Starting your journey into the “real world” can be an intimidating and scary process – where do I even begin to look for a job? How do I know I’m headed in the right direction? Chapman senior Hannah Engelhardt shares five tips that help keep her head on her shoulders when facing the looming future post-graduation.

Headshot of Hannah Engelhardt


Hannah Engelhardt is a senior, international business and French double major at Chapman University.

  1. The Importance of Networking


72 percent of all the jobs I’ve had in my life hired me due to maintaining personal and professional relationships. Classmates, professors, friends, friends of friends, your network limitlessly extends with each new connection. In my current internship, I have seen managers look at resumes firsthand and file them away in less than five seconds. These same managers have also approached me and asked if I had anyone in mind that would be decent for the job. Businesses tend to trust hiring people that come with recommendations from people they trust than spending time sifting through a pile of resumes hoping that one of them interviews well and beyond that, performs well day-to-day, which cannot always be determined from even the most impressive interview.

Networking doesn’t always mean spending 24 hours a day or spending loads of money trying to build relationships. It can mean keeping up with a simple email, text, phone call, or coffee break that can make a huge difference in the long run. Take initiative and reach out! The worst that can happen is that nothing will come of it, but you might also have a better chance at getting hired for your dream job.

“By giving your time and expertise and sharing them freely, the pie gets bigger for everyone.” –
Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
by Keith Ferrazzi

  1. Stay Open-minded


Too often people can only see things one way, but by allowing yourself to step back and see the bigger picture, you will be better off in searching for jobs, working with teams, finding creative solutions to problems, and starting new jobs.

I started college thinking I wanted to be a music major because I am passionate about singing. I am grateful that I took a step back and realized that I probably wouldn’t thrive in that competitive environment, and instead I applied to Chapman with a declared communications major because I had heard it was a broad major that still incorporates creativity. While I thought it sounded like a good fit, I decided that being a business major seemed like a better fit for me because I needed more structured direction and I had the option to choose an emphasis.

I could have very well just stayed headstrong about being a music major from the beginning, but now I do a little bit of everything – business with an international emphasis and French double major with vocal lessons on the side. Without an open mind, I may never have been able to experience the life-changing experience of studying abroad in Grenoble, France.

student jumping in front of Eiffel Tower


Left to right: Chapman business students Jimena Grandez, Hannah Engelhardt, and Rachel Anderson in Paris, France.



The same thing goes when searching for jobs. I’ve found that a job description online sometimes doesn’t fully describe the entirety of the experience – there is no way I would have known that taking a silly summer job at a hotel would have taught me so much about the importance of company culture or choosing an internship outside of my field of study would lead me to a connection that could potentially help build my career.

You never know what may happen. I’ve heard countless speakers talk about how they studied acting during undergrad and went on to be the top human resource manager at a major company. Sometimes you should take a job simply because a position is open because it can mean getting your foot in the door at a great company or to hidden opportunities within that company, but you have to be open-minded to get there.

  1. Be Proactive


Being proactive can set you apart from the crowd in trying to get hired or in a current job. At my current internship, I talked to three people who work there full time before even applying and while I was applying, I kept following up with questions and was always looking to the future (and also spent a lot of thought on my resume and cover letter). Needless to say, they didn’t even end up interviewing me, I received a phone call and was asked when I could start. My first day, they told me that I really stood out because I knew so many people who worked there, I’d put a lot of thought into my cover letter, and because I genuinely showed that I wanted to be hired.

It is so important to follow-up when applying for a job and to use every opportunity to show that you genuinely want the position. Beyond this, it is also important to be proactive at work in anticipating tasks, asking questions, and always thinking about the next step. Doing so will impress your supervisors and set you apart in the long run.

  1. Manage Your Time Wisely


Making priorities reveal what is truly important to you. You will have time to do the things that you put at the top of your list, but you have to realize that you have the power to make that choice.

On top of being a double major and being involved in music, I am also in two on-campus organizations, Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Kappa Psi, and have two jobs. My on-campus job is with
Argyros School Career Services
and I also have a 24-hour-a-week internship at
Amusement Park
, an advertising agency in Santa Ana. There are a lot of opportunities for distraction, but somehow I am able to (most of the time) keep up with my schoolwork. Making lists, setting reminders on my phone and sending myself emails all attribute to being able to do all of these things.

Students posing in front of AKPSI logo


Left to right: Ivanna Fux Kahn and Hannah Engelhardt at an Alpha Kappa Psi rush event



Setting priorities and managing your time is also important at work when working on multiple projects. I’ve found myself from time to time working on something that would be considered low-priority and had to shift gears when handed another project that is “hot lava” important. The key here is communicating what you are able to get accomplished so that projects can be distributed accordingly. Without this communication, supervisors will start to think that you are slacking off or not being as productive as you could be.

  1. Stay Positive


“Optimistic salespeople sold 37% more policies than pessimists, who were twice as likely to leave the company during their first year of employment.” – Forbes,
How and Why to Stay Positive
by Travis Brad Berry

Positivity means better productivity, greater chance of success, and all-around a more pleasant environment at work. Sometimes stress and outside factors can affect our moods, but it is a choice to let it consume us while working. Make stress a challenge instead of a threat – you’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish in doing so. Being positive is infectious and the more you train your mind to see the glass half full, the more you’ll actually start to believe it.

Launch into your future with a positive outlook!