Job Hunting Advice from Famous Faces

It’s easy to feel like the world is against you and your career aspirations after spending weeks filling out application forms and receiving little response. Trawling through job sites becomes a tedious chore and the sighs of sympathy from family and friends are enough to make you scream.  They try to uplift you with phrases like, “don’t worry, that one wasn’t meant to be” but ultimately the dreaded rejection letters -or worse, punishing silences- from potential employees are soul destroying.

If you’re fresh out of university, full of knowledge and ready to get stuck into a new project but the job search is taking longer than you anticipated, maybe you need some advice from the A-listers…

1. “There’s nothing cheap about loyalty.” – Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), Up in the Air

Clooney takes on the persona of a corporate king in the movie ‘Up in the Air’. His character’s career and life journey has captivated millions of viewers since its release in 2009, and this quote still holds resonance for job seekers today. George Clooney himself started life as a shelf stacker and is now a household name earning the big bucks in Hollywood, so if you’re going to take anyone’s advice, let it be his!

2. “Begin each day as if it were on purpose.” – Alex Hitchens (Will Smith), Hitch

Will Smith began his career by rejecting college acceptances and becoming a rap artist. This was a risky plunge into the unknown, but it obviously worked for him! These words, taken from his character in ‘Hitch’, speak to those who may have lost their motivation. Every day is a new day with new opportunities; make use of that time.

3. “I worked so hard to get into law school. I blew off Greek week to study for the LSATs. I even hired a Coppola to direct my admissions video.” – Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon), Legally Blonde

Elle Woods is the sassy female inspiration that everybody needs to learn from. Her utter dedication to career pursuits is admirable. Despite continuously drawing the short straw, she shows us that a little sacrificing and perseverance are worthwhile in the long run.

4. “Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As King, you need to understand to balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.” – Mufasa, The Lion King

Job seekers can take away many life lessons from Disney’s Mufasa. He may be an animated lion, but he is knowledgeable and wise. Balance and respect are key attributes that all candidates should possess in order to succeed in interview settings and new work environments; they are qualities that cannot necessarily be taught but are very noticeable to potential employees.

5. “My mother never gave me any idea that I couldn’t do whatever I wanted to do or be whoever I wanted to be.” – Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel), Gilmore Girls

Like Rory Gilmore, having faith in reaching your dream career is of paramount importance when searching for a job. If you believe in your own abilities to succeed, it comes across in applications and interviews and is a very attractive quality.

6. “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” – John Keating (Robin Williams), Dead Poets Society

‘Dead Poets Society’ is full of inspirational quotes that can be associated with all of life’s worries. The unconventional English teacher played by Robin Williams was a figure of inspiration then and now; “Make your lives extraordinary” he begs his students.

7. “I finally realise I don’t need to be famous or have some big career to be happy.” – Penny (Kaley Cuoco), The Big Bang Theory

The fun-loving and slightly dim character of Penny is one we see endlessly trying and failing to accomplish her acting goals. We are made to feel sorry for her, but also recognise that she has achieved so many different things in her life aside from the acting. Often the end goal is not what makes us happy, it’s the journey we take and the opportunities we find along the way that make us happiest.

8. “Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You’re gonna love it!” – Monica (Courtney Cox) Friends

Finally, a quick word from our good friend Monica; the real world sucks sometimes! But as long as you have enthusiasm, and your friends, you’re going to succeed. Keep on with that job search!

Ashleigh is a creative writing graduate who enjoys sharing her relatable anecdotes on Twitter and her photo diary on Instagram.

Inspiring Interns is a graduate recruitment agency which specialises in sourcing candidates for internship jobs and giving out graduate careers advice. To hire graduates or browse graduate jobs London, visit our website.