You worked hard for this- kept the grades up, hand-selected your summer jobs and internships, worked with your career services staff to make sure your goals and strategies were on target- and to top it off, you are graduating during the most incredible job market for college grads ever.  

So what's the problem?  You should be thrilled with the opportunities ahead.  Instead, you're feeling pulled in too many directions.  The rush of employers, the demands of your coursework, and the nagging pressure to pave the way or please your parents overwhelm you.  

The easy way out tempts you.  You can stay in your comfort zone and accept that offer from your co-op employer, or limit your options to the firms that pre-recruited you--or those with the largest signing bonuses.  But if this is the road you take, you'll miss out on an investment that will provide valuable dividends throughout your career.  

Five simple strategies can reduce your stress and enhance your job search results:  

1. Pace yourself Moderate your employer contacts without too narrowly restricting your interests.  

2. Approach each interview experience with the expectation that you will enjoy it an optimistic attitude is a great way to avoid anxiety.  

3. Understand what factors are important to you Create a point system to weigh offers according to what you value most (for example, job content, education benefits, location, salary, etc.)  

4. When your instincts alert you that this firm is not a good match, decline further contact Learn to say no with diplomacy and confidence.  

5. Regularly consult your career counselor Make sure you take advantage of this valuable resource while it is so accessible; you don't have to be alone in the search.  

The maddening job search process offers many lessons.  Each interviewer you meet will expose a distinct communication style, a glimpse of an organi-zation's culture, an opportunity for you to hone your professional demeanor and refine your career decision-making skills.  Two or three years from now, when you're far from your campus and faced with another job search or career transition, you will be well equipped to explore new options with poise and enthusiasm!  
 

Kathy L. Sims is the Director of the Career Center at UCLA.