship? Fine. Start writing one article a week. Interview local business owners. Cover campus events. Start a newsletter. Volunteer to run social media for a nonprofit. Six months later you don't have "zero experience" anymore, you have a portfolio that impresses hiring managers FAR more than your degree. I tell that from a hiring manager perspective. .

    Another thing that stood out is this:

    "I don't know what skills I actually have."

    You're looking at it backwards. Skills aren't something you discover, they're something you build. Nobody wakes up and realizes they're a great writer or interviewer. They become one after doing it dozens of times.

    Also, stop trying to be good at everything. You listed writing, anchoring, video editing... you don't need all three. Pick one and get genuinely decent at it. Someone who's good at one thing is much easier to hire than someone who's "kind of okay" at five.

    Finally, your biggest obstacle doesn't sound like a lack of talent. It sounds like overthinking.

    You're waiting until you feel confident enough to start. In reality, confidence usually comes after you've done something enough times that it stops feeling scary.

    Your classmates already working doesn't mean they're destined to have better careers. It just means they started earlier. Careers are measured over decades, not semesters.

    If I had to give you one assignment, it'd be this: publish one piece of work every week for the next six months. Doesn't matter if it's an article, interview, video, or newsletter. Don't wait until it's perfect. Get involved and build an audience, get used to manage it, learn about marketing keywords, online SEO...

    At the end of those six months, you'll have something far more valuable than confidence, you'll have proof that you can create value. That's what employers actually hire.

    Permalink
  • same_energy_lol

    the overthinking spiral is so real. go do it, then immediately wait no what if you're not good enough.

    Permalink
  • wait_what_tho

    have you tried listing stuff you've actually *done* in classes? not formal work, just things you've made or figured out?

    Permalink
  • MaisyDrum

    just to add something, literally everyone feels this way at your stage. you're not behind, you're just noticing everyone else earlier.

    Permalink

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