My Mother Helped Me Land My Submit-School Job; I Wanted Her Connections

Once I was contemplating my summer time plans in early 2021, I knew I needed to land an amazing internship as a school pupil. I debated whether or not to achieve out to the one individual I knew who had probably the most connections. Finally, I knew she would assist me land the summer time internship I wanted. So, I requested my mother for assist.

My mom has all the time been my inspiration as a profitable businesswoman. She has held many positions in C-suite and government roles, oftentimes being the one girl with a seat on the desk. She is now an entrepreneur and enterprise proprietor with connections in lots of industries.

I knew she would have somebody I may join with to discover a job associated to my area of examine: public well being. However as soon as I landed the job, I skilled impostor syndrome.

Utilizing my mother’s connections helped me

Earlier than I turned to my mom for assist, I used to be plagued with whether or not I ought to ask for it. Did it take away from my very own success by asking her? Was I incomes what I had labored arduous for, or simply benefiting from her arduous work?

As soon as I used to be capable of get previous the psychological hurdle and ask for assist, my job search shortly started to fall into place.

In my preliminary software, I listed my mom as a reference, as she labored very carefully with the corporate. I did not reference our relationship in the course of the interview course of or throughout work. I solely introduced it up when it was related to the dialog, however for probably the most half, individuals knew I used to be there for a similar causes as anybody else: to be taught, to contribute, and to realize related expertise for my meant profession.

Despite the fact that the connection was made for me, the interview, conversations, and likelihood to place myself for a summer time internship had been all on me. I landed my first skilled job, which led to a second internship the next summer time with a unique staff on the identical firm. After these two internships, I scored a full-time function after commencement.

I struggled with impostor syndrome

At first, I struggled with impostor syndrome, pondering I had landed the job solely due to my connections. I nervous I hadn’t truly earned the positions I used to be given, particularly that first internship.

Nonetheless, my mother repeatedly jogs my memory that she solely made the introduction; the remaining was my very own doing.

My profession trajectory would look very totally different if I did not have that preliminary introduction. I really feel that I utilized all the assets out there to me, however that does not take away from the accomplishment.

Utilizing your community is a crucial step in looking for job alternatives

Extra lately, I’ve used connections to discover alternative ways to make use of a legislation diploma. I had simply completed my first yr of legislation college and was panicking over whether or not I really wished to be a working towards legal professional.

By chatting with a few of my mother’s contacts who had gone to legislation college and gone into totally different fields, I noticed all of the totally different ways in which I may apply my legislation diploma past being a working towards legal professional.

I nonetheless use connections from household and buddies wherever attainable. The job market is tough, and I feel everybody ought to use their community from household, neighbors, and even professors as a software to get their foot within the door.