Welcome to Concrete Jungle — a biweekly series where Brooklyn native Madison Black helps you navigate the ins and outs of NYC as a college student. Think of it as your personal survival guide, if you will. This week, we’ll get right into finding careers in NYC as a college kid!

On a scale of 1-10, how much did you hate your first job?

Is your answer a calm 6.5? Or an 11? What made it great? What made it a disaster? 

Maybe it was the customer at that sneaker store you once worked at who asked for the same shoe in every size. Or the little kid with the snotty nose who sneezed on you when you were a summer camp counselor … Sorry, I’m trauma-dumping. Let’s get back on topic.

The reason why I’m asking is because, as college students, our ultimate goal after school is to get a degree, get a job, and hopefully make a good living.

If not, there are always openings at McDonald’s.

Nonetheless, we can all agree. Looking for a career can be scary. Even if you have a specific area of study that you’re honing in on here at The New School, there’s still a sense of urgency and awareness you should be carrying outside of your academics.

Networking. Finding an internship. Attending events on campus? How does one navigate it all?

Personally, I want to spill all the tea about looking for opportunities as a college student in New York City. Although the jobs I previously mentioned are actually my real-life work experiences, that was when I was still in high school.

Since then, I’ve done everything from working as a wholesaler at Chanel HQ to conceptualizing creative briefs for Spotify. And I just recently snagged a summer internship as well!

So, whether you’re still in your first year or getting your cap and gown ready for next month, it’s only right that your favorite Timbs-wearing, Yankee-fitted, deadass fairy godmother gives you all the tips and tricks on how to secure the bag and get that resume looking good AF.

Here are some career tips to help you find opportunities as a college student in NYC.

1. Find your sauce.

No matter what industry you decide to work in, I want to share something I’ve learned from the many people who have mentored and shaped me into who I am today.

A question that you should always think about in every aspect of your professional career — and in your life — is as follows …

What’s your niche?

That may seem generic to some, but that question is actually so important in building your career. Why, exactly?

Most of you in this school are taking the same classes, studying within the same discipline, and perfecting the same skills. By the time all of you get that degree, your graduating class will probably feel like another Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest.

If everyone has the same skill set or academic background, how will recruiters know you can add something special to their team?

That’s why you need to start thinking about what your niche is.

It’s not enough to just know how to use Adobe Suite. Neither is it rare to be a great artist or writer. 

What is your energy like when you walk into a workspace? What insights or ideas can you create for a campaign brief for Adidas (just plugging in a random company) that others can’t? 

Here, I’ll use myself as an example. 

Aside from being the Brooklyn-bred fairy godmother on the New School campus, I’m ultimately a communications girly all around. 

Outside of the work you’re reading from me right now, I like to call myself  “The Comms Sweetheart from New York.” 

And this is precisely how I break it down:

Aside from my hard skills as a creative/social strategist and copy/editorial writer, I’d also describe myself as a meticulously empathetic individual both professionally and personally. In many ways, it’s heavily strengthened my work, but also who I am as a person and how I show up to any opportunity that comes my way.

So with that being said …

Find your niche. Find what makes you unique. And own it.

2. Attend career fairs, panels, and events on campus. Put yourself out there. Network intentionally.

Once you find your superhero cape and establish your niche, what’s the next step?

Well, you gotta share it with the world, silly. DUH!

It’s not enough to just have an amazing portfolio or a tailored resume. You have to be able to show it to recruiters or even people who work in the field you want to enter.

Whether for feedback on your resume or a potential new position, face-to-face connections are crucial to building professional relationships in a fast-paced environment like New York.

And while our university does have certain resources like the career center, it is ultimately up to you to search for these opportunities.

Make sure to check the events calendar weekly. Don’t expect people to announce what’s going on. RSVP for whatever piques your interest. Attend those events and have confidence! 

Don’t run — in fact, SPRINT to the person at the company you want to speak to. Ask them questions, pick their brain, and try to get their contact information. 

And if you can’t attend these events, check job sites like LinkedIn and search for people who work at the companies you aspire to work for. Don’t be afraid to look up their work or even message them. 

If something is happening on campus, GO. And I know this might sound hypocritical (because I just talked about getting that degree) but if you gotta skip a class or two, do what you gotta do, boo. Sometimes you only get one chance to meet someone. Might as well take advantage of it.

You never know what it could lead to.

3. Take your time

You probably think this particular tip might have absolutely nothing to do with career-related topics, but trust me — it does!

As college students, we have all experienced a burn while tackling midterms, final papers, and assignments. It’s a burn that can leave a scar or two.

But what is that burn exactly? Well, it’s definitely not the burning hot, dooky toilet water smell that slaps you in the face when you enter the UC lobby.

No, my friends, that burn I’m referring to is burnout: The scorching mental anguish of just being tired and overwhelmed.

So please, no matter where you are in your academic journey right now, I want to assure you that you’re doing a great job. You do not need to be the next Anna Wintour or the new Gigi Hadid on campus right now. 

Absorb as much knowledge as you can, but also live your life. Touch some grass or concrete or whatever (Actually don’t touch the concrete, there’s probably a puddle of piss).

Think of it like this, you might miss your train to school. Or the bus. Maybe that Uber/Lyft didn’t meet you in front of the deli you told them to pick you up from. Or if you still take those yellow taxis, maybe the driver didn’t see your hand waving for him to stop.

So, you missed it. Well, that’s alright. 

Cause guess what? Another one comes right around the corner.

So don’t rush anything. You’re not behind. You’re exactly where you need to be.

Enjoy the end of the semester. And make sure to pat yourself on the back when it’s done.

Be present in the now. Because ultimately, when you live in the moment, the life you always dreamed of eventually comes right around the corner. Just like a yellow taxi’s arrival, it happens at the right time and at the right moment.