Free Advice
JobBound Intern Spotlight
Mathew M. Kobussen
Loyola University-Chicago
Advertising/Public Relations
Marketing
This summer I accepted an internship with JobBound, an emerging, young career-services company with buckets of ambition and an unmatched company network. I had been offered positions with corporate PR firms in Chicago, but JobBound was the only company allowing me to work side-by-side with an experienced recruiting expert, Brad Karsh. Plus, my interest in Advertising/Public Relations influenced my decision to accept the JobBound opportunity. However, fairytale endings are commonly the effect of an incredible transformation-A change in lifestyle or personal ambition. So, lets break it down and retrace my fairytale…
Typically, with the end of something old, something new begins. The difficulty, of course, is finding genuine ambition to step further; to embrace difficulty and seek new accomplishments. Yet, if difficulty were a sleeping giant, years ago I would have crept silently past its sleepy gaze. I grew up in Wisconsin with an honest attraction for relaxed living. I hated change; it meant the brewing of something difficult-Difficulties make learning a necessary adjustment for success. Yet, if life were easy, the path less traveled would be a beaten-down runway; we could sleep for days and gain the world. I’ll admit, at first, lazily drifting through life is desirable; however, understanding that nothing worth having ever comes easy gives reason for conquering difficulty. Thus, I stepped forward into Chicago with a new attitude and began forming my ambition at Loyola University.
I found difficult adjustments in my first two years-I felt as if an enormous fire had swallowed me up. Chicago stretches out beyond my imagination and its buildings burst into the clouds. I had already been lost on campus; yet, the shock of downtown Chicago magnified my isolation further. It was incredible feeling so lonely surrounded by three million people. I was awakened to the harsh reality of my insignificance. I noticed that casual living was rare in Chicago, especially with young professionals. Somehow, I had to adjust and become something new. I had to eagerly seek difficulty.
I began my course of action at Loyola by declaring a major in Advertising/Public Relations. During my third year I added Marketing as a minor to offer more career options after graduation. Years ago I rarely enjoyed class and found myself nodding off in the room’s most secluded desk. I was often consumed by athletics and dreamt about doing something memorable on the field. Ironically, I found soccer dreams cannot solve calculus nightmares. Bummer! However, I have continued playing soccer and will enter my final year with the Loyola Ramblers this Fall.
In contrast to my final year at Loyola, I am looking forward to my first year as a graduate with my first job! Its been a long time coming; yet, in making this transition from unprovoked student to emerging professional I hold no regrets. Loyola has offered me the coursework necessary for landing privileged internship experience and a likely successful future. So, in light of my recent accomplishments, I came to JobBound with a bit of arrogance and premature confidence. I was expecting to make executive decisions and snag the corner office as an intern; perhaps the unfortunate consequence of my obsession with Hollywood. Thankfully, feedback sessions are highly recommended at JobBound- Brad and I spoke in regards to my expectations and the reality of a working intern. Our conversation was honest and beneficial; I was humbled and helped to see the significance of each task, large or small. I have had great exposure writing creative pieces for JobBound clients and meeting accomplished professionals within the company network. I cannot imagine the potential benefit JobBound will have on my future but, the possibilities are endless and I intend to pursue my life with ambition; an ambition I could not find in Wisconsin. I am JobBound.