Dear younger me,
Fresh out of university, you’re 23 and stepping into the job market for the very first time. It's a big step, and with everyone around you constantly asking, “So, what’s next?” it suddenly feels even bigger. You’re nervous, excited, and maybe a little overwhelmed by all the possibilities out there.
The options feel endless: do I chase a career in journalism, switch to a sector with more jobs, aim for the stability of a big company, or throw myself into an unpaid internship at the small NGO of my dreams? And of course, there is always the option of studying further. I want to tell you that everything will be okay – by which I don’t mean it will always be easy; but you’ll grow so much from the journey. You’ll learn a lot about yourself and start to understand how the world really works. And just when you’ll think you’ve figured it all out, new challenges will come up, bringing new opportunities, and you’ll keep learning. It never really stops and I promise you that’s okay.
Six years from now, you’ll have moved countries, studied more, picked up a new language, worked, volunteered, and met people who reshaped the way you think about work and life. Along the way, you’ll also learn a few valuable lessons about job hunting that I would like to share with you now. Looking back, there are a handful of things I wish I’d known before sending out my first job application. Feel free to share this letter with a friend who needs it!
1. Be yourself during interviews
Right now, you probably think an interview is about giving the “perfect” answer or presenting the “ideal” version of yourself. But you’ll soon realize it’s much more about showing who you really are. Employers aren’t just looking for skills: they’re also looking for someone they can imagine working with every day. When you allow yourself to be genuine, you’ll leave the interview room with less stress and, more often than not, with a better connection to the people across the table. And here’s the best part: the more authentic you’ll be, the better jobs that come your way will fit you and the more sustainable they’ll be in the long run. You’ll find yourself enjoying the work, the people, and the environment you’re in, rather than burning out trying to fit into a role that was never meant for you.
2. Ask questions, don’t just answer them
At first, you’ll see an interview as a test where you have to prove yourself worthy. But over time, you’ll discover that it’s also a conversation – and conversations go both ways. When you ask thoughtful questions about the role, the team, or even how success is measured, you’ll learn more than any job description could ever tell you. You’ll also feel more in control, because you’re not just hoping to be chosen: you’re choosing, too. This mindset shift is very important and will be a real game changer in your job seeking process.
And before you say you’re too introverted and anxious for that, let me tell you: never let shyness or nerves stop you from asking questions. This is normally much appreciated by the people on the other side of the table. It signals that you’re engaged, curious, and genuinely invested in understanding the role and what your future could look like with the company. Definitely a big green flag!
3. Never send the same cover letter twice
Time is a precious resource and understandably, you’ll be tempted to recycle the same letter for multiple applications. And I’ll be honest with you: I get it, everyone has done it (or at least thought about doing it at some point). But here’s what I want you to know: the people reading it can always tell, and it does not exactly leave the best impression. Believe me, sending a generic motivation letter never helps. If you don’t put any effort and thought into a cover letter, employers will probably assume you’d approach the actual job the same way – and that’s not really how you wanna come off. Tailoring each application not only improves your chances, it also forces you to stop and reflect: Why do I actually want this role? What excites me about this company? That extra effort will help you stand out, and more importantly, it will help you apply for jobs that genuinely resonate with you.
4. Quality over quantity
There will be days when you think success is a numbers game: if you send out enough applications, something will stick. But sending dozens of rushed applications usually leads to silence, which only fuels frustration. So instead, focus on fewer, carefully chosen opportunities. Take your time selecting and preparing your applications, make them personal – see point 3. I promise you’ll not only have more energy to put into each one but you’ll also feel less burnt out along the way. In job hunting, intentionality is everything, and that is one of the most important lessons you will learn along the way.
5. Keep things systematic
One thing I wish you’d have realised sooner is how much easier job hunting becomes when you stay organized. Start keeping track of deadlines, application steps, and follow-ups in a spreadsheet or any program you feel at ease with. It will prevent tasks from slipping through the cracks, help you see exactly where you are in each process, and take the mental load off trying to remember dozens of details at once. And guess what, you might eventually discover that you get a strange kind of satisfaction from color-coded spreadsheets and lists, so much so that you might even secretly use it as your secret superpower during interviews. Who knew being a little spreadsheet-obsessed could actually work in your favor?
6. Take care of yourself along the way
Rejections will happen. Sometimes many in a row. They will sting, but they don’t define your worth. You’ll eventually learn that behind every “no” is a redirection toward something better aligned with your skills and values. It’s okay to step away from your laptop for a day, to rest, or to remind yourself that progress isn’t always visible. Job searching is as much about resilience and self-care as it is about résumés and interviews. Protect your energy, because you’ll need it for when the right opportunity finally comes.
Looking back, I know you’ll grow from every step, even the difficult ones. Job hunting will teach you patience, resilience, and self-knowledge like no classroom could. It will push you out of your comfort zone, but also help you discover what kind of work environment brings out the best for you.
So, younger me: keep your head up, stay curious, and trust that the path ahead, even with all its twists and turns, is leading you somewhere meaningful.
With love,
Your future self
