My post-grad experience has so far been nothing I expected, but everything I needed. The transition from sitting in my small classroom at the top of the hill on Tufts’ campus, learning about French women filmmakers, to being thrust into deciding what I wanted to do with “my future” was anything but easy.
As I moved back home from Boston to the Bay Area and took on two part-time jobs, I was forced to confront the fact that I had no idea where my scattered mosaic of experiences and knowledge should be applied.
From family and friends looking to give me advice, I kept hearing the phrase “networking is everything,” and each time, my chest would tighten. Like many college students and fresh graduates, my brain’s immediate response was, “Oh no! My greatest fear.”
But slowly, I worked up the courage to show up at different events I could find and introduce myself to people. I met with people who worked across all different industries over Zoom, in coffee shops, online, and eventually, I found my groove.
I learned to fall in love with meeting people, finding out about the various jobs and industries they worked in and talking to anyone willing to give me advice. I learned how generous people can be, even finding someone who offered to mentor me through my job search and encouraged me week by week, assuring that I would eventually find my place of belonging.
I’m thankful I had time to speak with so many different professionals because, eventually, I met with someone who introduced me to the world of strategic communications and public relations. Finally, I realized where my experiences all fit together. The scattered mosaic of my journey pieced itself into one full picture.
Turns out, my “random” work experiences — working everywhere from a local TV news network to an artist association — were not random at all. As cheesy as it sounds, Hoffman’s slogan, “The story is always there,” completely encapsulates my experience. I discovered the narrative that I would bring to my interviews with public relations agencies, and it was there all along.
My next step was to compile a list of companies I would like to work for. I began researching agencies in my area and came across The Hoffman Agency. To my pleasant surprise, I discovered that they were looking for PR interns. I submitted my application, sent a message to someone at the San Jose office and soon received a response from Tori.
After months of unsuccessful interviews and impersonal phone calls that I had experienced since graduating, I was thrilled to finally feel like I could genuinely connect with people during my interviews at Hoffman. When I got the offer, I didn’t need to think twice. I knew I had found the right fit, and I was excited to start my next chapter. While stepping into this new territory feels intimidating at times, I am beyond excited to get started!
To anyone struggling to navigate what their next steps are after graduating — you’re not alone. Give yourself time to reflect, connect with others and learn from their experiences. Sometimes your path won’t be clear right away, but with time and effort, things will start to make sense. Just be patient with yourself and keep going!
Looking back, I’ve realized that the journey to get here was just as important as the destination. In the end, the growth you experience from learning how to put yourself out there and embracing challenge is equally as valuable as where you end up.
