The Ostrich Affect

By Corinne Feight

During one of our meetings last week, our team was discussing what might inhibit seniors, and just students in general, to get the ball rolling early. Being a senior this year, I get this feeling. It’s strange, because at one end, I have senioritis. I want to finish school so badly and to finally get out there on my own. Yet on the other hand, I still want to procrastinate. I still want to pretend like I have another four years. But, the truth is that I don’t, we don’t. For many of us, this is the final countdown. This is our last year. We have to realize that companies aren’t going to wait for us to be ready. They aren’t going to postpone interviews or hiring. We have to begin to understand that the time really is now. Positions have been posted. Those companies are ready. They’re ready for us, and I can guarantee you that you won’t get your dream job if you never apply.

So listen up seniors. Two weeks from now, Industrial Roundtable and SMEF will be going on around campus. This means that companies will be here, looking for students just like you. Many of them are coming for engineers and for management majors, but many are also looking for Liberal Arts students. So yes, maybe you have to be the one to pitch your position, and maybe you have to sell yourself. But isn’t that what elevator speeches are for? Now let me ask you this…is yours even ready?

You have so many resources at your disposal at Purdue—the CCO, the Liberal Arts Career Development Office, your own departments. Why not draw out their full value before you leave? Don’t ignore what is coming, because companies are already waiting to hire you. The first wave of recruiting happens in September and October, and the second at the break of the new year. If you are waiting until April to apply, you may be too late.

So take a deep breath, then dive into your research. Don’t be tempted by the Ostrich Affect, which was so aptly named by Lisa Snodgrass in our meeting. Don’t push your head further into the dirt just hoping that these challenges will pass you by. In the end, why do we even go to college? To get prepared. To be here so we can secure our careers. Don’t avoid the last crucial step.

Ask yourself, what’s next for you, because it’s time to find out.