Nervous For Life After Graduation? Isa Colli Offers Job Hunting Tips

BOLD held its second to last general meeting this Tuesday, November 24th with speaker Isa Colli, 2019 MAIP Fellow and Associate Media Planner at McCann Health. As the semester ends, many BOLD members are preparing for graduation, an exciting yet nerve-racking time for students. This semester is especially particular in that students will be challenged with having to job hunt amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic. Helping with this life-altering transition, speaker Isa Colli talked to students about starting their careers and shared tips that helped her land her first job. 

Isa Colli encouraged graduating members to enjoy their last time as students while working on their personal brand to stand out in the current job market. “I took my last semester as an opportunity to enjoy my life as a student one last time, and also an opportunity to really hone in my brand as an applicant,” Isa said.  She emphasized the importance of developing a personal brand by making sure that her resume, website, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile all matched. 

After exciting experiences as a MAIP Fellow and Creative Studio Fellow at LinkedIn, Isa was faced with having to start up again as she began the strenuous process of job hunting in a global pandemic. She urged students to take care of their mental health above all, as the job hunting process is already stressful not considering the special circumstances accompanied by the pandemic. “No job is going to be worth harming your mental health, so take this process as it comes and make sure you take care of yourself first,” said Isa. 

When talking about beginning her job hunt Isa said “I realized I was just using up all my energy and creating so much anxiety about the job hunt rather than making it an optimal experience for myself.” She shared with students a sample schedule of a full day of job hunting that optimizes efficiency while avoiding burnout and stress.  Isa concluded her presentation by reassuring students that their first job will not be their last and urged them to explore unconventional routes after graduation such as fellowships and internships. 

Click here to connect with Isa. 

BOLD is a student-run strategic communications agency at Florida International University. Click here to learn more.

Written by: Alejandra Chahine, Director of Public Relations