1. Quotes and
Defining Words
Difficult Transition
Pass or get fired
Real world isn’t so luxurious
Learned to rely on others
No rough drafts
Made me think about the ‘next step’
Like pledging a fraternity
It’s easier once you get that first ‘real’ job
Learned more from campaigns with
24yr old bosses than from school
I spent 10-20% of my energy always
thinking about my ‘next step.’ It was tiring.
I didn’t want to be a ‘serial intern’
You’ve gotta be patient and
stay positive to find a job
It feels like it’s just luck

2. Actions and Behavior
Kept positive attitude
Picked up and moved to a new city
no questions asked
Talk to as many people as possible
Conducted many many
‘informational interviews’
Accepted multiple internships
Took campaign jobs because was
happy to just have a job at all
Created goodwill by always
helping other colleagues when
possible

3. Never burn bridges
Thoughts and Beliefs
Going to a small school
was better than going to
a big university
I wanted to just ‘get started’
My first two jobs were more
important than school
Couldn’t do projects all
alone, needed help
School didn’t help me much
Finding a job is mostly about luck
Finding a job necessitates
a lot of patience

4. Feelings and Emotions
Desire to enter workforce
Concern about finding job
Excitement and engagement
when employed.
Frustration when job
possibilities fizzled out
Frustration with ‘1-3 years of
experience’ requirement
Relieved to finally have a ‘real’ job
Endurance to keep applying and
making connections even when
it seemed hopeless
Concern about huge number of
other applicants made easier by
the internet

5. Problem Statement
My User:
Is a 25 year old white male who graduated 3 years ago, and now after multiple internships
finally feels secure in a long term job working on legal policy for a tech company.
Who Needed a Way to:
be seen as valuable by the job market
Because He:
did not leave school with the knowledge of what he wanted to do or the skills to do
the tasks he later encountered in his internships and jobs.