Intern-itis

   Due to the less-than-stellar job market, me and quite a few of my peers have what I like to call Intern-itis, or chronic interning. Remember when the statistic came out in the spring, saying 50% of recent college graduates were unemployed or underemployed? We are the "underemployed" group (well, us and the baristas and the waitresses and the retail workers). Maybe I should go sit in a park with a "I am the 50%" sign... although that would get in the way of my chronic interning.

Anyway, in the industry I've chosen to go into, it's now normal for recent graduates to intern for 3, 6, 9 or even 12 months after graduating. Eventually, someone will hire you, and the key is to be persistent and not give up. As I gear up for my second post-graduation internship, I keep repeating a few helpful tips/giving myself a daily pep talk:

1. Persistence, persistence, persistence. In my industry, this is the way to get your foot in the door. For others, it may be the only way to gain "real world" work experience. Bite the bullet, and pay your dues - it won't last forever.
2. Network, network, network! While you company may not be able to hire you immediately, maybe a coworker's friend's company can!
3. A companion point to #2 - never ever burn a bridge. Resist the urge to talk back when you have to do the millionth grunt-work task, because these are the times where you prove how much you want it and what a great work ethic you have (and because your supervisors will remember your good attitude when they are asked about you!).
4. INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS. It's a jungle out there - you have to work hard to get a (good) job. When companies get thousands of resume's in a month (or less), having someone there who has actually talked to you is crucial. Whether it's a casual coffee or more formal, in-the-office interview, an informational interview gives you the chance to discuss your experience with your prospective employer, and it gives you a chance to see if it's worth trying to get a job there - maybe it turns out that you would hate it there!
5. Build your portfolio. Keep a log of all of your duties, even the daily ones, so that you can speak clearly about your experience in cover letters and on your resume. While you're at it, ask to keep work that you're proud of as a sample to show prospective employers.
6. IGNORE the people younger than you who have jobs - they are probably not in your field, and you would probably not do well/not enjoy their field. There is a reason you aren't a software developer/accountant/IT professional/real estate agent, etc or whatever careers sound awful to you (those lines of work sound particularly awful to me personally, but if that's you, great for you!)
7. IGNORE the people who say millennials are lazy - remind yourself that you are not just playing video games in your parents' basement, you are doing whatever it takes to get a job, and hard work is respectable.

In short, to all of the other post-college interns out there - persevere! We can do it! Work your butt off, and people will recognize and respect that. And remember - we are the 50%! There are tons of other smart, talented people in your situation. Solidarity, my friends.