As a recent college grad, I applied to nearly 90 jobs, and I never heard back from a majority of them. I didn't think it would be this difficult.

• I graduated from the University of Chicago last year.
• After applying to nearly 90 jobs and hearing back from some, I felt frustrated and confused. 
• I landed a great job finally, but the search process was a surprising struggle.

I started off my senior year at the University of Chicago unsure about exactly what I wanted to do in my career, but I felt optimistic about my professional future. That optimism would be short-lived.

With a new spreadsheet grandly entitled "The Job Search," I began compiling a list of interesting opportunities and sending out cover letters and résumés. Each line in my spreadsheet felt like progress toward a promising and exciting future.